Year: 1865

During tha funeral obsequies at New York,


Hon. Geo. Bancroft delivered an orst;on in


the course (which he arpue, Tho lor.l


right of the Government to abolish slavery


In war, and to maintain its abolition uben


peace succeeded. We extract from it.


Mr.. Llncoln's proclamation did but take


notice OF the already existing right of tho


bondmen to freedom. The treason of The


master made it public crime for the slave


TO continue bis obedience; the treason of a
state set free the collective bsndmen oftbat
state. This doctrine is supported by the
analogy OF precedents. In the times of
feudalism, the, treason Of the lord of the
manor deprivedhim Of his serfs: the spnrions
feudalism that existed among us differs in
many respects from the feudalism of the
middle ages; but so far the precedent runs
parallel with the present case: for treason
the master then, for treason the master
now, loses his slaves.


In the middle ages the sovereign appoin-
ted another lord ever the ..serfs and the land
which they cultivated; in our day, the
sovereign makes them masters of their own
persons, lords over themselves II has been
SAID that we are at war, and that emapcipa-
tion is not belligerent right. The objection
disappears before analysis. In a war be.
tween independent powers the invading
foreigner invites to his standard all who will
give him aid, whether bond or free, and he
awards them according to his ability and
his pleasure with gifts or freedom; but when
at peace he withdraws from the invaded
countay, he must take his aiders and com.
torters with him; or if he leaves them be-
hind, where he has no court to enforce his
DEGREES, be can give them 30 security. nm.
less 1t be by the stipulations of treaty.


-, In civil war it is altogether different.
There, when rebellion is crushed. the old
Oovernment is restored, and its courts
resume their jurisdiction. So il is with us.
the United States have courts of their own
that must punish the guilt Of treason and
vindicate the freedom of persons whom the
fact of rebellion has set free.


And let no lover of his country saw that
this warning is uncaled for. The crv is
delusive that slavery is dead Even now il
Is nervIng Itself for fresh struggle for
continuance. The last winds from the
South wait to US the sadsinteligence that n
man, who had surrounded himself with the
glory of the most brilliant and most varied
achievements. who, but week ago. was
named with affectionatc pride among the
greatest benefactors of his country and the
abIest generals of al tune. has usurped more
than the whole power of the Executive.and
under the name ofpeace hasreviyed slavery
and given security and political rover to
traitors from the Chesapeake to the Rio |
Grande Why could he not remember the
dying advice OF Washington, never to draw
the sword but for self-defense or the rights
OF his country, and when drawn, never to
sheathe 1t till its work should be accom-
plished?


And yet from this bad act, which the
people with one united voice condemn. no
great evil will follow save the shadow of bis
own fame. The individual, even in the
greatness Of military glory, sinks into
insgniticapce before the resistIess movements
of the history of man. No one can turn
back or stay the march of Providence. No
sentiment Of despair may mix with our
sorrow. We owe it to the memory of the
dead, we owe it to the cause of popular
liberty throughout the world, that the sud |
den crime which has taken the life of the
President of the United States shall not
produce the least impedimentin in the smooth |
course of public affairs. t