Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-09-29

GARFIELD's speech in the House
of Representatives, April IA, 1866,
the first anniversary of the assassin
alton of Lincoln, was one of the
most eloquent of all his eloquent
attempts in the line Of oratory.
The circumstances under which.
it was delivered were peculiar
"Without notifying Congress, says
Edmund Kirke. president Johnson
decided to observe the first anniver-
sary of the death OF Abraham Lin
coin by closing the Departments,
and issued an order to that effect in
the morning journals. Speaker Col.
fax heard of this only fifteen minutes
before the hour Congress was to
assemble, and calling at once at
Garfield's committee-room, said to
him, 81 desire you to move that the
House shall adjourn as a mark of
respect 20 our martyred President.
I give you just fifteen minutes to
prepare some suitable remarks"
Garfield demurred for want of time,
but ColfaX cleared the room, locked
the door. and left him to his rehec-
ticns. In fifteen minutes Garfield
entered the House, and as soon as
the last words OF the previous days
proceedings had fallen from the lips
of the reading clerk, he rose and
moved that the House adjourn, and
proceeded to speak iu most glow
ing and eloquent vein. "Ihis day"
he said, twill be sadly memorial SOL
long as this nation shall endure,
which God grant may be till the last
syllable of recorded time, when the
volume of human history shall be
sealed up and delivered to the ON
nipotent Judge. In all future time,
on the recurrence of this day,
doubt not that the citizens of this
republic will meet in solemn assem-
bly, 10 reflect on the life and charac-
ter of Abraham Lincoln, and the
awful tragic event OF April 18th, 1865
An event unparalleled in the bis.
tory of nations. 1t is eminently
proper that this House should this
day place upon its record memoir
ial OF that event. He closed as fol- |
lows:
"Ah, sir, there are times in the
history OF men and nations when
they stand so near the veil
that separates nortals and immor-
tails, time from eternity, and men
from their God, that they can almost
hear the breathing and feel the
pulsations OF the heart Of the infinite.
Through such time has this nation
passed. When two hundred and
fifty thousand brave spirits passed
from TIE field of honor through that
veil to the presence OF God, and
when at last its parting folds admit
ted the martyred President to the
company of the dead heroes of the
the nation stood so near
the veil that the whispers of God
were heard by the children of men,
by his voice, the Amer
lean people knelt in fearful rever-
ence and made a solemn convenant
with God and each other that this
nation should be saved from its
enemies; that all its glory should be
restored, and on the ruins OF slavery
and treason the temples of freedom
and Justice should be built and stand
forever. II remains fer Us, conse-
Grated by that great event, and
under that covenant with GOD, to
keep the faith, to so forward in the
great work until it shall be con-
pleted. Following the lead of that
great man, and obeying the high
behests of God, let us remember:
He has sounded forth his trumpet
that shall never call retreat;
He is sitting out the hearts of men
before His judgement seat;
Be swift my soul to answer him; DO
iubilant, my feet,
For God is marching on.