Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-02-23
uNcoIN's ASSASSINATION.

LINCOLN's s ASSASSINATION.
Where, in the history of nations, had a
| chief magistrate possessed mora sources OF
consolation and joythan Lincoln? His country
men had shown their love by choosing him
to second term of service. The raging war
that had divided the country had lnlled; ana
private grief was hushed by the grandeur OF
its results. The nation had its new birth OF
| freedom, soon to be secured forever by an a.
meudment of the Constitution. His persis-
tent gentleness had conquered for him kind
lier feeling on the part of the South His
scoffers among the grandees of Europe began
to do him honor. The laboring classes every
where aaw in his advancement their own. All
peoDle sent him their benedictions And at
the moment of the height Of fame, to which
his humility and modesty added charms, he
fell BY the hand of the assassin; and the only
triumph awarded him was the march to the
grave.
THE GREATNESS OF MAN.
This is no time to say that human glory is
but dust to ashes, that we mortals are no more
than shadows Howmean a thing were man,
if there were not that within him which IS
higher than himself-if he could not master
the illusions of sense, and discern the con-
neetions of events by q superior light which
comestrom God. Heso sharesthe dlvinelmpul
ses that he has no power to subject interested
passions to love of country, and personal am
bition to the ennoblement of man. Not IN
vain has Lincoln lived, for he has helped to
makb this repnblic an example Of Justice with
no caste but the east of humanity. The heroes
who led our armies and ships into battle
Lyon, Mcpherson, Reynolds, Sedgwick,
Wadsworth, Foote, Ward, with their COM
peers-and fell in the service, did net die In
vain; they and the myrirads of nameless mar
tyrs, and he, the chief martyr, died willingly,
that government of the people, by the peo-
pie, and for the people, shall not perish from
the earth"
THE JUST DIED FOR THE UNJUST.
The assassination of Lincoln, who was so
free from malice, has by some mysterious IN
1uence, struck the country with solemn awe,
and hushed, instead of exciting, the passi
of revenge. 1t seems as fthe Just had died for
the unjust When / think of the friendsI have
lost in this war-and every one who hears me
has, like myself, lost those whom he most
loved there is no consolation to be derived
from victims on thes scaffold, or from any
thing but the established union of the regen-
Grated nation.
CHARACTER OF LINCOLN.
In his character, Lincoln was through and
through an American. He is the first native
of the region west of the Alleghanies to at
tain to the highest station; and how happy
it is that the man who was brought forward
as the natural outgrowth and first fruits of that
region should have been Of unblemished
purity in priyae life, good son, kind hus-
band, a most afectionate father, and, as a
man, so gentl toe all. As to integrity, Doug
las, his rival said of him, "Lincoln is the
honestest man | ever knew"
The habits of his mind were those of
meditation and inward thought, rather than
of action. He excelled in logical statement,
more than in executive ability. He reasoned
clearly, his reflective Judgment was good,
and his purposes were fixed; but, like the
Hamlet of his only poet, his will was tardy
IN acIion; and for this reason, and not from
humility or tenderness of feeling, he some
times deplored that the duty which devolv-
ed on him had not fallen 10 the lot of anoth-
er. He was skillful in analysis; discerned
with precision the central idea on which
question TUNED, and knew how to disengage
it and present it by itself in few homely,
strong old English words that would be in
telligible to all He delighted to express his
opinions by apothegm, illustrate them by
parable, or drive them home by story.
Lincoln gained name by discussing ques
tions which of all others, most easily lead
to fanaticisn but he was never carried
away by enthusiastic zeal, never INDUCED
IN extravagant language never hurried to
| support extreme measures, never allowed
himselfto be controlled by sudden impulses
/ During the progress of the election at
which he was chosen President, he express
ed no opinion that went beyond the Jefferson
proviso of 1884. Like Jefferson and Lafa-
yette, he had faith in the intuitions of the
people, and read those intutions with rare
sagacity. He knew how to bide his time,
and was less apt to be In advance of public
opinion than to lag behind. He never
sought to electrify the public by taking an
advanced position with banner Of opinion;
but rather studied to move toward compact
| ly, exposing no detachment In front or rear I;
so that the course of his administration
might have been explained as the calculating
policy of shreWd and watchful politician,
had there not been seen behind it q fxedness
of principle which from the first determined
his purpose and grew more intense with
every year, consuming his life by its energy
Yet his seDsibilities were not acute, he hao
no vividness of imagination to picture to his
mind the horrors of the battle field or the
sufferingS in hospitals; his conscience was
more tender than his feelings.
! Lincoln was one of the most uuassuming oi
men. In time of success, he gave credit for
it to those whom he employed, to the people
and to the providence of God He did mo-
know what ostentation is; when he became
President he was rather saddened than slatet
and his conduct and manners showed more
than ever his belief that all men are borr
equal. He was no respecter of person anC
neither rank, nor reputation, nor services
overawed him. In Judging Of character he
failed in discrimination, and his appointments
were sometimes bad; but he readily deferred
to public opinion, and in appointing the heaC
of the armies he followed the manifest pref
erence of Congress.
A good President will secure unity to hi
administration By his own supervision of tn,
various departments. Lincoln, who accepted
advice readily, was never governed by any
member of his cabinet, and could not bt
moved from purpose deliberately formed
but his supervision of affairs was unsteady
and incomplete; and sometimes, by sudder
interference transcending the usual forms
he rather confused than advanced the public
business. IF he ever failed in the serupulou!
regard due 60 the relative rights of Congress
it was so evidently without design that nC
conflict could ensue, or evil precedent be es
tablished. TrHth he would receive from any
one but, when impressed by others, he die
not use their opinions till by reflection he hac
made them thoroughly his own.
| Il was the nature of Lincoln to forgive
4 When hostilities ceased, he who had always
sent forth the flag with every one OF its star:
in the field, was eager to receive back his re
turning eountrymen, and meditated ''somC
new announcement to the South. The
amendment of the Constitution abolishine
clo bod