The Black Republican., 1865-04-29

ton of this vast assemblage all portends
that we have assembled to mourn the great
est calamity whichever befell this country.
1t is well that you should recognize the
duties which fall upon you as citizens OF the
nation whose head has been stricken down;
it is well that you should mourn his loss.
No crime that has been perpetrated since
Jesus was crucifed, Get it be spoken with
all due reverence,) is equal in magnitude to
this. In President Lincoln the people OF
the South lost their best and most powerful
friend; and well may they participate in the
great horror which has filed the country
with sadness and sorrow. To all persons
present, of whatever class, the day was most
mOmentous.
He would not attempt review Of the his
tory of the great man gone; but he must.saY
that four years ago, before Lincoln was
elected, and before wars blood-stained wing
had spread desolation over the country, ne
little thought that to-day, after four years OF
service in the field under his orders, he
should be called upon to pronounce eulo-
GIN upon the virtues of the dead; but just
as his labors had eliminated in glorious
triumph, and the gentleness and goodness OF
his heart was recognized by all, bastard
hand had struck him down, and, too, IN the
very presence of his wife. This was the re-
suit of the great crime, which four years
ago was aimed at the life of the nation; but
he hoped that the investigation, which was
now going on, would not fix the guilt upon
any one who possesses power as one OF the
Confederate or Southern Government: for
should such connection with the assassin be
proved no one but God could stay the ven
geance of an outraged nation. He sincerely
hoped that the crime would prove to be an
act of individual baseness.
Lincoln's record was before the country,
and no one who had gone before him, not
even excepting Washington, had proved so
pure, so gentle and so good. There were no
politics, no party, III his administration.
Elected as the representative of party, he
at once became the representative of all
loyal hearts. 1t was not political parties,
but the national struggle, for which men
divided for and against him. He had opened
wide his arms and called all wanderers in.
To him you, the people of Louisiana, owe
mUch-t0 him you owe your existence as
city and State, and all you possess of civil
order and law. Many good, generous actions
could be narrated of him, but these tenden
cies were as natural to his heart as the bub
bling of water from d spring. And this pure
man had fallen by the hand of cut-thr0at-
brayo-and the American nation, which
has held its head high for courage and civ
ilizatiOn, is disgraced by a knowledge that
the crimes and barbarism of the old world
have prevailed in our midst.
Gen. Hurlbut paid high compliment to
the great military knowledge and sagacity
displayed by President Lincoln, and stated
that no man in his cabinet had so well com
pretended the situation. But having reach
ed the topmost rOnnd of ambitions ladder, he
stepped from there to heaven, and received
the Well-earned plaudit of g well done thou
good and faithful servant. enter thou into
the Joy of Thy Lord" But of one thing we
are certain, though the President may die,
the nation lives the walls may fall, but the
JnEs -
them. We are now engaged in rebuilding
the superstructUre and the nations Of the
earth viii see that our nation not only
lives, but challenges the admiration,
and if necessary, the fear of all. The march
of this country to the accomplishment Of her
great destiny will not, shall not be stopped.
Here are men Of the Army, of the Navy. of
civil life, and Of all colors, engaged in the
work for the perpetuation OF human free
dom through Gods great agency-the Ameri-
can Union.
GEN. BANKs's SPEECH.
Gen. Banks was next introduced by the
President, and received with enthusiastic
cheers. we give but an imperfect outline
of his speech:
Mr. President and .felJotccdizeRs-It is
only since my arrival upon the platform,
that have been informed of the part I was,
that more perfect Justice to you and the
event would have been done, had others
been called upon. | am too near the Gov
ernment officially to speak for you and the
eminent citizens whom | see here, and |
would rather listen to others than express
my own thoughts. But cannot refrain from
saying that + am glad to meet so many citi-
zens of Louisiana gathered together to ex-
press the great, honest, and deep-seated
grief of its people over the sad event which
has occasioncd this meeting. God knows
why our city to-day is hung in black, and
the flags float at half mast. To-day we can
feel the nothingness Of man-we know not
from whence we come, or whittier we 60.
We can only bow down before God, and be-
seech his comfort and protection. This is
the hour of supplication and humility, and
we should clOthe ourselves in sackclOth and
ashes. Human plans fail-GOd's alone sue
ceed. That we propose is shown in this sad
event, and also that He disposes. AS if it
was to show the impiety of human impulses
it is only necessary to remember that this
week was set apart for rejoicing over the
victories which had crowned our arms.
There was scarcely a family in the nation
that had not been bereft of some dear mem
bcr, or hearthstone that had not, as is the
nation to-day, been draped in the symbols
of death. Suddenly Peace, universal
Peace, shone forth with brilliant promise
opening of the Mississippi river, (Which was
the first great success of the Union cause),
to the hard won fields of the Army of the
Cumberland in 1863 to Sherman's march to
the Atlantic coast, to Lees surrender to
Grant, and to the capture of Mobile by the
army under the gallant leader now upon the
platform with me, to say nothing of the joy
full tidings flashed over the wires to-day of
the surrender of Johnsons army to Sher-
man. [Cheers.l All these facts, say, JUS
titled the assumption that God had given
the nation Peace-glorious, lasting Peace.
But while we are awaiting the preparations
OF the Government always behind the peo-
in such matters-while the electric wire,
which binds the golden gates of the West to
the Pilgrims Rock of the East, is freighted
with these notes of eparation-instanta-
neously, in the twinkling of an eye, we are
struck down. No people were ever so sud-
denly laid low - no country ever sus-
tanned such a loss. But we have
the consolation of saying that it is for good
to the nation-ayc, for good to the man who
has fallen. He had committed no crime
no man can say that he was to him a per
sOnal enemy. 1t was for our good that God
took him; it was the great croWning act Of
his career that he should die. 1t is human
that we must die. To die is to go home-to
be at perfect rest and happiness; the punish
ment is to live. The only boon we can ask
Is 10 De permitted TO 60 when prepared. GOd
has given our great leader the privilege to
go at this time. He had fought the fight
and won the victory-his glory had culmi
mated. To live was to fall-to die was to go
home to his Father. During this portion
of his speech, both Gen. Banks and his au-
dience were deeply afected).
The speaker knew Abraham Lincoln but
slightly, but that little had served to stamp
indellibly on his heart the impression that
heswas a perfect man. He was not great
mani have seen many great men; he was
not brilliant mani have seen many brill
liant men; but he was a rare man. / have
seen in him SO many virtues and exccllen-
cies that had come to believe that what
ever he designed would come to pass, if not
by his own efforts, by the concurrent action
and support of God. And yet believe that
the great objects for which he lived and
died win be completed. As well might you
attempt to make me believe that the mighty
Mississippi viii turn back in its course and
seek the mountain springs from which it
had its source, as that the Union of States
can be discovered now that his blood
has cemented them together. No man
g. II