Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-12
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The Memorial Address Of George Bancroft.

Tor seats IN the Representative Hall from max
ing their way to the Capitol to use them. From
the number Of visitors from Northern cities
seeking seats, these tickets were in much de.
mand, and as high as fifty dollars have been
offered for the precious bit Of pasteboard.
Hackmen, too, were in demand. and improved
their opportunities, charging from s25 to $50
for their vehicles for the day in some cases.
Whether so intended or not, the machinery
OF the ticket system served to pretty efectually
block out the colored people from the House
hall. A few were present, among them Mr.
George T. Downing and other colored dele
gates from the North to this city.
The great rush was for the galleries, which
were pretty compactly filled by 10 a. m. The
portion of the floor Of the Hall devoted to the
diplomatic corps was also filled early, the Brit
ish Minister and Russian Minister occupying
seats nearly in front. In the same vicinity was
General James Watson Webb returned from
Brazil.
The clapping Of hands from time to time in
Dictated the entrance of personages of note.
Such applause was given to Mrs. Grant on her
being escorted to the ladies' gallery by Hon.
mr. W ashburne. A little later a hearty round
of applause was given on the entrance of Gen.
Grant, whose seat, as it happened, was imme-
diately in front of where Gen. Butler was
seated. Gen. Logan, John Minor Bolts, Judge
Advocate General Holt were among those no.
ticed seated in the range behind Gen. Grant.
The funeral decorations Of the Representa-.
dves' Han were simple and in good taste. The
clock was draped in black Grape, and festoons
Of the same were suspended over the Speakers
chair.
At ~ o'clock the House was called to order by
Speak Colfax, and prayer was delivered by
Rev. Mr.. Boynton, Chaplain. The Speaker
then read letter from Secretary Seward, ex-
yNvo h
ent on account of his health.
AT IL minutes past ~ the Senate of the
United States" was announced, and the men,
bers OF that body were shown to their seats
IN the center OF the hall. Next was an
nounced "The President and his Cabinet,
and they too were escorted to seats i'm
mediately in front ito the lefr of the
Speaker, all being present but Mr. Seward.
Next was introduced "The Supreme Court of
the United States" who, draped in black
gowns, were placed to the immediate right
ironto the speaker. Upon the entrance of
each OF these bodies the assemblage at ran
OF the Speakers gavel, rose until the visiting
party was placed, when, at two raps of the
gavel, they resumed thsir seats With the Sem
ate came the orator of the day, Hon. George
Bancroft, SLIM, gold-spectacled gentleman of
literary look, and whose fray hair was quite
closely cropped, as he usually wears it, He
was shown to seat in front Of the Speaker.
The audience being placed, the exercises
were commenced by the performance in ex
quisite style by the Marine Band (36 pieces
headed by Prof Scala in person) Of the Msereree
from ~ Tro-atore. The band was stationed in
me nan, In the rear OF the reporters gallery
and the mournful music penetrated into the
main nall with exquisite, chastened effect.
The President Of the Senate, Hon L. S. Eos
TER, then called the two Houses to order, and
an affecting and eloquent prayer was offered nv
the Rev Mr. Boynton, Chaplain Of the House
Tue orator OF the day was then introduced
and proceeded to read his address.
Hon. George Bancroft's Address.
Hon. George Bancroft then arose and com.
IN History" saying that the deeds of Eime are
governed, as well as judged, by the DEGREES of |
eternity, and that the feeting existence bends
10 the irnnlovable omnipotence, which plants |
it's foot on all the centuries, and has neither
change of purpose nor repose He then pro. |
ceeoed to review the marvellous growth OF the
nlnphssaas =. Repu Pic, and noticed various
Which appeared from time to time in our early |
He spoke Of the despair of w ashin gton, Jeffer.
son, Madison, and the men of the revolution al
the continual Of this stain of slavery, and
proceeded TO the new views Of that institution
which began to prevail in the next generation,
who, impatient that an institution TO which
they chung should be condemned as inhuman |
unwise and unjust; in the throes of discomfort
at the self reproach of their fathers and blind. |
ed by lustre of wealth to be acquired by the |
culture of new staple, they devised the theory |
that slavery, which they would not abolish
friends of colonization, and Confidently de.
manded, "Why take black p1n from civilized
ana christian country, where their labor is
sSoSe Il Inmenss gam and a power to control
sne mau kees Of the world, and send them to q
Iaho Oh ignorance, idolatry and Incidence,
which TSas the home Of their forefathers, but
n0 U.eirsi Slavery is a blessing.
- regular development ofipretensions fol-
lowed the new declaration with logical consis- |
tency. Under the old declaration every one Of |
the States had retained, each for ITSELF the |
right OF man uniting all slaves by an ordi.
nary act of legislation; now, the power Of the |
people over servitude through their legisla- L
was swift in imposing legal and constitutional l
distractions on the people themselves. The |
power Of emancipation was narrowed or taken /
away. The slave might not be disquieted by /
education.
He then spoke of the disastrous effect of this |
new theory OF slavery and our foreign rela- |
lions: ana touched on squatter sovereignty /
saying that w Washington, and Jefferson, and |
Madison had died despairing Of the abolition |
OF slavery; Calnoun died in despair at the |
He then came down to the time of the bred |
Scott decision, saying of Chief Justice fancy |
that against the Constitution, against a pre-
yious decision, against q series of enactments
he decided that the slave is property that slave
property is entitled Sto no less protection than
D..
holds 1t in every Territory against any act of |
q local legislature, and even against Congress
ITSELF or, as the President Of the time tersely |
promulgated the saying: "kansas is as much a !
slave State asl South Carolina or Georgia: |
slavery, by virtue of the Constitution, exists |
In every Territory.
Only one step more remained TO be taken |
secession. As the presidential election drew
on, one OF the old traditional parties did not |
make its appearance; the other reeled as il |
sought TO preserve its old position; and the
candidate who most nearly represented its best |
opinion, driven by patriotic ZEAL roamed the
country from end to end TO speak for union,
eager At least 10 confront its enemies, vet not
having hope that II would find its deIiverance
through him. The storm arose TO a whirlwind:
VINO should allay its wrath The most expe-
Iienced statesmen of the country had failed;
there was no hope from those who We're great
ailer the heshi could relief come from one
whose wisdom was like the wisdom Of little
children
The speaker then most eloquently reviewed
the early life OF President IincoIn: the ieno.
rance OF MS parents in their Kentucky home:
prnlRrltlOn 10 81.