Year: 1865

deSOiated BY q cruel and bloody war. W ar,
though often just. is always cruel and bloody f;
bat how much more so, when it is fraticidal
one such as ours has been where arrayed in
deadly hostility might be seen the father and
the son where brothers instead of fraternsl
greetings deal to each other the missiye Of
death. Oh cruelest of cruel May God in
his providence forever deliver our country from
its repetition may we never again, from
like cause, hear such a wall of widows or cry
Of orphans SIS now sweeps over our land.
Still cur catalogue of woes seemed not TO be
full; for at the monent when the bright star
above and dispelling the dark cloud Of war
when the whole nation were almost frantic with
Joy at the bright prospects of returning peace
and prosperity, our national calamiiies cnl-
minated in the blackest, the fouest, and the
most damuable deed that ever blackened the
page of American history-the assassination
of our Chief Magistrate. Language must
forever fail 10 express the scene, when whole
nation of upwards of thirty millions of free
men, bouyaut with hope and the bright antici-
patton Of returning peace, in the moment of
their joy, are stricken down with grief aud
overwhelmed with horror at the desperate deed
of the murderous assassins. Let him be
dnathemd mGrdnQtha."


The causes which have led to SO much
misery, crime and bloodsbed are in themselves
sectional, and therefore, have no part or lot iu
our proceedings today. Nor will we dwell on
such gloomy reflections. Dark and damnable
as was the deed, cruel and bloody as the war
has been, they are over, and have become
things of the past, matters Of history, and
cannot be recalled. Nan must not live for the
past-the present and future are big with
events of vast and vital interest TO our nation.
Let Us then turn to the brighter side, and see
if these calamties may not be productive of
some great and lasting benefit 10 US and future
generations 1t seems to be an inevitable law
of nature, that man shall not bring forth any
great and good results, either to himself or his
fellowmau, except it be through trial and trib
ulation. II we take q retrospective view Of
the history of man from the earliest period Of
time down TO the present moment, we find this
to be settled principle or law Of nature, CO
existaDt with all we know of creation. May
we not then reasonably expect from the ruin
and desolation which has occurred, and the
awful expenditure OF human life and means,
and the severe trial from which our country is
just emerging-I say may we not expect great
and beneficial results from the dreadful calami
ties, which like the pail of death has cast
gloom of sadness over our once happy coun-
try-resuis not alone beneficial to US as Amer
icans, but whose Influence shall be world wide
cheering the oppressed and down trodden Of
every tyrant, monarch aud autocrat wherever
enthroned on the face of the earth.


Liberty is principle as eternal as the God
from whom it eminated, and although its ap
plication by US TO the wants and necessities Of
man in self government is yet 10 its infancy, we
have several times been compelled to pass
through the dreadful ordeal of war, in repelling
the inyasions of foreign foe, which taught
the tyrants of earth that freemen may be an
uihilated. but living, they never can be robbed
of their liberties.


But the greatest trial in the history of al
nations are more particularly those that are
free TO test the efficiency of their Government
is rebellion and intestine war. This has been
the last and most cherished hopes OF the aris
tocras of the Old World against our govern
ment, nor have they been wanting in acts to
iucite and aid it. By lis influence the once
happy aud noble Republics of Greece aud
Rome were broken, aud became easy prey of
the usurpers of the rights of mankind. And
at length this trial fell upon Us. But thanks
be to God-uDlike Rome and Greece-Amer
lea TO day. is rising from the havoc and destruc
ton ofcivil war like the fabulous Phenix from
the ashes of dreadful fire. glorious exempli-
6cation of free and enlightened people-ca





either against the invasions of foreign foe,
or that more dreadful enemy, dissenson and
rebellion, in her own household. Aud to day,
amid the admiring gaze aud loud huzzas of
millions of freemen, throughout the whole
length and breadth of our land, is again IN
furled to the breeze of heaven, that beautiful
ensign of liberty aud emblem of union. the glo-
rious Stripes and Stars-as pure and free from
tarnish or spot of air-honor. as when it was
first unfurled to the astonished gaze of the Old
World and withered be the hand that shall
ever attempt to tear from that glorious galaxy
one single star.


Have We not exhibited to the world knowl.
edge Of the implements and science of war far
superior 10 anything ever before produced
have We not, as it were in moment. raised an
army whose numbers were never equaled in
tho history of warfare and that foO mt hv