Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-08-22
THE NEW ORLEANS MASSACRE.

emonies--OrattOn by Hon. Rufus wa
ples--Poem by Cora l.. ". Hatch--Cios-
ing Prayer by DIR. Newman.
From the Ne,o Orleans Republican, Aug,n3
Yesterday, to commemorate the men,
ory of the events which occurred on the
ever memorable Both of July, 1855, and to
honor the names of the martyred patri-
OTIS who were murdered while in the ex-
ercise of the right of peaceable assem-
blage, the representatives hall of Me-
chanics' Institute was thronged at an
early hour by citizens of New Orleans,
among them great number of ladies.
The hall was draped in mourning
The sacred altar and the catafalque also
bore the emblems of mourning.
On the right of the altar was the Amer
lean flag draped in a similar manner, and
on the left u portrait of George WASH
ington, also draped.
A requiem mass was sung by Reverend
Father Maistre. The imposing Catholic
rite was most impressive throughout.
Hon. Rufus NAPLES was then intro
duced, who delivered an Grafton in Eng
Wu1Ch VIC ItDolO
GRAFTON OF HON. RUFUS NAPLES.
This is the first anniversary funeral of
the patriots massacred here on the 30th
of July, 1865, the day memorable as the
eliminating point of the lawless policy
of him who had sworn to enforce the
laws.
He took his oath of office under the
most solemn circumstances. The assas-
sination of Abraham Lincoln had made
us a nation of mourners. All over the
land public buildings were hung with
black, and to our tri-colored flag was ad-
ded the funeral Grape. Every loyal heart
was enveloped in sackcloth and ashes
With eyes suff'used with tears all looked
to the successor of the lamented dead;
the glances of nation concentrated to
a focus upon him. All felt that to a
great extent the result of the war for
good or evil, the hope of the future, the
destiny of the nation, depended upon his
course. Understanding the South and
the spirit of the rebellion, he was believ-
ed to be the man who could rightly serve
the people in the great crisis, and execute
the laws i'm their letter and spirit.
He solemnly swore before heaven and
earth, i'm the presence of Lincoln's life
less remains, and of mourning and
anxious people. with discounted hosts of
rebels looking on, that he would faith
fully obey the Constitution and enforce
the laws of his country. 1t was most
solemn and impressive occasion. Well
might a strong man shrink from the as
sumption of such grave responsibilities,
as burden too great for him to BEAR
But he was supported by the greatest
army and navy that any nation had ever
given 20 its chief. And behind the mighty
N millions nf Stnlt
hearts and strong arms ready to follow i'll
doing the nations will, The great re-
bellon had been checked; and the mighty
colossus which had cast its hideous shad-
ow over the land for four long and dis
| NAL years was tottering to its fall. Every
thing combined to encourage the new in
cumbent of the presidential office to dc
his duty, If his solemn oath had not been
in itself sufficient. Under the circum-
stances, the Inauguration of Mr.. johnson,
| as citizen stepping out from among his
| fellows to become their President, was, in
| a moral point of view, more impressive
than the coronation of King. He swore
to be the faithful servant of the nation
and to execute its will as expressed
| through Congress. He took upon him
self the mighty trust, calling God to
| witness.
The war closed soon after. The spirit
of the rebellion was subdued, and good
craftsmanship might have easily reapeG
the fruits of the victory. The conquered
insurgents ad'ritted that they We're de-
feated; and they feared the punishment
which their crimes deserved. They
would have been well satisfied with &
pardon coupled with the condition thai
they should no more take part in public
affairs. They would have thought five
| or fap x,aor rrOsariptioO a m 1arcifIII con
ditiOn. The leaders would have beer
glad to have had their lives spared or
condition that they would leave the coun
! try never to return. They spoke and ap
parently felt kindly toward Union men
1t was very far from their thoughts tha
they should he treated as we'll as loya
men; they never dreamed of being treat
ed better.
But he who was the sworn administra
tor of the law, who had thousands o
civil subordinates, as well as the arm,
and navy, to enable him to perform hi
oath, instead of enforcing statutes as h
found them, went to work despOilinl
what loyal men had done in the field
setting up policy of his own instead o
the legislation of Congress; making de
cisions of his own instead of the decree
of the courts; usurping both the legisla
tive and the judicial powers of the Gov
ernment; instead of executing their be
hests, as he had sworn to do.
The effect of his course upon the rebe
spirit was soon seen and felt. Their de
spondency gave place to renewed hopes
They eagerly seized the chance of regain
ing by strategy what they had lost Il
battle. Their old boast, that they woul'
never submit, began to excite them afresh
Again they cherished their former hat
of loyal men; again they took counsel to
gether, as the fallen angels did after thei
rebellion, and seemed to adopt the senti
ments of the chief fiend-
"What though the field be lost?
All is not lost. The unconquered will,
The study of revenge; immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or yield;
The glory never shall his wrath or might
Extort from me"
I From the time when Johnson's polio
inspired the defeated rebels with falls
hopes of renewed power we may date tn
recommencement of rebel persecution
of Union men in the South. Had tn
President simply enforced the law
through district attorneys and marshali
his military force and his various officis
agencies, the persecution of Union me
would have ended with the war. Ther
was a cessation of their troubles for
time. But as he chose to be the legisls
tive and judicial power rather than tn
executives; as he not only refused to exc