The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22
THEMURDER
RKMIyISCENsES OF SOUTHERN
FEELING OYER THE CRIME.
Additional Proof Of the Falsity OF tho Mar
quis de Chambrun's Charge-french
Hatred of tho South.

| not n whit too severe / can add nothing
10 enforce the truth OF what the writer
has said. but a line or two OF personal
observation at the time may not be amiss'
I was at home In Richmond, on parole
when the news Of Mr.. Lincoln's assassi-
nation came. At first whispered rufhor
OF something horrible having occurred
nj Washington ran over the town, ana
people were wondering what on earth IL
could be. There was an unusually anxl-
GUS and depressed look among the red
eral troops then occupying the city. Ihe
| guards stationed at the corners Oh the
streets and elsewhere were silent ana
grum This was Saturday the loth OF
April. 1865. When night came on, the
streets were particularly silent ana uN-
freGuented by the native population.
At length the mystery was solved. some
time during Sunday the next day Inc
community were startled by the
announcement that the President OF the
United States had been assasslnated on
| the night of Good Friday the lfth OF
| April at Ford's Theatre. In Washington
| BY many this extraordinary news was
not believed. Some thought II might De
a false report thrown out by designing
men to test the temper OF the southern
people, others did not know what 10
| think not yet being able TO realize the
terrible fact On Monday morning the
Richmond Wing, the only newspaper then
issued from the Richmond press, pub
| lished such accounts Of the crime as could
be gotten from the Washington papers.
/ well remember one announcement maue
under the Geographic head. 1t was to
! this effect: San Francisco. Cal, April -
| The assassination Of President Lincoln
produced a profound sensation mere.
! With me the question was how dld the
Information reach that remote locality so
soon? I had not known until that mo-
ment that transcontinental teiegraphic
| communication had been established De-
| tween the East and the Pacific coast. AS
| heard another person remark. we mad
been so long locked up an an iron chest
| by the stringencies OF war that we knew
| nothing of what had been going on In the
| outside world.
A few days after these events, ana
when the community had become in some
degree familiar with the facts of the
| tragedy, It became a matter of serious
concern among the Confederates, what
the effect would be upon their alrcady
decreased fortunes. They recollecied that
Mr.. Lincoln had but lately visited Rich
mond and had given evidence OF his dis
position TO relieve It's people and restore,
IL possible. over the entire State peace
and tranquility; that he had actually
authorized the assembling of she state
Legislature with this general purpose In
view, and. that many Of the citizens could
vouch for his sincerity IN this regard.
With all the trials and disappointments Of
the past four years, they had at least
hope that some OF their troubles would
now end. We all recollect. however, how
short-lived were their anticipations. The
President had scarcely set foot in wash
ington when he was set upon by the ex-
tremists and his policy Of pacifcation
utterly broken up. Then began that dire
full system Of persecution. which Tor SO
long q period of time did more 70 per-
petuate the hate of the two sections than
did even the passions of war during the
entire four years OF actual strife.
But TO return: For weeks after the muir
der Of Mr. Lincoln 1 was in Richmond
because | was obliged to stay there. In
the midst of thousands OF people and
troops, with whom | not only could nave
no sentiment In common. but the very
sight Of whom was bitterly distasteful to
me. I naturally sought the society OF my
Confederate co-suffcrers. / met them at
their fresides behind closed windows and
muffled doors: ] strOlled with them along
the well-guarded streets, and chatted
freely with them at places of favorite re-
sort Chief among the subjects under
discussion during this time was the late
assassination. With one accord they ex-
pressed their opinions, and | do solemnly
aver that in all this time l never heard
a single word from the lips of Confed-
crate that for a moment showed the
slightest approval Of the crime Of the
murderer The idea that an American
President had actually fallen victim TO
a crime OF which we had read only In
history, and which all men regarded with
horror, could not for moment be toler-
ated That 1t had occurred was cause
for humiliation and shame. and a stain
upon the purity Of republican government.
JTp to this time II had been the fate Of ty-
rants and dospots of the old world. and
young Americans had been taught to re-
gard the poignard and the dagger as iii
only for the hand OF the basest OF men,
the blacklist Of towards. Hence, as
Americans. II was with sentiments Of
unfeigned regret that the unholy act had
now become, in certain sense, part or
the history of their own land. although
that land was still rent b. the commissions
of war.
From my peculiar situation at that
time / am enabled TO furnish other. and
important evidences OF the manner In
which the people OF Richmond and Of
Virginia regarded that great crime. ! had
noticed that whenever group OF Con-
federates were seen talking together on
the streets. the Federal officers Or guards
who happened TO be near, appeared
particularly interested in what was going
on They would linger In passing. or
manage to be al convenient hearing dis
lance without seeming to listen. This was
all understood Afterwards, when | had II
explained by a Federal officer. with whom
1 was thrown officially, and when | was
applying for a leave Of absence from the
city. All paroled men were required to
repair to their homes, and stay there.
Richmond was my home. but It's attrac-
tions were not then such as reconciled
me to 1t, and l wanted 10 get out into
the country, where 1 could see the earth,
the sky and the trees. but no more white
or negro Federal soldiers. AIter the ne
cessary formalities had been successfully
arranged between the United States Coy
eminent and myself. the officer through
whose politeness and kindness / got my
firlough, seemed socially inclined. We
soon got into an unrestrained CONVEX
saticn upon the condition OF things in
general, and then upon the subject Of
the dssassirafiou in par ocular. This gem
teman frankly admitted TO me. not only
his surprise but lis qualification. at the
way In which the people OF Richmond
had demeaned themselves on that occa-
sion. This sentiment. he said. was not
confined 10 himself. The Federal Govern
mant had, quito naturally, anticipated
that some imprudent or hot-hcaded Con-
federate might express his vengeful re-
joicings at the dread taking o1.' Posi-
tive orders had, therefore. been issued
to all the troops to cut or shoot down on