Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-09-27


learned to love him fol- his brave and noble
TRAITS and have watched with deep emotion
the sleepless fidelity and the indomitable spirit
7of his faithful and devoted wife, to whom, in
of our poor human sympathy.
Resolved, That this expression Of our sincere
: Of this Association, published in the papers of
the city, with the request that as many IS will
do SO, copy the same, and at a suitable and
q our our lamented President, whose memor{ We
shall ever cherish. NJ
Actg6a Of the Supreme Court Of appeals In ResNd
to the Death Of the President.
After the formal opening Of the Court on last
Tuesday morning, Judge Christian the Presi-
Jdent of the Court, In announcing that there
Swould be no session of the Court, that day be-
Scause of the death of the President, said most
sadly and impressively
In the presence OF the dark and dreadful
shadow, he said, which to-day hangs over &
stricken nation we cannot proceed with gu,
Ordinary duties. Oppressed with the general
grief which weighs upon every heart through
Iout our common country, neither counsel MOI
Ijudges can perform their accustomed duties
The whole country is in tears. Virginia weeps
asfrick en- and appalled, with sorrow. by the bic;
: of the great and noble man whose suffering
and courage and patient struggle with death
where, and stirred:to the depths the heart Of
Jour com mon humanity.
The assassin's work is finished. The Presi-
Hdent is dead. God grant that we may not have
= to say that Republican liberty died with him
7for the assassin's hand which strikes down the
&Chief Magistrate OF great country, is a blow
Saimed at liberty itself.
4 In concluding, Judge Christian stated thai
one of the oldest and most disting uished mem.
9bers of the bar would prepare an address suita-
Sble to the occasion which would be presented
Thursday In Court.
Il The Court then adjourned.
ADDRESS OF HON. A. II. Fl. STUART.
On Thursday morning after the opinions OF
! the Court having announced that there was nc
Further business before it. Mr.. Stuart arose and
lin trembling tones and with deep emotion read
! the following paper
When the court met on Tuesday last, the
echoes of the minute guns and of the tuiline
Fbells. which announced the ,-eath Of the Presi-
! their ears. Under circumstances like these,
the court felt themselves in no condition to en-
ter on the discharge of their official duties. and
: the feeling OF depression which saddened theiI
8own hearts. The court, therefore, very apprO-
Spriately. as thought. contented itself with the
the court to be adjourned.
! In view, however. of the magnitude of the
calamity which had befallen the country, and
: at the atrocity of the crims which had caused
1t, they felt that 1t would be proper. at a later
&day, to spread on their records O. more formal
repression OF their opinions and feelings on
with this view, they did me the honor to re-
Hquest that /, one of the senior members Of the
Eve effsct to their wishes IN this respect. i
fhave no doubt that in doing SO, they desired
That the paper should present the sentiments
not only of the court. but also Of the members
In compliance with this request of the court
ID have prepared paper which. imperfect as ii
i When whole netiOn is stricken by q great
$calamity, it is emineptly proper. not only that
zthe people in primary meetings, but that their
in every department Of govern
9ment, should give expression to their opinions
land feelings in regard to It,
: Fifty millions Of American freemen stand to-
4day overwhelmed with grief at the death, by
1.-THE hand of an assassin. OF the man who had
8oeen chosen by them as the Chief Magist rate
the Melton M q since the wopnd wa,
Sprayers have gushed unbidden from the hearts
Sof the whole people, to the Great Ruler of the
3be spared TO his country man. For reasons
(which we cannot faJhom. those prayers have
Enot been granted. and we can only bow, in
Submission. to the Divine will.
& In the presence Of this great aff1iction every
Aieeling Of craftsmanship stands rebuked; sec
&tional prejudices have been suppressed. and
5time been forgotten. The whole people have
10 cen welded together by q common sorrow
land local asper1ties have been Quenched in @
The people OF the North and of the South.-of
1.-The East and of the West-Republicans and
Democrats alike, that great disaster has
4befallen them They feel that James A. Gar
4feld belonged to no sect on and to no party =
&ae was the President of the United States! He
was the Chief Magistrate Of the Nation He
Twas the representative of the whole country
and the impersonation of their sovereign will
and power, and majesty!
A wound inflicted on his person was wound
info nft 1ro TYu1i.
ted Statesi A blow struck at the chief execu-
tive officer Of the Nation may justly be regard.
ed as a blow struck at the Nation ITSELF through
Its government. of which he was the honored
Representative
Under the theory of cur freeinstitutions, sal
The n
modes prescribed by the Constitution is the su-
preme law. They alone, through the proper
choose President of the United States and, a
lit " ere. to eonsecrate him for the discharge o.
The duties of his high office!
When their choice has been officially an
bounced, all diffes ences OF opinion and al
acerbities of feeling engendered by the canvass
lat once vanish. and all good citizens promptly
and cheerfully acquiesce In the decision OF the
Atrocious and delestable as the crime of as
Fascination must be regarded under all clrcum
stances. 1t assumes yet deeper dye when 1t II
apparent that the object OF the murderer wa,
not merely to take the life of the Presi
dent, but at the same time. by bis felonioui
lean people. and TO change the whole current o.
the administration Of national affairs!
1t must be obvious TO every Intelligent
mind that a mortal wound, inflicted unde
these circumstances on the person of the Presi
|dent, is a dangerous assault on free lnstitu
8tions and the cause of human liberty!
Profound. then, as is our grief at the murder
OF our President, whose great abilities, larg'
land varied attachments, catholic patriotism
manly courage, and Christian character, ha(
commanded the esteem and admiration of hi
countrymen. and of the whole civilized world
Wand deep and tender as is our sympathy will
his stricken wife, who, in her affilction has ex
Inhibited SO many of the noblest traits of woman
hood-even these strong emotions cannot caus
JUS to forget the great and abiding wrong lha
mas been done to our government and our coun
Utry.
human life is at most but a span! By tn,
law Of our nature the most robust must sool
pass away! The Affections Of individuals
poignant and heart-rending as they may be
under the merciful ordinances of our Create
yield to the soothing influences of time and tn
cOnsOlations of religion. But q wound infllct
led on our free institutiOns-a blow struck q
republican government-is more far reaehinI
and permanent in its consequences, and en-
dangers the cause Of human liberty through al
MIXTURE ages
Recognizing these great truths, this cour
doth order that the foregoing paper be sprea,
*upOn Its records rs an enduring memorial o
3thetr grief at the brutal murder Of the Presi
dent Of the United States; of their profoun'
sympathy with his bereaved family, and o
their detestation Of the crime which ha
ana on m on tn
$liberty throughout the world
) At the conclusion Of Mr.. stuart's addres
Judge Christian said:-
led by its official action how II was affected b.
this great public calamity, and how It sympe
thixed with the common sorrow Of the Who'll
country.