Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-04-07
A Retrospect.

|
he will read with admiration and astonishment
how a mere handful of brave and patriotic men
forced proud Albion to acknowledge their inde-
pendence, and the wondrous tales of endurance,
their Nrtitude under reverses their moderation
in the hour of triumph and their wisdom in
council will compare f,vorably with the bright
est records of old Roman and Grecian republics.
But if we can point with pride to the days OF
Saratoga and Yorktown, there is yet one pc
rod in bur history-no month fraught
with important events, SO crowded with incl
dents SO pregnant of results, the magnitude
of which we can hardly estimate, as the month
of April, 1865 Now profound peace reigns
throughout our entire and vast extent of terrific
ry. The miles of breastworks either leveled
to the ground or corered with n luxuriant carpet
of green forts and earthworks which ,ttei n
great portion of our land like so many hideous
excressences on the fair face of nature, have Civ
en- place to smiling meadows and broad acres of
waving grain The rattlng of mu usketry and deep
roar of artillery is hushed, and the shrieking.
Kissing death and misunderstanding shells are
now safely housed in our arsenals, subjects of
wonder 10 gazing InulIltuHes ne poHlp anu
:. pride of glorious war - has given way to peace
full pursuits, and our iron mountains yrld their
ore not for materials of destruction but for i'm
plements Of husbandry for the immense iron
arms which like some gigantic web woven by
modern Cyclops, bring ocean and inland sea-
mountain and valley in common embrace,
and forge frmer and lirmer the ties which make
! md VII lad
But who can, or if he could, would willingly
forget the closing scenes of the great drama
which terminated in the month Of April, 1865 =?
Who will forget the feverish anxiety which
waited each pusation of the telegraph, for the
Army Of the Potomac /" in motion" At
last it came q Richmond is ours, read the
dispatch. and the dream of four long and weary
years was realized.
In the month of April our troops, so often haf-
/ fed, so often rcpulsed, bnt never wavering, new
er fatering, entered Richmond, the impregnahe
as rebels boastingly called it, in sea of fire and
smoke, and oh the Justice of history negro
troops were the first to march with conqnering
steps into the capital of that Confederacy which
had declared negro slavery the cornerstone of
! its ediice.
Appomattox Court House How loyal hearts
exuted when the favorite rebel General, sur
rounded on all sides by the victorious troops of
the republic, baffled and exhausted, at last bent
his proud spirit to for peace, and ordered the
surrender of the best and bravestp :rmy Of the
rebelious Confederacy. The rebel fig WAS fnrl-
ed never to show its deformity again-never TO
tbat tIn nf
conquered rebels were permitted to 60 to their
homes, there to ponder over the enormity of their
crime, and to listen with blended shame and fear
as the notes of the national anthem of triumph
burst upon their ears.
| But the fell spirit of rebellion was not yet snt
isfed Although satinted TO excess with blood
and death, one victim WAS wanting
Though thousands of families mourning
over tho graves of heroes who had fallen in de-
| fence of the right, one blow more needed to
strike the national heart, and if possible to ptr-
alyze the national life, through the death of its
chosen ruler. Instruments to carry out the mon
strous plot was not wanting, and on the 18th Il ~
/ of April the n,tion Mortified by deed be-
lieved and hitherto hoped to be impo<sibility
| in free and enlightened America LINCOLN. the
great LINCOLN, the good LINCOLN, the preser-
yer Of his country
IIvC LS-friend Of the oppressed
LAcoLS-cunq TOR Of the "pprcssM!
fell the victim of a rebellion which for ntrocity
has not its equal even in the bloodest pages of
| history. The last blow of the conspiracy which
lived murder and rapine will ever character
ize it the fouest and most detestable of rebel
lions. 1t placed the stamp OF inf,my upon its
history for all ages, and will have that immor-
tality which its crimes deserve.
The nation staggered under the blow, bnt sur
nOEt
not depend on any single life, no matter how val
liable. In European countries such a calamity
would have resulted in anarchy confusion and
commercial ruin. But our institutions are so
popular and powerful, and enter so deeply into
the national life, that the first burst Of grief the
first shock passed. and the republic stood rs firm
With many Vmisgivings-amid doubts
and fears for the result, the nation saw Andrew
! johnson assume the duties of President of the
United States Weary of years of strife and car
mage, the people longed for peace, and they were
willing to trust Johnson, to assist him, and
strengthen his administration, hoping and be-
leving that he would remain true to his pledges.
For time he acted in unison with thes chosen
representatives of the loyal North but it was
not long before he erinced symptoms which were
| calculated to alarm the nation, and we write it
with sorrow. that he now occupies position
which must lead to the destruction OF all the re-
suits of the last four years, if the people do not
make him powerless for evil by sustaining Con-
gress against Presidential usnrpation. We trust
that a people which have proved themselves the
most heroic in the history Of the world, will be
sagacious enough to sustain in time of peace a
government which they so valiently and success
fully upheld against armed foe, and by sus
tanning Congress give the finishing blow to a re-
beion which gives signs of renewed vitality un-
der the smiles of Presidential favor, and seems
to awake with astonshment TO hear such men
Wade and Sumner, Forncy and Stevens, Burn
side and Geary pronounced disunionists. If they
are disioyal, then let the Stephens, Cobbs and
Toombs' of the South resume their positions in
the councils of the nation for President John
! son has declared them to be the true Union men
of the country. But what will the people say?
VEro OF THE Civil RIGHTS BILL-Accordnp
to the expressed belief of the Presidents Copper
head sympathizers, that dignitary has vetoed the
Civil Rights bill. The universal Freedom party
of the country looked for nothing else, since the
President has shown a disposition to aid in re-
turning the Freedmen to bondage. The veto of
the measure is applauded by the same class that
applauded treason and assassination, and anoth-
er class who were camp-followers of the Union
I ion. fbnra vas n f.