Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-04

a the Great ..iug Held Mt
the Old Court as. Mes On the Even-
.ei,. ?, April 18th, 1ses-Uosn
Pre-. moderation, and His views
~ ne death of the Rev. Dr.. J. I. NC
Lure recalls to the older citizens OF
"neehng an incident occurring mere
sn,f.y-nve Years ago, which at one Tune
Diu lalr to result in riot and bloodsned'
Dus which, happily, was diverted 70
more sensible and peaceful courses by
.ns AID OF the distinguished divine VINO
has now passed from among US after
2 long life of good example and nooie
deeds.
ne incident referred to occurred a.
Tue oiu Court House, on Saturday even
Ing, April Is. 1865, the day after the
oeatn OF President Lincoln from tne
enects of the shot fred by j. wilkes
Booth.
In Wheeling, as at almost every otner
point in the border and Northern
STATES, the excitement over the assas-
sination was most intense. and here'
on Saturday. call was issued for
mass meeting to take suitable action,
the place of meeting being the court
House. The Register, in those days.
was persona non grata to the rampant
Republican element, and neither us
editor, Mr.. Long, its proprietor, MT.
Baker, nor its City Editor, Mr.. OxtoDy,
dare show themselves at the meeting.
Arrangements were made with Col.
Thomas O'Brien. now one of the Leading
business men of Wheeling, a Union
soldier, and a capable observer OF
events, to secure a report OF the meet
ing, and the result appeared Monday
morning, April 18th. A perusal OF
this news story Of thirty-five years ago
shows the character of the late Rev.
Mcclure in a most favorable light, and
to him and the late Dr.. BroWnson Is
due the fact that this city was saved
probably from riot and murder.
The account published in the Regis
ter says:
"On Saturday evening meeting was
held at the Court House, which was well
attended by our leading citizens of all
parties.
1.-THE meeting was organized by calling
Henry Crangle, Esq, to the chair, and
appointing John E. Wilson, secretary.
"At the request of the chairman Rev. DR..
Brownson opened the meeting with prayer.
ION motion. the Chairman appointed
Messrs. A. w. Campbell DR.. John c.
Hupp and Samuel Laughlin a committee of
three to prepare suitable resolutions for
the consideration of the meeting. While
the committee was out, tributes of respect
were paid to the life and character Of the
illustrious deceased by Rev. DR.. Brownson,
of Washington, Pa, and Revs. Moffitt
Mcclure and Martin, of this city.
DIR BroWnson said the death of the
President had overpoWered him with such
great suddenness, he could not give ex-
preston to his feelings. He viewed it as
one of those dispensations of Providence
inscrutable to man. but of which the Al
mighty would work good to the nation and
the race. 1t was one of those occasions
when we should be still and see the great
ness of God.
''Rev. Moffitt said that the circumstances
ri 10 IA hp9 ri
There was but one idea suggested to him
by the death of the President to which he
would allude. Night it not be that the AL
mighy had removed Mr.. Lincoln from the
chief magistracy of the nation at this time
because he was too lenient and merciful
to the rebels-might it not be that the JUS
tice of God demanded severer measures
than those the President was disposed to
adopt. This idea was received with APP
plause by the audience, and was enlarged
upon to a considerable extent.
'tRev. ]. T. Mcclure being called upon,
said that it was a most solemn occasion
for US all; that now was the time for us
as a people to show that we were capable
of self-government. The President had
been foully murdered, but two wrongs
never AlAuV d I4SHI lie HOp6u there WOulu
be no elimination or recrimination, but
that this meeting and the people through
out the land would obey the civil author
ity, avoid angry disputation, refrain from
any and all acts of violence, and firmly
frown down all attempts at mob law
REV Thoburn was called for, but not
being present, Rev. Martin spoke next. He
thought that the assassination of the
President was not the work of God; the
perpetrator of that horrible crime had
been instgated and inspired by the devil.
The blow which struck down the President
was blow aimed at the hearts of all of
us. He had the same idea of it as that
advanced by Rev. Mofitt, and exhorted his
hearers not to forget that while the Lord
was 600 of mercy, he was God of JUS
tice also. His remarks created very deep
and bitter feeling in the hearts of many of
those present, and were frequently APP
plauded.
Zoo ~, hon a.