Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-20
NO. So.

other rebelliops and other sssassinations.
The speaker said he was indebted TO our
enemies for his text, Us the friends OF free
dom had been indebted to them for many
steps in our progress. The annexation OF
Texas and the fugitive slave law had added
to the ranks of the abolitionists. The repeal
of the Missouri Compromise and the inva-
sion OF Kansas by border rufians only
reused in the loyal masses the determine
tion TO make Kansas free State. And had
Abraham Lincoln lived to the old age
which his strong constitution and his tenn
perate habits promised him, we should have
followed him 10 the grave with nothing like
the emotion we felt at his DEATH Diving as
he did, his name bcomes text from which
to show that the tree on which grew snch
fruit must not merely be cut down, bat taken
up by the roots and that no vestige of the
slave code must be LEFT.
1t was the speakers exceeding great
privilege TO know Abraham Lincoln; to get
near to him; and from his conversations
with him, he believed that<kad Mr.. Lincoln
been living to-day, he would have stood with
those who stand foremost, and gone with
with those who go farthest, in the cause Of
equal and universal suffrage.
Perhaps, said the speaker, you would like
to know how came to visit Mr.. Lincoln.
He invited me. 1t was a significant fact
both for the men and the times. First, il
showed that he had moral courage; that he
remembered he was man as well as
President; and if there is one thing tonight
that impresses NE mare than another, it is
that we have presiding over this meeting
one who remembers that he is man and a
Christian, notwithstanding the ermine. 1t
required moral courage to open this church
tonight for meeting of this character
But let me say that remember a
time when abolitionism could ride in an
omnibus. He said he had known II in lis
infancy and in its childhood, and to-day he
saw it giant, and woe betide those who
stood in its pathway, for they must fall
Some men had physical courage, and would
look down the throat Of cannon, but could
not encounter a prejudice that required
moral courage. This courage Mr.. Lincoln
had; and not only did he invite a black
man to his house, but also invited him 10
the Soldiers Home to take tea with him.
The speaker had observed, in his inter
course with men, that the higher the sphere
in which he moved, the less prejudice did he
find. Prejudice fourished most vigorously
among those who had the least to boast of in
the form of Intellectual requirements BE
here relatedan incidentthat occurred to him
in train between Baltimore and Washing
ton. He was requested TO leave the car in
which he had taken a seat, and at the same
moment he saw lady enter with dog in
her arms. He looked forward to time
when black man might go where dog
could be permitted.
But this invitation implied more than
moral courage and freedom from prejudice.
1t showed that Mr.. Lincoln cemprehended
the situation and saw what was coming. He
was a tall man morally as we'll as physical
ly, and great moral truths shed their
lustre upon his brow long before they reach
ed the dwellers in valleys or delivers in cop
per mines. He had before said that had
Mr.. Lincoln been living to-day, he would
have stood with those who stood foremost,
and gone with those who went farthest. He
said this because he knew him to be q pro-
gressive man-one who did not begin as a
Moses and end as a Pharaoh. He learned
wisdom from war, and he would have learn
ed it from peace. He had during his life
expressed the opinion that two classes Of
colored men should be enfranchised- those
who had fought in ourarmies, and these who
were educated; and at the same time he de-
sired to see the means provided whereby all
could receive the education necessary to fit
them for this privilege.
Certain curious questions arise in copnec-
ton with his death. Why should one 30
amiable be stricken with death? 1t may be
that it requires this sacrifice to bring US to
knowledge of the truth We can see good
arising out of this terrible calamity. We
were on the eve of clasping hands with those
men who had been in rebellion against the
Government, without demanding the secu-
rites that were essential. We needed this
event to enable us to know ourselves, and to
know the spirit Of our enemies. 1t was
well, perhaps, that the rebellion should end
as il did, for it was certain that there was
nothing in all the battles Of the war which
impressed mankind as did this crime. Be-
sides, it was well that slavery should expire
by crime that sent a shudder around the
world. Hereafter, when men think of slav-
cry, they viii think Of murder. Not because
shareholders are worse than other men by
nature. He knew by his own observation
that this was not the case; that the spirit of
slavery is assassination.
He had said this event was necessary, and
he charged it home on slavery. Ii was true
that it had been disclaimed on the part of
the South. Mason, the rebel emissary in
England, had hastened to tell us that she
was not responsible; yet the shadow does
not cling closer to the object by which il is
cast than does this crime to slavery.
For thirty years the language Of slavery
has been death to any one who ventured TO
oppose it; besides, this crime aecords with
the whole catalogue Of the barbarities Of the
war, which extended even to the going down
into their bloody graves Of sons and brothers,
TO s,ealtheir skulls for drinking cups and
their bones for trinkets Where will you
find ANYTHING like it? II accords well with
the throwing off the railroad track of trains
bearing women and children and other non
combatants, the firing of hotels in the hearts
Of populous cities, the poisoning OF springs,
the attempt to spread infection, the starving
of our prisoners, and the infamous crime. OF
poisoning themby vaccination. 1t also raises
the suspicion that Abraham Lincoln was not
the first victim. Harrison, after serving one
month, died, and was succeeded by man
devoted TO the interest Of slavery. Taylor
had but just announced himself in favor Of
the admission Of California AZ a free State
when he passed away, and gave place 70 a
Northern sycophant, whose name is found at
the bottom of the fugitive slave law. Even
James Buchanan was poisoned at the Ma
tional Hotel, and had he died, would have
been succeeded by Breckenridge.
The slave power is like the robber who
stops you on your way and demands your
money or your life. The STAKEHOLDER says to
the slave, your labor or your life.
He here proceeded to show that Booth
drew his inspiration directly from the South;
that he had been in communication with Of
fcials in the South; that the words he re-
peated after committing the crime were the
motto Of Southern State; that his first
thought Of escape was turned southwark,
and, had he reached the South, and had the
South achieved its independence, he would
have been hailed "a a hero, and the women
who presented canes 10 Brooks, Of South
Carolina, in compliment to his attempt TO
assasinafe Senator Sumner, would have
showered similar testimonials upon Booth.
"But, Douglass" you may ask, why do
Won bring these things before us just now,
when we want 10 come together and forget
past differences p Because there is lesson
In them. IL was shrewd remark Of Gen.