The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-04-21
The Scenes at Washington.
By 4 RESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, Salty Morn,
April Is, 1865. {

WASHINGTON, Salty Morn,
April Is, 1865.
FRIEND SToNE:-I had written you q
brief account of the exultation-of the
Joyous beating of the heart of the nation
over our victories and the approach of re-
turning peace; | now open the letter to
! add a hasty and mournful postscript.
The national heart. that a few hours age
was bounding with joy, now lies shaken
stunned and paralyzed with grief and hor-
ror. Within the past few hours tragedies
have been enacted that will make the civ
ilized world to shuddcr, and that will
stand forever like crimson blot on the
page of history. The scenes of the French
revolution threaten to re-enact themSelve.
in our time and land.
The telegraph has already told you the
fearful story, and the morning papers thai
| send herewith will give you the horribl,
details. need not repeat them here.
had spent the evening at the house of {;
friend, and as | was returning home about
half-past ten o'clock, learned that til,
President had just been assassinated al
Ford's theater, and that L cotemporaneou:
effort had been made to murder the secre
tary of state. his son and other member.
: OF the cabinet. The news spread as b,
electricity, and almost instantly the whols
city was aroused and in commotion. PEG.
: pie ran hurriedly from place to place, OF
gathered in excited and anxious knots OF
the treet-cOrnerS. | FASTENED at once tC
the scene, where an immense concour<,
was already assembled.
The particulars were being communi-
] cated from one to another. and its conSe-
suuence> discussed in low, earnest and sol
Semn tones. Men spoke below their breath.
or muttered threats and curses through.
their teeth. There was no noise, no dem
fonStration, no loud talk. but ii was evil
dent from the frowning brows, the flash
: inc eyes and the Sullcn silence. that ali
+ were animated with thoughts OF ven
-cancc too deep and terrible Tor utterance.
Had the murderer been brought among
! them then. he have been torn limb from
! limb in silence
The general expression was that the
srcbels had slain their best tiiend-he who
: had stood like ii shield and a savior be-
! tween them and outraged ju>ticc-hc who
had pleaded with the people to be mercitul
Edwards them Woe! now to rebels in
arms Let their black-hearted and red
handed sympathizerS in our midst bew are g.,
They have slain 1.-The element the com
passionate, and clemency and compass
sion are at an end. They have Smitten
! ,hc kind hand that was extended protect
lngly and torgivingl y towards them; let
them beware the mailed hand that will
! take its place, grasping the sword of vim
dictivc Justice and retribution!
All nj ght long the crowd hung around
the house where the President lay dying.
He ceased breathing this morning about
L o'clock. Since | commenced writing
his remains have been borne past nv win
! dow into the White House. Business of
( fall kinds is suspended to-day-the stores
shut up and the departments closed. a
solemn, mOurnful silence brOods over the
! city.
People look anxiously into each others
faces, as though they would read the
Thoughts and designs that are forming them
ESelves in each Others minds. Will it all
end here? or will the surcharged cloud
upon some slight provocation, discharge
itself in sudden burst of thunder. storm.
|tumult and bloodshed If so. Woe :.
''again, to them who have sown the wind ::
the whirlwind that they will reap will be
terrible.
From the highest pinnacle of rejoicing,
the nation has been plunged into a deep.
dark gulf of mourning, and were tears
audible language, cry would ascend from
the sorrow-stricken heart of this loval|
people, that would startle the world with
the power of its agony. We have not
yet sufficiently recovered from the sudden
and stunning effects of the blow to think,
or even conjecture its results and conse-
quences. May it all be in fulfllment off
the wise and beneticent designs of Provi-l
dence. Hastily, yours in sorrow.
J. Il. THOMPSON.
Lees Surrender Completed.