Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-14

France by her traditions OF freedom, or he himself
by his own better Judgment and clear perception of
events. As with us there could be no quiet but
through the eld Of slavery, 50 in Mexico there could
be no prosperity until the crushing tyranny Of in
tolerance should cease. The party of slavery in the
United States sent then emissaries to Europe to So
licit aid: and SO did the party of the church in Mex
;co, as organized by the old spanish council Of the
Indies, but with a different result. Just as the Re-
publican party had made an end OF the rebellion,
and was establishing the best government ever
known in that region, and giving promise TO tie ma
Gion of order, peace and prosperity, word was
brought Us, in the moment of our deepest at
Fiction, that,the French Emperor, moved by a desire
TO erect in North America a buttress Tor imperialism,
would transform the republic OF Mexico into 4 Sc
cundo. %reniture for the house of Hapsburg. America
might complain; she could not then interpose, and
a delay seemed justiliabie. IL was seen that Mexico
could not, with all its wealth OF land, complete in
cereal products, with our northwest, nor, IN tropical
nroducts, with Cuba nor could 1t, under 4 disputed
dynasty, attract capital, or create public works, or
deyelope mines, or borrow money so that the I'M
nerial system of Mexico, which was forced at once
To recognize the wisdom of the policy of the re-
nublic BY adopting it, could prove only an unTemu-
nerating drain on the French treasury for the sup
mort of an Austrian adventurcr.
A free State once properly constituted should he
as undying as IFS people; the Republic of Mexico
must rise again.
The speaker then referred to the action of the Pope
of Rome during the rebellion, in being the only one
among u ltlDlbldl opNNlGlEho ~ ltIbEhtsiA bh'
chief of the Confederate States as a President, and
his supporters as a people.
He smoke eloquently of the ineXorable will of our
naople and said that the President was led along by
the greatness of their Self-sacrihcing example and,
as n child in a dark night, on a rugged way, catches
hold of the hand of its father for guidance and sup
mort, he chung fast to the hand of the people, and
moved calmly through the gloom. While the
craftsmanship of Europe was scOfing at the hopeless
vanity of their efforts, they put forth spcl miracles
of energy as the history OF the world had never
known.
The sudden growth Of the army aud navy the Ia
bors of the medical department, of the volunteer
muses., of the Christian commission and thc%anitary
commission were all remembered in this connection.
The speaker then enlogized the Emancipation
Proclamation, quoting Mr.. LincolnS own words;
The emancipation policy, and the use OF cOlored
troops, were the greatest blows yet dealt to the re-
belliOn. The job was a great national one and let
nonebe sighted who bore an honorable part in it. -
| hope peace viii come soon, and come to stay;
then will there be some blacks who can emeInber
that they have helped mankind to tins great con-
summation
Reference was then made to the unwavering
friendship of the Emperor OF Russia, who had Just
accomplished one of the grandest acts IN the cOulSe
of time by raising twenty millions OF bondmen into
freeholders. and thus assuring the growth and cul-
ture Of tie Russian people.
The war continued, said the speaker, with all the
people of the word for anxious spectators. Its
cares weighed heavily on Lincoln, and his face was
ploughed with the burrows of thought and sadness.
With malice towards none, free from the spirit OF re-
venge, victory made him importunate for peace and
his enemy never doubted his word, or desRaircd OF
his Astounding clemency. He longcd to utter par
don as the word for all, but not unless the freedom
of the negro should be assured. The grand battles
of Mill Spring, which gave us Nashville, of Fort
Donelson, Malvern Hill, Antieianl, Gettysburg, the
Wilderness of Virginia, Winchester, Nashville, the
capture of New Orleans, Nicksburg, Mobile, Fort
Fisher, the march from Atlanta, and the capture OF
Savannah and Charleston, all foretold the issue. If
words of mercy, uttered as they were by Lincoln on
the waters of Virginia, were defantly repealed, the
armies of the country, moving with one will, went
as the arrow to its mark, and without a feeling Of
revenge struck n death blow at rebellion.
The assassination was then referred to and the
speaker said that not in vain has Lincoln lived, for
he has helped to make this Republic and example of
Justice, with no caste but the caste OF human
ity. The heroes who led our armies ana
ships into battle-LyOn, Mcpherson, Reynolds,
Sedgwick, WadswOrth, FOote, Ward. with their
compeers-and fell in the service, did not die
in vain; they, and the IN yriads of naneless mar
tyrs, aud he, the chief martyr, died willingly that
government of the people, by the people, ana Tor
the people, shall not perish from the earth"
The assassination of Lincoln, who was so free
from malice, has by some mysterious ntluenccstruck
the country with solemn awe, and hustled, instead
of exciting the passion for revenge. 1t seemed rs II
the lust had died for the unjust.
The speaker closed his address with this glowing
tribute to the {" Character of hr. Lincoln
In his character, Lincoln was through and through
an American. lie is the first native Of the region
west OF the AlIeghanies to attain 10 the highest sta
ton and how happy 1t Is that the man who was
brought forward as the natural ou%tgrowtl and hrst
fruits of that region should have been OF unblem-
ished purity in private life, a good son, q KIND nus
band, a most aflectionate father, and, rs Il man, so
gentle to all. As TO integrity, Douglas, 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 cX-
cclled in logical statement more than in executive
ability. He reasoned clearly, his reflective jndg-
ment was good, and his purposes were hNed; Dut,
like the Hamlet of his only poet, his Will was tlfly
in action and for this reason, and not from hu-
mility or tenderness of feeling, he sometimes de-
plored that the duty which involved on him had not
fallen to the lot OF another. lie was skillinl III an
aIyais a;s.ar,.-d Nth r'a"isi"n the central idea on
which Il question turned, and knew how 10 olsen
gage it and present it by itself in a few lomeiy,
strong old English words that would be inteiligibie
to all. lie delighted to express his opinions by
apothegm, illustrate them by a parable, or drive
them home by a story.
Lincoln gained q name by discussing questions
which, of all Others, most easily lead to fanatlclsm
but lie was never carried away by enthusiastic zeal,
never INDUCED in eXtravagant language, never hnr,
ried to support extreme measures, never allowed
to be controlled by sudden impulses. During
lH' lh'EiN1~ - VIZ ANNNN' ~ 49,
President, he expressed no opinion which went be-
yOnd the Jefferson provisO OF ISL. Like Jefferson
and Lafayette, he had faith in the intuitiOns OF the
people, aud read those munitions with rare saeacity.
lie knew how to bide his time, and was less apt Ia
be in advance of public opinion than 10 lag behind.
He never sought to ~clectrify the public by taking an
advanced position with a banner of opinion but
rather studied to move forward cOmpactly, exposing
no detachment i'll front or rear so that the course
of his administration might have been explained as
H. I..l, TIM n1lgN. "a r. a glYasF and usnIIItnl
politician, had there not been seen behind it a fixed
ness of principle which from the first determined his
purpose and grew more intense every year, consuming
his life by its energy. ct his SensiblIlties were not
acute, he had no vividncSs of Imagination TO pc
tnre TO his mind the horrors of the battlefield or tile
s~ullfrings in hospitals; his conscience was more ten
der than his feelings.
Lincoln was one of the most unassuming OF men.
In time of success, he gave credit Tor 1t to those
whom he employed, to the people, and to the provi-
dence of God. lie did not know what ostentdtion
is; when he became President he was rather sad
dened than elated, and his conduct and manners
showed more than ever his belief that all men are
born equal. He was no respecter OF persons and
neither rank, nor reputation, nor services, overawed
him, In Judging of character he failed III discrimi-
nation, and his appointments were sometimes bad;
but he readily deferred TO public OPINION and IN APP
pointing the head of the armies he ~lollOwedHthe
manifest preference of Congress.
A good President will secure unity to his admins
tfaIlOn Nv HIS OWL SultlN lS.bu VI u 'hi''u9 VIZ
partments. Lincoln, who accepted advice readily,
was meyer governed by any member OF his cabinet,
and could not be moved from a purpose deliberately
formed but his supervision Of affairs was unsteady
and incomplete: and sometimes, by a sudden inter
ference, transcending the usual Storms, he rather
confused than advanced the public business. ii he
ever failed in the scTupulous regard due to the rela-
tive rights of Congress, it was 80 evidently without
design that no conflict could cnsue, or evil precedent
be established. Truth he would receive from any
one: hut when impressed by others, lie did not use
their opinions till, by reflection, he had made them
thoroughly his own.
1t was the character of Lincoln to forgive. When
h~ostilities ceased, he who had always sent forth the
flag with every one of its stars in the Held, was eager
To receive back his returning cOuntrymen, and me-
ditated - some new announcement to the SOuth.
The amendment of the Constitution abolishing sla-
very had his most earnest and unwearled support.
During the rage of war We get Il glimpse into his
soul from his privately suggesting to Louisiana that
'' in defining the franchise some OF the c"l0red peo-
Die might be let ill.," saying: They would prOba-
Div help, in some trying time, 10 come to keep the
level of liberty in the family Of freedom In 1851
he ayOWed himself mot in favor of" what he i'm
properly called negro citizenship" for the COnsti-
luton Discriminate between citizens and electors.
Three DAYS before his death he declared his prefer.
ence that . the elective franchise were now conferred
on the very intelligent Of the colored men, aud on
those of them who served our cause as soldiers; /"
but he wished it done by the States themselves, and
he never harbOred the thought Of exactng 1t from a