The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-13
THE ACTORS IN THE GREAT SCENE
Georgia's Statesman on the Man
and the Event.
PROBLEMS ONLY HISTORY CAN SOLVE
Southern Sentiment Toward the Slave
and the Freedman.

ing In anticipation OF the ceremony OF presenting to
Congress Carpenters large painting OF President LIN
coin reading his Emancipation Proclamation to tho
Cabinet The painting screened by national nag,
was hung behind tho Speakers chair Preparations
were also mado Tor tho accom- modaton OF Senators.
Immediately after tho reading OF the journal resolu
tion was offered by Mr. Potter, OF New York, ana
adopted granting the privilege OF the floor during the
presentation ceremonies to families OF the OF
President Lncons Cabinet ~ tho time OF the proca-
nation.
On motion Of Mr.. Cox, tdem) OF " r.. the Clerk was
directed to notify the that House was pre-.
pared 10 receive the Senators 10 participate pre-
sentation ceremonies. The House then took recess
for few minutes, and In the mcantime the nag was
Withdrawn from the painting and members gathered
in the area. all TO crlticse and many to Inquire
the various figures II, OF whom the remark
was that but onc-Mr Montgomery Biair-was still
living. At two O'Clock the ended and the House
called to order, when tho Assistant Doorkeeper
Mr. Donovan, announced tho Senate Of the
Cnited States. This members rose and remained
standing while The senators Med In and took
the assigned ,hcm being the two inner rows OF
senicircles.
Tho Vice President, having taken the chair with
tho Speaker 10 his !citl said
The Senate and House OF Representatives have
convened joint session for the purpose Of receiving
through tho munilcence of Mrs. Elizabeth Tho psop,
of The city of New York. Carpenters painting Of the
"Sgning Of tho Proclamation of Emancipation"
THE PRESENTATION SPEECH
Mr.. Garfield, OF Ohio, then and made the pre-.
sentation speech, as foliows:-
Mr. PRgsiDESr-By the order OF the Senate and
the House, and bcnalf oil the DONOR Mrs. Elizabeth
Thompson, IL is made my pleasing duty to deliver
TO Congress the painting which Is now IN
woman whose years nave been devoted TO the emile
and generous CHARITIES aud to the instruction aud OLE
vaton OF tho iaboring poor Believing that tho per-
petuiiy and glory OF her country depend upon the
dignity Of labor and the equal freedom OF all It's peo-
pie. she has como 70 tho Capitol 10 place the per-
petuai custody Of tho nation as the symbol Of her
hath, tho representation Of that great act when
proclaimed "hoerty throughout all the land
unto all The inhabitants thereof" Inspired ~
the patton have opened the doors Of shis
chamber receive at her hands the sacred ln
under The domo and through that beautiful aud ven
erAblo nall which ano.ner occasion have red
tives !" that silent assembly whose members have 70.
ceivcd these high credentials AT tho impartial hand
OF History. Year by year VIC soc the CIRCLE OF It's i'm
mortal membership enlarsng; year by yoar We see
the elect OF their country 10 eloquent silence
liking their places In tho American Pantheon, bring
ing within It's precincts tho wealth OF those I'M
mortal memories which made thor lives illuslrious;
and year by year that august assembly is teaching
these moro ephemoral houses OF Congress
MEMORABLE PAINTINGS.
Among the paintings hitherto assigned TO places
within tue Capitol are two whichimark events for
ever memorable In the history Of mankind. thrice
memorable in the history OF America. The 1rst Is
the painting by vandern. which represents. though
gave 70 tho civilized world . new hemisphere.
The second by TrumbuI represents that great dcclar
alton which banished forever from shores tho
crown and scepIrc Of imperial Britain and created a
new nation upon tho broad and enduring basis OF
liberty. To-day VIC place upon our walls this votivo
q n
history Of America, the iuInlimcnt oil the promise Of
the Declaration. Concerning tho causes which Iod 10
that act the motives which inspired II. the necessi-
ties which compelled It and the consequences which
followed and are yet TO follow It. there have been,
ences OF opinion. Perhaps We are sin too
near tho great events OF which this act
formed so CONSPICUOUS part 70 understand
IT'S deepest significance and TO ioreseo It's faron
qucnces The lesson OF history Is rarely learned by
Inc actors themselves, especially when thoy read BY
the hercc and dusky light OF war amid those deeper
shadows oil those sorrows which always brings 10
both contestants But the unanimous voice OF this
House in favor OF accepting the gilt anu the imprcs-
sve scene wo here witness bear eloquent testimony
to the transcsndcnt importance o the event portrayed
on yondcr canvas.
SCENE.
Let US pause To consider the actors In that
In orco oil character In thorougnuess and breadth OF
culture, In experience Of public Affairs and in national
reputation tho Cabinet that sat around thAt council
board has had no superior perhaps no equal, In our
history seward, The finished scholar, the consum-
mate orator, the great leader OF the Senate, had
10 crown tbs career with those achievements winch
placed i'm In the hrst rank OF modern dipiomatista
Cnass, VII" IA, culture ana fame o. massive
public credit, the noble embodiment OF the pubic
aiih. Stanton was there, very Titan OF strength,
Of business LEADERS Of States and leaders Of
pieted ihe group. But tho man VINO presided over
TONS was character so unique that he stood alone
without a model In history or parallel among men,
Born on this day sixtynine years ago TO an
inheritance OF EXTREMIST poverty, surrounded
by the rude forces OF the wilderness, wholly
unaidcd by parents, only one year IN any school.
reached hts majority, making his way to tne profess
sion Of the law by the hardest and roulbes road he
yet, by force OF unconqucrsbe Will and persistent pa
sion,
And moving up from nigh TO ssns,s
The pillar OF peoples hope
The centre OF ~ worlds desire.
Mr.. LIycoLx's voRcE OF CHARACTER
Al nrst II was the prevailing belief that he would
be only the nominal head OF ms admin istratop, and
that lis policy wouio DC directed by tho eminent
statesmen ne had called 10 his council How crroDc-
Gus this opinion was may be seen IN single incdcnt
Among tue earliest, most difficult and most delicate
duties or his adm nstraton was the adjustment OF
our relations with Great Britain. Serious comphca-
lions even bosttIes, were apprehebdcd On the 2lst
Of Nay 1851 the Secretary OF state presented TO tue
President his draft OF letter Of Instructions Min
isisr Adams, IN which tho position oil The United
states and The attitude Of Great Britain were
gel iorth with tho cicarncss and force whcb
long experience and great ability had placed
NJ the command OF the secretary Upon almost every
page oil that original dra are crasurcs additions and
marginal notes IA the handwriting OF Abraham Lin.
coin, which exhibit sagacity, breadth OF wisdom
ana acomprenens,on OF tho whole subject impose
TO be iouhd except IN man OF tho very 1rs order.
And these modIhcatioDs OF great State paper wcro
made by u man who but three months before, had
entered for the nrst lime the wide theatre OF execu.
two action. GIFTED ~ith an insight and n foresight
which the ancicnts would have called divnstion, he
looked through the mazes Of things aud. guided ny
the logic OF events, announced the result from the
nrst In his own quaint original way, wthouI osten-
ia'ion or offence 10 hts ASSOCIATED Hc was pilot
and commander OF hts administration. He was ono
OF the few great rulers whose wisdom increased with
bis power and whose spirit grew gentle and nder
his trlumphs we're multiplied. This was the man and
these his associates who look down upon IRON the
canvas
The present Is not atting occasion 10 exam Inc
With any completeness the causes that led TO the
Proclamation OF Emancration, but the peculiar reia
Ton oil that act 10 mo character OF Abraham Lincoln
cannot be Understood without considering one re-
markablc Tact IN his history. His early years
we're nssseA 10 region remote from the centres o.