The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-07-09
ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT
GARFIELD.

| We pubiifh ciscWlltTc III tills lssut
of THE COMET, the proceedings of q
public meeting of the citizens of Jack.
son, held in the Hall of Representa-.
tives Saturday evening, July I'd, at
O'Clock, to give expression to the pop
ular feeling in reference to the vile
and cowardly attempt to murder
James A. Garfield, President of tie
United States, in the Capital of the
Nation, on the morning of that day.
The notice of tine meeting was very
brief, and the weather threatening,
which prevented larger attendance
of the ladies-but Notwithstanding
these unfavorable circumstances, the
commodious Hall was well filled by a
large and spontaneous gathering OF
our citizens of all classes and races,
and of every party and shade of po-
litical opinion. The politician and
the partisan Were effectually sunk in
the patriot and the citizen and every
bosom in the vast assemblage was an
mated and thrilled with the one all
absorbing feeling of the hour-that OF
gloom and sorrow Occasioned by this
overshadOwing calamity to our COM
mon country, and If the deepest and
intensest Indignation and condemna-
ton of the horrible and detestable
crime of assassination. The represen-
tative men of the community were
there-protessional men and non-pro-
fessional, the merchant, the mechanic,
the day laborer; Judges of Courts,
State officers, ministers Of the gospel
every class, every race, every color, all
impelled by common sentiment,
and each anxious by his or her pres
ence, to rebuke the assassin, and con-
denim his crime.
Hon. III. III. Chalmers, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, was put in
nomination for chairman, by Hon.
Geo. &. Mckee, who called the meet
ing to order, and unanimously chosen
by the vote of the assembly. We re-
greet exceedingly that we cannot re-
produce and give to our readers the
impromptu, but most eloquent and APP
propriate address delivered by Judge
Chalmers on taking the stand. II
was very commonly expressed wish
that the Judge would put it in writing
and permit it to be published with the
resolutions.
Never before, save perhaps when the
hand of the assassin struck down
Abraham Lincoln, President of these
United States, has telegraph flashed
over this continent, and across the
ocean to the civilized powers of the
earth, an event so unsupported, so
startling, and so full of significance to
the American people, as the stealthy
and cold-blooded attempt on the life
of President Garfield last Saturday
No event since the assas-
of Mr.. Lincoln, has so thrilled
with the deepest sorrow and mourning
the hearts of fifty million of freemen.
Indeed, the last tragedy is more start
ling in some respects than the former.
Mr.. Lincoln was assassinated just at
the close of four years bloody inter-
necine war; when two great armies,
in the field and in deadly hos
iility, had been suddenly disbanded.
Men had been used for years to scenes
If bloodshed ard carnage; multiplied |
thousands had cut loose from their
moral moorings, and the whole land |
was In that state of decentralization |
that always follows protracted war.
But now, the country is in profound
peace. Whatever party rancor and
bitterness had been engendered by the
political campaign which made Mr.. |
President, had wholly sub
,ided, and all parties, and all men,
,heerfully and heartily acquiesced in
.he result and those who had oppos-
ID Mr.. Garfield's election We're ready
% stand by him and support him in
his administration so long az it con-
ormed to the Constitution and the
avs. .a. 'r
What then was the cause that is
ither coyertly or openly at work in
ociety, and that produced at least one
+? This Is question well
worth the closest investigation of the
tatesman as well as the moral philos-
pher. A spiritof agrarianism and of
is rife in the land. A lust
Or office, for place and power, is one
the degrading aud disgraceful
eatures of the day. The teachings of
he pulpit lave been supplanted to
reat extent by the scoffing and athe-
tic and infidel lecturers of the day.
Is 1t not time for the nation to call a
alt-for our people to make solemn ,
ause = one long enough to inquire
here this is TO end, If some correc
Oh is not applied? and to learn the =
'sson that Is conveyed in the assassi- !
alton Of James A. Garfield? L