A B %AHAM 1- I N C 0 L Nu
ASSA8SI NATE D
At Washingt    t o, April 14, 1865:
BEING'A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE
PROGEEDILNGS OF MEETINGS, A CTION OF A -UTHORITIES AND SOCIETIES,
SPEEGYH.ES, SE, ROONS, ADDRESSES AND OTHER EXPRESSIONVS OF
PUBLIC FEELIYG ON RECGEPTION OF T1HE 1NEWS, AND AT
TtE iFUNiERAL OBSEQUIES OF THfE PRESIDENT,
AT BUFFALO, N. Y.
BUFFALO:
PRINTING HOUSE OF XATTHEWS & W~ARREN,
Ofice of the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.
1865.








ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
Assassinated Good'Friday, 1865.
"Forgive them, for they know not what they do!"
HIe said, and so went shriven to his fate —
Unknowing went, that generous heart and true.
Even while he spake ithe slayer lay in wait,
And when the morning opened Heaven's gate
There passed the whitest soul a nation knew.
Henceforth all thoughts of pardon are too late;
They, in whose cause that arm its weapon drew,
Have murdered MERCY. Now alone shall stand
Blind JUSTICE, with the sword unsheathed she wore.
Hark, from the eastern to the western strand
The swelling thunder of the people's roar:
What words they murmur —FETTER NOT HER HAND!
SO LET IT SMITE; SUCH DEEDS SHALL BE NO MORE 
-Ed-rmund C. Stedcman.








Saturday, April 15th, 1865, was a day of mourning in
Buffalo. The direful news of the assassination of the
President, and the attempted murder of Secretary Seward,
passed from mouth to mouth, until within a space of time
almost incredibly short, it was diffused over the entire
city. Workmen on their early way to the forges and
shops spoke of the awful calamity with blanched faces;
friends met and shook hands in silence or conversed with
quivering lips and choked utterance; bells tolled; the
usual sounds peculiar to a busy city on the busiest day
of the week were hushed, and it seemed that a pall had
been spread over all.
With one accord, as it were, the stores were closed, all
traffic was suspended, and the sable emblems of woe appeared on every hand.  From the dwelling of the humblest colored family to the mansion of the most opulent
citizen, fluttered the half-mast flag, and there were few




localities were some manifestations of sorrow were not apparent.  All business was suspended.  The streets were
crowded, andcl the telegraph offices were besieged by those
eager to obtain the latest tidings; men stood in knots
and conversed upon the sad event, and told their hopes
and fears for the future; and the usual avocations and
pastimes were forgotten in the contemplation of the overwhelming calamity.
On receiving the despatch which announced that the
President had breathed his last, a large placard, of which
the following is a copy, was printed at the office of the
Commercial Advertiser, and distributed gratuitously:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, April 15, 1865.
To MAJ. GENERAL DIX,
Abraham Lincoln died this morning at twentytwo minutes after Seven o'clockl.
E. M. STANTON, Sec. of War.
These were placed in the windows of very many houses
and stores.
The citizens, the Board of Trade, the Masonic order,
the Churches, all took proper action on the occasion.
The following was the leading editorial in the Comnnercical Advertiser, on the afternoon of Saturday:




9
E stand in the presence of a sudden and terrible national calanlity. Like thunder from a clear sky, the intelligence of
the assassination of the President of the UTnited States has fallen
upon the unprepared ears, and has sunk deep into the hearts of the
people. From the sulmnit- of our great joy over the near presence
of peace through victory, we have been suddenly cast down into
mourning. For the third time within less than a quarter of a century, death has smitten the representative head of the nation; but
this time he has comne in a shape which will create a sensation all
over Christendom, infinitely more, profound than attended the death
of Harrison or Taylor.
The shock of the terrible event is still so firesh upon all, and the
results so full of apprehension and conjecture, that we stand appalled.
It has come upon us at a time so ripe with the cons-ummations of a
great struggle, and so deeply freighted with the destinies of our nation, that words are but vanity, and thoiights are too tumultuous for
deliberate expression. It comes "in the days when the keepers of
the house shall tremble, and the strong men bow themselves."'
Truly, " the mourners go about the streets."  We mourn the loss
of one who was a stalwart reaper in the harvest field of the world's
progress; one who had "borne his faculties so meek, and had been
so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels,
trumpet-tongued, against the deep damnation of his taking off.'
Although his mortal remains now lie inanimate in the White House,
yet Abraham Lincoln is not dead! He still lives, and will live " to
the last syllable of' recorded time" in the mighty accomplishments
which he achieved, as God's chosen instrument.  His death was his
apotheosis. He has been promoted to the sublimie rank of The
American 3artyr. He has but gone forward to take colmmand of
the silent soldiers of the Ieplublic, whose invisible hands shall hereafter reach out from the Eternal, and sustain and protect our governm-ent.
We mourn for him as a man, as a father, as a husband; we mourn
for hil as the political architect, who was called to the second building of' our tenmple, the completed glories of which it was forbidden
that he should witness. We mourn for the unachieved possibilities
of his fame; but we umourn not without hope. Wherefore?
Because every drop of Abraham Lincoln's blood has been sanctified to the perfect work of our regeneration; and will be the talis



10
man of an inexorable purpose all through the land. Every American heart that beats worthily and honestly, to-clay beats higher and
faster, with a steadfast purpose of perseverance, and a more unyielding endeavor. We accept, as a sacred inheritance, the precious
legacy of his unfinished labors: and, by God's grace, we will conzplete them.
To the dead, we say: I" Hail! and farewell!"  RIeverently lifting
up his fallen lmantle, we pray for the Divine guidance to himn who
has fallen heir to it.
Abraham Lincoln died upon the eve of the anniversary of the Crucifixion. His soul took its flight amid the echoes of solemn praises
which accompanied the raising of the old flag over Sunmter. Both
are significant. The nation has comipleted its atonemnent; let the
New  Illan and the People see to it that the New Dispensation shall
comlle.
The Coerier, ill its first issue after the death of IMr.
Lincoln, spoke as follows:`-VER the bier of the murdered President, his political fiiends
and political eneimies clasp hands, in colmmon execration of the
crime, and conmmon grief over the national calamity, of his assassination. The event is utterly without parallel in our own history,
and we doubt whether the annals of a thousand years furnish a
precedent for a deed so mionstrous and fraught with so momentous
consequences. The heart of the country was the mark of the assassin; civilization, not in this hemisphere only, but every-where, felt
the shock of the mzurderous blow.
W~ords are vain to commlent adequately on the tragedy itself; we
can only follow imperfectly, in expression, sonie of the thoughts it
suggests. AbraLham Lincoln, oin the fatal night of his murder, held
relations to the country and to the world, the importance of which
it is impossible to calculate.  Compelled during a part of his administration to oppose his policy, we yet realize that not only was
he at this time peculiarly the embodiment of the "A' lerican idea,"
but inl him and his action, as developed during the later days of' his
life, was centered the hope of the people. The germ of pacification
- of a return on the part of a distraught and divided country, to
unity, peace and prosperity - lay in the brain which was pierced




11
with a mortal wound onl Friday night. If they nourn him  who
have gloried in him as their leader in war5 much more should they
grieve, who, in the midst of war, have been most wearily sighing
for peace.
There was a time after thle fearful news came, when it seemed
that the hand of sacrilege had effectually shaken the very altar of
our country's liberties - that the foundations of the political and
social structure had been stricken with its head. Confusion, anarchy, revolution, seemed to follow in the track of the assassin. But
we have faith in the soundness and saneness of the heart of the
Amnerican people. Even from this staggering stroke it will recover,
and address its lf, we earnestly believe, as calmly as before, to the
great work of composing the disordered and embittered elelnents of
our national life to peace and harim-ony.
Andrew Johnson is President. Let us hope that the men of reason and statesmanship around him, rather than the men of passion
and extreme opinions, will be chosen as his influential counsellors;
that the sacred obligation upon him to follow the path indicated and
entered. upon by his dead predecessor, will be sacredly honored.
His antecedents were formed among associations which tended to
imake the Constitution and the funcdamental principles of American
government and liberty, paraimlounlt and dear to his mind.  WVe
hope and believe he will be true to these.,Ve trust him. Let all
true menl and patriots, forgetting, in this dark hour of the Republic,
party prejudices and proclivities, give him their support and prayers.
The chief danger attendingc the assassination of President Lincoln,
was that the madness of the murder would stir up a counter-madness in the minds of the loyal people. WVe rejoice to believe that
the danger is past. Sorrow is the master passion of the comantry,
and the moment cannot come now, when grief muight be transformed
into the hideous spirit of undiscriminating revenge. Universally
the childishness, the wickedness, is recognized, of those few who
would make the awful crime of one or two or a score of persons a
pretext for wholesale vengeance toward a people - a plea for reversing a policy established by the lamented dead and for inauguratinog a course which would entail a generation of strife and misery
upon the country, and disgrace upon the American namle.
Let the nation sorrow, though not without hope, for one who
served it, to the best of his ability and knowledge, faithfully. Let




12
it cherish the memory of the dead, andcl vindicate outraged justice
and humanity in the person of his murderer. But above all, let it
take the spirit of its departed leader to be its guide in the dificult
and stormy future before it.  " He, being dead, yet speaketb."  In
the nlame of the mucrdered Abraham Lincoln, we conljure the loyal
people to imitate the calmness, the kindness, the quiet wisdom he
exemplifiedc-to pursue the generous, enlightened, politic course he
had inaugurated with reference to the great problem now confrlonting the country.
The following forlnecd the leading article in the   x'press
on Monday, April 17tih:
0OV  reverently Abraham Lincoln was loved by the American
People; how imuch they had leaned upon the strength of his;
heroic character, in the great trial through which he led them; how
perfect a trust they reposed in his wisdom, his integrity, his patriotism and the fortitude of his faithful heart; how great a space he filledl
in all the constitution of their hopes, they have now been made to
know as they did not know before. The shock of consternation,
grief, and horror, which revealed it to them, was undoubtedly the
most profound that ever fell upon a people. It shook this nlation
like an earthquake. The strong men of America wept together like
children. NTever, do we believe, was there exhibited such a spectacle of manly tears, wrung frolll stout hearts by bitter anguish, as
every street of every city, town and hamlet, in these IUnited States
presented on Saturday last. Ah, there was a deep planting of love
for Abraham Lincoln in the hearts of' his countrymen! Noble soul,
honest heart, wise statesman, upright magistrate, brave old patriot,
the nation was orphaned by thy  death, and felt the grief of
orphanage.
But grief is only half the bitter passion that thrills the country
under the awful blow of murder which struck down its Chief. It
brings a fierce accompaniment - fierce, but not altogether fierce, for
it wears a stern solemnity. All the tender sentiment that had beenl
growing up in the popular heart, under the magnanimous influence
of victory, was steeled andc hardenedC upon the instant. Each man
felt, as though the assassin hand of treason was at his own throat,




13
the deadliness of the conflict, and the temper of the nation underwent a total change.
A new aspect is put upon the contest by this tremendous tragedy.
With all that we had learned of the fiendish and implacable ferocity
of the slavery-begotten treason with which we are at war, we have
learned more in a single hour than all before. For this most hellish
act is its exponent. In this nmurder bf men, we taste but the concentrate essence of the venom which inspired the whole attempt of
the murder of the nation. We know it now.  Wye know now what
the RPichmond editor meant, two months ago, when he spoke with
mystery of a blow to be strnck that should "' astound the world."
We know what George Sanders meant, when he whispered in the
ear of Sala a prophecy of deeds that should "'make civilization
shclcdder."  They meant these murders.  They meant more than
these. They meant an organized scheme of assassination, larger
than devilish hate or devilish treason ever conceived before - aimed
at the cutting down of all the nation's heads in government.
It was Rebellion, in its corporate character, that nmoved and
nerved and armed the assassins. Booth and his confederates of the
inner circle of the monster plot were but the representatives and
agents of the great Confederacy behind them. The death to which
they have doomed themselves is but the penalty which the whole
rebellious race invoke upon their heads by this foul deed. It is imnbecile to talk of conciliatory lenience to such a race, and only imbeciles talk it any longer. 3M'en feel that the iron hand of justice
must be clenched against thema, ungloved with anly tenderness whatever.
Perhaps, in the great design of Providence, for the working out
of the consequences of this tremendous struggle to their utmost
end, it was needful that this awful tragedy should be enacted, to
steel the softened temper of the people, and that Abraham Lincoln,
his own great part performed, his fame complete, was laid a costly
sacrifice upon the altar of that stern need. There is this thought
in many a reverent mind; but with this, or without it, the MrAnTYRDo3S of A1braham Lincoln gives himn a sacred me1nory forever.
The meeting of citizens on Saturday evening at the
lMVerchants' Club Room, though the call was not published




14
until late, was very largely attended.  The assemblage
was called to order by S. V. R. WATSON, Esq., on whose
nomination, Hon. E. G-. SPAtLDIrING wvas chosen to preside.
WV2a. TI-IUrSTONE was elected Secretary.  In assuming the
chair, Mr. SPAuJLDING spoke briefly, but feelingly and eloquently, of the occasion which had called the citizens together. lie paid a fitting tribute to the memory of the
President, and alluded to his aquuaintanee with Andrew
Johnson; said he had known him as a zealous, faithful
and industrious representative, a true and upright man,
and believed he would remain firm and carry out faithfully
the policy of the Administration; that he would never
yield a hair to the rascals who hadl been laboring to destroy the nation; but would stand by the governmlllent
whatever 1ight betide.
Rev. H-1. A. PxAsoNs next spoke in vindication of the
character of President Johnson.
Rev. Dr. HiacocTc was then loudly called, but indisposition had prevented his attendance.
Judcge CLINToN was the next speaker.  In answer to
a vociferous call he camre forward and took the stand,
though  evidently with  much unwillingness.  "' God
knows," he said, "' I do not wish to speak this evening."
He was overcome with a blow more terrible than ever
felt before. It had seemed to him for a time that the
hopes of the country had been crushed; but reflection
had shown him that he was mistaken.  He did not wish




15
to make a speech. HIe was fearful that, in the intensity
of his feelings, he might give utterance to that for which
he might afterward be sorry. (Cries of "Go on! No
danger.")  Judge Clinton continued in a strain of impassioned eloquence to portray the murderous course pursued
by those who have arrayed themselves against the government, and concluded by declaring that "' come weal,
come woe, what little life there was left in him should be
devoted to the support of Andrew Johnson and his administration.'"  His remarks were received with a storm
of applause, and created a profound sensation.
1Rev. J. W. BALL followed, and spoke for some time
with eloquence and fervor in relation to the spirit that
had fostered and encouraged the assassination of the President. "The same spirit," he said, " had manifested itself
in the Senate Chamber for years before."  The reverend
gentleman went on to speak in appropriate terms of the
retribution to which the enemies of the country had exposed themselves, and expressed the hope that they might
meet with a proper punishment.
S. M. CHAMBERLAIN, Esq., moved that a committee of
ten be appointed to make the necessary arrangements for
the observance of the 20th day of April in a solemn and
becoming manner.
A. SHERWOOD, Esq., moved, as an amendment, that a
committee of five be appointed to co-operate with committees to be appointed by the Board of Trade and Common Council.




16
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN accepted the amendment, and the
motion as amended was adopted.
The Chair appointed the following gentlemen as such
committee: Brig.-Gen. R. L. Howard, chairman; Pascal
P. Pratt, George W. Clinton, S. S. Jewett and Win. H.
Glenny.
After some additional remarks from  Mr. SPAULDING,
in which all were exhorted to return to their hoimes with
renewed determination to perform  their duties as loyal
citizens, and to stand by the Government to the last, the
meeting adjourned.
On the Sabbath succeeding the death of the President,
Rev. Dr. Lord delivered the following discourse in the
Central Presbyterian Church.  The church was filled to
its utmost capacity, and the earnest, impassioned words
of the eloquent divine were such as are seldom heard.
The text selected for the occasion was 1" The Lord God
Omnipotent reigneth."-REv. xix. 6.
DELIVERED BY REV. DR. LORD, ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH
OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN, AT THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
APRIL 16, 1865.
REPORTED BY H. W. BOX, ESQ.
BEHOLD in this sad drapery, in this national flag clad with the
emblems of woe, the outward tokens of the irrepressible grief
of a great nation weeping over the death of its beloved and venerated President. The words of David concerning Abner, struck
down by an assassin, sound over the chasm  of thirty centuries




through this church and ten thousand churches over all the land,
"K Inow ye not that there is a great man fallen this day in Israel?
Who was like to him in Israel?  How are the mighty fallen and
the weapons of war perished."  From  the height of gladness, in
the midst of joyful tidings the nation is plunged into the deepest
grief.  We looked for joy, but behold sorrow, - for judclgment and
behold a cry,- for peace and lo! not war alone, but murder, most
foul, most horrible. W'e thought we saw out of a darkness of four
years' duration, the beams of the rising sun, and lo! the pall of
midnight gathers over the sky, and instead of thanksgiving and
praise, we are called to nm-ourning, lamentation and woe. THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS FALLEN
BY TI-E BLOW  OF AN  ASSASSIN; the sick chamber of the
Secretary of State has been invaded, and a dagger thrice thrust into
his body after the murderous felling of his attendants.  No wonder
the nation is horrified as these tidings pass along from city to city,
from hamlet to hamlet.  No wonder the stoutest-hearted tremble,
and.the strong man bows himself to conceal his tears, and the cry
of a whole people goes up to God, "How long, 0 Lord, will thou
not judge and avenge their blood?" Three hundred thousand martyrs fallen in this war for law and liberty greet the advent of their
chief in the world of spirits and hail him as the noblest victim of
them all.  God grant he may be the last.
I do not believe such a crime has been committed in a thousand
years, perhaps not since the day of the murder on Calvary, when
the heavens darkened and the earth staggered, and the dead arose
as the God-man Mlediator hung upon the cross. No human death
can, indeed, be likened to that of Ilim who died for our sills upon
the cruel Tree, but it may serve as a comparison to mark degrees of
guilt in all lesser crimes.
" Besides this man
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking off;
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, hors'd,
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind."




18
I do not look upon the murder of the President as an act of mere
private vengeance; it was a blow aimed at the people who elected
him and at the principles he represented. He could not have had a
personal enemy. Hle was among the mildest and most humane of
men, genial, generous, unwilling to shed blood, interposing his prerogative of mercy when he possibly could without danger to the
country, and erring, whenll he did err, on the side of compassion; a
man of unassuming manners, without pride or' haughtiness, accessible always to the poorest suppliant, harboring no revengefiul feeling toward any, incapable of a cruel word or act, - such a man
could have no personal enmities. He was hated as the representative of Northern men, of free principles, as the head of a nation defending its life against an unprovoked aLnd utterly wicked rebellion,
whose sole object was to perpetuate a detestable slave Oligarchy
which sought to enthrone itself upon the ruins of free institutions,
free labor, free soil, and free speech. M[r. Lincoln was threatened
with assassination on his way to Washington at his first inaugural,
before he could have done any act to excite personal enmity.
The threat has hung over him ever since, not so nmuch as the man
Abrahan Lincoln, as the President of the United States, and now
the blow has fallen after four years of unparalleled trial and labor,
after wearisome days and wearisome nights, and all the perplexity
of a doubtful war; after having endured burdens which would have
killed most men, and exhibited a devoted patriotism and an unexpected and extraordinary ability, which twenty years hence will be
acknowledged by his bitterest political opponents. After the successful termination of the war by the surrender of Richmond and
the capture of Lee's whole army, and  while he was revolving
measures for the restoration of the South, his heart full of kindness and good-will to the fallen foe, while he was engaged in
making their fall as light as possible, he is basely assassinated in
the presence of a thousand people, the murderer crying out the
ancient motto of Virginia, with an open dagger in his hand, "sic
senmper tyrannis /"
What a grim burlesque was this! It was the tyrant who held
the clagger, it was Hampden who fell.  "Sic semper tyrcnnis " is
the proper motto to be inscribed upon the tomb of the slaveholders'
rebellion, while round the monument of our martyred President a
grateful people will hang the broken chains of four millions of




19
slaves, and pilgrinms of frEeedom fiom every land of every coming
age will crown it wAith their votive offerings.
The President's recent inaugural seems now to have been a prophetic utteranee of one appointed to die. Its solemn religious tone,
its abnegation of all personal merit or praise, its sublime reference
to the justice of God, and appeal to His decision, was " an anointing
for his burial."  It suggestecl on its first perusal the words of -a
poet:
His voice sounds like a prophet's word,
And in its solemn tones are heard
The thanks of millions yet to be.
Its closing words will be read in every language and by every
people to the end of time:
" FONDLY DO AVE HOPE, FERVENTLY  DO  TVE  PRIAY  THAT THIS
MIIGHTY SCOURGE OF WAR M3AY  SOON PASS AWAY.  YET  IF GOD
WILLS THAT IT CONTINUTJE UNTIL ALL THIE WEALTH PILED  BY TIHE
BONDMAIN' S TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY' YEARS OF UNREQUITE D T1OIL
SHIALL BE SUNK, AND UNTIL EVERY DROP OF BLOOD DRAi).'WVN W7ITIH THE
LASH SHA-ILL BE P.AID'WVITHI- ANOTIHER DRAWNtX  AT WVITHI TIlE SWiVOItD, AS
\VAS SAID Tt-HRiEE THOUSAND YEiS AGO, SO, STILL IT ~MUST BE SAID 
" THIE JUDG3MENTS OF THE L DOP  ARE TRUE AND  RIGI-ITEOUS ALTOGETI-I E R."
The ruffian who slew hlil emblodied the revenge aznd malice of
the leaders of this revolt agoainst the governm-e nt and the institutions of the United States. Exasperated by itter de-feat,- and rendered furious by the bloowAs of Gramnt, Sherinan, Thomas and Sheridan, the broken Confederacy was the Awouldec ser( pent wrlithinI
ander the heet of the victor stLrikingl its venom1ous falngs intO its  foe
\Nith a last dying~ Iiss.
aBut however gl'rievous Cthis calamity lmay obe, however sad theb r1uloval of our President at such a tilne as this), when hle was about
to receive the rewardc of his noble patriotisni, his herlculean labors
and his innlumerable perpletxities, wve are not without con solation.
The Republic survives! Our ~victorious Generals and their noble arlies, our invincible navy, and the officers, survive, and hold and
-will hold all that they have won. If we take up) the old Hebrew
lamentation,'How is the strong staff broken antd the beautifiul
rod,")'we know that God the Judge and the Avenger still lives and
reigns. As the voice' of mn.anv waters and of nlighty thu.nderings"
2




20
there comes to us in this providence the solemn annunciation " the
Lord God Omnipotent reigneth," and its languagre to us is,'" Put
not your trust in man."  It reminds us of our dependence.  It tells
us in our bereavement that HIe who guided our councils and gave
victory to our armies, is yet the ruler of nations and will perfect
his work.
The folly no less than the wickedness of the murder of President
Lincoln is very apparent, for clemency was one of his chief characteristics. The rebels could not have selected in all the Government
one so likely to deal leniently with them, so disposed to forgiveness,
so ready to forego the claim of justice in all possible cases, so inclined, as possibly to err, on the side of mercy. His death introcluces to the Chief Magistracy of the nation Andrew  Johnson, of
Tennessee, himself personally so great a sufferer from  the tyranny
of the Southern lRebels, that it will be hard for him to forgive.
They have killed a friend to put an eneimy in his place, one who
knows them  too well, and has suffered by them too munch, to be
cajoled or flattered into a remission of the penalty.  God, as it
seems to us, has taken away the kind anid amiable Chief arfagistrate
when he has done his work, and put a stern judge in his place.  So
much we may discover, though'" His way is in the sea, and His
pathway in the great waters, and His footsteps are not knownl.
I do not mean by this that M r. Jolhnson, who is now the President
of the United States, is a hard or revengeful main. I believe him, in
the disgracefil scene at the Capital, to have been the victim  of a
conspiracy; we have the evidence that he had enemies in Washington ripe for any villainy. His record as Governor of Tennessee and
Senator of the United States, shows him to be an able lmanm anid a
true patriot, and patriotism in the South means something, because
it cos'ts somietlhing. His words at the first formal meeting of his
Cabinet are umost significant; he said that at present he saw no
necessity for an extra session of Congress, and further, that he
would not commit himself to a policy whilch would prevent visiting
coiindign punishment upon traitors. He had been fighting rebels
here ancl inl Tenniessee, and his previous course mnight be regarded
as an indication of his fature condluct upon this subject.
God has in this a purpose, and as He left the Southern slaveholders to destroy slavery by their own act, so now IHe has left them in
their nmurderous, devilish and insane rage to assassinate the merciful




21
and kind Northern Mlagistrate and given them  a Southern Judge.
If " his little finger' should prove "6 thicker"  than his predecessor's'"loins," they will be compelled to rellemlber that the threatened,
justified and finally accomlplishedl assassination of Friday last was
the fiuit of their own devices. God has suffered theni to kill the son
of Consolation to give them a son of Thunder.
If President Lincoln had not done his work he would hav\e been
spared to the People. No weapon forged against him could prosper, no murderous plan prevail while God had need of him, while
his life was essenti.l to the nation. Doth not the Lord God Omniipotent reign?  WVho kept the pistol and the dagger from our lamented
President for more than four years?  H-is life was always threatened; there has not been an hour since his first inaugural when there
was not a conspiracy to murder him; imen  bound themselves by oath
as in the days of Paul to kill him- but not until he reached the
number of his months, not until his work was done, could the assassins prevail. And as surely as the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth,
so surely he has something for Andrew Johnson to do, or He would
not in his providence have placed him in the Presidential chair.
I do not suppose the entire South are involved in the guilt of this
detestible crime - but there is a class at the South, represented by
the men who fired the city of New York,'and committed robbery
and murder at St. Albans, who are responsible for this crime. When
an amiable and skillful physician, a man1 of high literary standing,
went from this city some three years since as a surgeon, he becanme
a correspondent- of one of our city papers.  I-T had a charge of rebel
prisoners, and in one of his comnunuications he said, after speaking
of the poor wfhites kindly, that there was a class who ought not
to be suffered to live. Some of' our citizens expressed surprise at
such a declaration coming friom ]Dr. Hunt. It was no enigma to
me, for during my residence South I saw something of this class,
and I said then, and now say, that they were, and are dangerous at
any time and in any commnunity.  Before they commenced this war
anmd expended their wrath and malice and malignity upon us, they
were slaughtering each other. They were the hangerss on to the
slaveholderns, half educated, poor and wholly insolent,'b full of murder, debate, deceit, and malignity," always armed and always ready
for a deadly quarrel.  M/[en not merely "Gwanting principle and
wanting breadcl  like Northern dclemmagogues, but full of active malice,




22.ready to stab a man for a word; inot mlerely duelists, but assassins,
with no regard whatever for humnan life.  These villialls have been
the authors of this war, they have been made officers of companies
and regiments in the Southern armry, and in theml has been and is
the virus of the rebellion.   Our murdered  prisoners, whose blood
cries aloucl from  the ground to  God  for vengeance, were their
victims.
It is not likely that Secretary Seward, if he survives, will be able
longer to serve his country in the arduous post of Secretary of State.:Perhaps no man in the land was so qualified for the position he has
occupied during the war as Mr. Seward.  His suavity, his ingenuity,
his subtlety, together with his great ability, made hinm mrore than a
match for the ablest diplomatists of Europe.. M IIore than any other
man, he has kept foreign war from our doors, and his services have
been continued until the danger was past by the overturn of the rebellion.  If le is laid aside, it is because his work is done, and because others may do that wrhich remains.
There is a solemn  significance in the renloval of Presldent LincolnL
in such a manner, and at such a time.  The Lord God Olmnipotent,
who reigneth in the armies of Heaven and among the inhabitants o-f
the earth,  teolhes us the instability of fortune, and the uncertainty
of life.  Our Piresident was in a position which coimmanded the attention and the homage of the world.  Newiy electced by an overwhelmino- voll,   his admin;istration approved and his acts con:firmed
b)y the people   recently inaugurlat;edi the second ti1e, with tlh e
i;laudits an'i blessings  of the nation, there seem i   nothcing  necessary
to his felicit-y bnut -the final overthi row of t;le inllsdurrection wlhicl has,-o long and persistently assaulted tlahe m-ltlonmal lifeo  Th1is conmluln.mnation was vouchsafed to himn; the mi11 of R - i mond and the s8urrender of Lee    bstanltially closed the war and  PresiLen ht Lincoln
might have said, " Lord, now lettest Thou. y- scran tl.  depart in
peace."  Yet hlie was in the prime of iife - in tlie ~ igor of his yeairs,
There was before hlim'the promise of a glorious Ciuture.  A half n1il —
lion of gallant soldiers, flushed with victory, were nlmder his orders,
any one of whom would have interposed his body and given his life
to shield tle President fi'om  the shot of azn a ssassin;-  le was eilthroned in the hearts of millions of people, whose love ancd roverence were seen in the tears and prayers and lamnentations with whichthey received tile news of his death.  But no prayers, no tears, no




23
gallant defenders could  save him  when the nunmlber of his days
-was reaclhed.  WVe  lear a voice friom  heaveil saying: "~ Boast  not
tihyself of to-norro-w."         Velrily  every mna  at his best estate is
altogether van)it.y."
ir The glories of our birth and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no arimor against fate;
Deati lays his icy hancds on kings.
Sceptre and crown
lMust tlruble down,
znd  in the dust he equal1,  made
With. the  poor, crooked scythe and spade."
There is anotiler solemln p-roof' of thle necessity of thle'war, and
t-hat the Lord  God Omnnipotent, who reiigneth has suffered it for ajls-At Purposl   and to a wTise end; nAwht. teI eI ri,1ht lhave been t.honlght
o0f A inlerilan  SlA:Ter0r bhefore t.re    i,-', r, amd iriha-tever apologny might
have been honestly  1n.-e fo  it.d     events  Thich have  occurretd   wi-tlin
the lnst four y'ears have1     served to sho, tl.hatb its s-fluence has beenl
utterly barbarzin l.  TIhe eonduc-t of thIe enemly at B  ll   un wAAas
n:-lost _vindict've     aI c  ilScneInnO llos, andcl  tile most brutish acts werd
perpetrated oupnon  our prisoer    s  vt' I.d onr1t  dead, to gra-tify t.lheir iase.TC
l. ld  ferocious pls0sio.iS.  Slole cf ou'r  uniortuna   t  e l  tn had  b'eCI.,
b-uried ii  an             ithumal-la. imla e-ll) wMie fi'om   others, fskulls  nd bolles
hadn been tiAlen a. lcd faIshioned  irnto eups I-and ornamuentsi for Southerli
adies. d n     sttcN l ao ityo  h, as bee'n  CeCl(]e(t i ist.ory b'r five. }nun.dred years, nd  no t'he      lCbr-    murr       of the Presid ent, adll      liie
munllderons au   llt uptn. ruitp      mihis  fmil'ny, coni-tl;est Uthe
as' erow-in    acts o'  f t      eir  rnut Lit'v  i'ir.  th s ehin8 n ave l' it.  ot hei
toot and virus in sla very, whence nare they7? Te  eoplIe  of the Soutb Iern cStates,Iie of t.he salile i         race ~ lhev  lave tihe salue   lble —- tle
saeti   conmmno n lay  w-ith COhristianity fior i   bts    sis.  W -hience thtI
tlhisi lSmostrous  ruel!tyl  -  this bea'stly blarbaris?
Had tle Son it succeeded thiay- Aould  haive incdi sla veryi  pelpe-it
Ct.l aid aggressiv-e  -id perhallps dominalnt; andC  Alat eonl i I ave bee
the restult but'he barbarism  of the entire continen-lt, a reti'n to the
Ja11k,tnes,   an oTOI,'lteation of tue reforinIs alnd thie preollesss of a t-101
sanld years?  God, who0 planei tedhisi -tionl.land sifted all Europe for
three htindred yieanrs to coionizh the   ew Aori l.d with a peculitar'oe



24
ple, a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, to furnish an example to the down-trodden nations of a free Church and firee State,
could not stiffer this purpose to be defreated. The Mayflower was
not saved from shipwreck in her passage across the stormy Atlantic; our fathers were not delivered from the pestilence that swept
off the savage foe lying in ambush fbr their lives; they did not endure poverty and famine in the land of their exile, to have their
divinely appointed work crushed under the heel of a remorseless
slaveocracy. Hence this war - hence its result - hence the martyrdom of our beloved President, which must serve to fasten in every
mind an everlasting abhorrence of a system producing sluch efiects,
and which will lead every fatl;her in the land to swear his children
to an undying hatred to every form of servitude, as Hamilcar swore
tannibal upon the altars of Carthage to eternal hatred to Rome.
Brethren, fellow-citizens, and friends, let us not be utterly cast
down, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. 1He guides the whirlwind and directs the storm, He brings good out of evil and light
out of darkness, He causes the wrath of men to praise Him, and restrains the remnainder. Let us thank God that he has spared our
venerated President so long, and permitted him  to behold on the
mount of a sure anticipation the promised Canaan of peace and
union. As i{Moses the leader and law-giver of the Hebrews wvas
shown the promised land, and yet not suffered to enter, so God gave
President Lincoln a view of coming glory from captured RIichmlond,
and then called him to his rest. Our murdered President needs no
eulogy, for his works do follow him. He has been our God-given
pilot through the storm of war, and brought us in sight of the port
of peace.
If George Washington was the father of his country, Abraham
Lincoln is its restorer. He has been the representative mall of his
day in the battle for freedom. HIe has a monument more durable
than brass in the hearts of the American people. He needs no marble, no emblazoned escutcheon, - he lives forever in history, and is
henceforth enrolled in the records of mankind among the great martyrs of liberty. The st urdy yeomen of the land friom whom he descended, and who placed him in power, and the glrateful slaves whlose
bonds he sundered, will guard his name and ftmre with sleepless
vigilance, and point their deseendants to his grave as the shrine of
American freedom. God grant that he may be the LAST, as he is




2 
the most illustrious victim of that vast army who have fallen for
freedom; that this last and noblest sacrifice may consummate the
work of expiation for a nation's guilt.
As the illustrious dead has gone to give an account of the deeds
lone in the body -to answer to the responsibilities of the wide
sphere of action and the large stewardship committed to him, so
every one of us shall soon pass to the same dread tribunal, to receive a judgluent according to our works; for he who had one talent, is represented by our Lord as called to account with himn that
had ten, and condemned because he had hidden his Lord's money!
Happy and blessed are they who have taken sanctuary in finz who
is as " the shadow of a great rock in a weary land;" " who died for
our sins, and rose again for our justification;"'   who is able to save
to the uttermost all that colme unto God by Him:" who gave one
hour of triumph to the powers of darkness, that he mlight win for
us eternal redemption friom Death and Hell; exclaiminlg, as he ascended in tritumlph, bearing gifts for men, G" 0 death, I will be thy
plagues!  0 grave, I will be thy destruction! 9
Concerning "1 our stroing rods broken and withelred," we may conclude with the ancient lamentation of Moses, the man of God, recorded in the ninetieth Psalni: "6 Thou turneth man to destruction;
and sayest, Rieturn, ye children of men. Thou carriest them away
as with a flood; they are as a sleep; in the morning they are like
grass which groweth up. In the morning   it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, anld withereth.  For we are
consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. RIeturn, 0 Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.  0 satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and
be glad all our days.,Make us glad according to the days wherein
thou hast afflicted us, and the years whlerein we have seen evil. Let
thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upomn us; yea, the work of our
handls, establish thou it."
On Sunday morning, at the North Presbyterian Church,
the pastor, Rev. Henry Smith, D. D., made the following
remlarks:




26
BEFiOIRE TIHiEL SER-_0i'o
- IET-IRI,N _      LXD  PID UI ENDS:  If imy heari't wvere not alren.dy profoundly oppressed aindcl troubled, the weeping' heavens, youldeir
drooping   banne rs of the Pepublic, this pulpit and the vwalls of this
tmellP-e of Gof d cdraied   l  1e aed'm, yeu a, the sorrowiffl countlenances be-.orIe 1me, w olcld  ijlhciently a.admon ish ne that we meet this lorning
ander thee darEr shlladow e ofa great national cala2nlty.  Symipathdizing
myself mlost dcee-ply  lnd iUlly in y our griee, f  needed no sumch adnlLoni-.
tion.  LKnow oi       _ from  aly ow1n, tlhe confliictig  Ld strun-ggling emo-1
lions whichl sagit te yourh breasts, I have even donbted vwhether to
aldrcess you a't atll   it is yet too early to give to these tlumlituous
-feelilngs anl iinterpretat-io n much Pmore is it too carly to give to them
an appropriate  expresi sion~  BLurt Canl we  ear to speak or to t-linkl
of' anything-    elsei c  y FIuietnds, Abrahani Lincoln is cead; but tile
Ah hnighty  Ruler of the iunivermse  still lives.    h   atlmnistio-1 o.f
Abrllaham  Lintoln, tile I thei:r ofa  regenerated couantnIlry the first mar-L
tyr President in  t-he  aus   of Am er ic i Ib"erty, is -at aan end: but the
hot-r gver'nment of GC od, and the  a1ws of h ls oloions and uniAerT
satl empire still snrvive.'ea>, Clhlist andi the precep-'s of his ble sed
g'oscpe still remna-in   Tle responsibilit ies  and dutlies of tle  liigo ficllowers of Christ, liftfed fiom  hnllli  ho is lnonw )   ith G-od, still rest
po10 1us:.  I J(0'o-10  dest'e to divefr  oal their nat-iurl clanmeL  the'illl. o['[r:'nt, Of' yoV-[[' "]_'ief.  }3-it iltt        t:lle cnioun1'amestacs of t ale, case
can -eT o C  better ne t'Loll  tar  aw'ay our Ihoua'hcs ija  fev mnrutesu: oiun1 man l to Coad? i fo    tLea           i    i    cndtli    onon of or e a rthl y county     to
Pthe  niuincsi andl preceulps ofl th]atu spiriitlai toealm.:i lick il  ic- re::led.
ro us in -lthlac gosapetl    i haI ive,  there1brde, - iesolved -tO ptlo  eis  to yo1u
a sort   io rse wh    t             prepar         in   for tie d n d         p i  1 1     I  bef ee    FI h i
elttlioenCe 01  ht    a tt:lnl.   v' hich.lt s _oei)tulent us, Ia: ca.l h tl ed. oui
t'ars; additlg at the closek s-uch anl application tio ol- pre-set naotiiorla
ircumllstances as the siudidet-nness  ad horror  of this a   fTiu'tl tvragno dv pI)lr
mitis to one iwhlose t1 h     iouohts ianiid feelinags arc1. as deeply agitated at,,
your ownTnA
AT TiE CLOSE OF TIHE s5E1ox,
ClIlSTIsIN BIETHILT EN:  This is the first occnsion onl Acllh I hLave
ieeln writh ilyou since the fall of PRiemiond, antd it is the holy Salbbrtl:th
s-ucceedin   a week in  which  our hearts.ad been  thlilledl  by the
nlews of the snrrenduer of the chief armny  -whlich sustfained t!he rebel-e




lion of thle South against our national governlent.  This glorioaus
news had lifted thlae jwhole n.ation into the sphere of raptlure; into a
mood of mind whicll could find no aclequate exipression except inl a
repetition of th.e song of the angels at tie advent; of the prince of
peace:   e    Glory to God in the highest; oil enarthi peace and good-will
to men."   I should 1not have met your expectations, nor done justic.C
to mly own  enmotions, if I hlad purposely omitted  at least to allude
to these  tidings of I  great joy. "  They arle,  ideed, tidingos of great
joy, not mercely to ius, as a nation, but to al thle world, for ho-wever'
ill-.appciated thedy moayh be, by  larg  portions of maniillnc iild  who do
not yet unilderstand t1:e m           bethocs by -which Christ's;, Iindom is to come
on tle elrth, tihe  ioceit eeients  -icnh   thic   iheralsd  sie i.i hct a pa1rt
of those g loriols t.riunmphall's byT lhhiilh  he i  ndom, mll  d the greatness
of the k1inildon  unnlelr  the whole hleven,   are to be gAven to the people o~ the Saints of thie B8osMt Pi-oigh God~
WVe stand to- day befobe the Itin c o  hea-oven,  -a...t        nstc.ishe
paral yzed,. nation w il.hout a hetad. d      -The  itali]of.BlI1 hestart hqss ceased
to beat,  1id]1 our toage cleive -; to the 1 ool of our mo t hl.           Ylonder:in]]. t ir ce todu1r                     POf OJio    resident,     cold   i-_ death; an.d by
his side  if s-til]         t e   sbod i   fo   L0      lI
is sifcle, s.till livi-lg, thle (,as.p~iilng- orinm of lis chllief eoulnse-. lor, -thie
Secretl ary of St      a e,  ictim s a.lie of 1 a Sa. ol nG pl ot of de'persate tree cihory  nl:d veno'ealc.     I.-ever isbefore, since M  PiG  ll, 1iml thte Slc-. t   l I
i)ierced by tih e slnus of Belth:imzar'-ei isard, lixs so  horrlble -t e'ilme
shoct   o hl e sl eisiblities of the civiillzed w orld.   (ov-eIr bIefboe'111    so
aw1v:[,']. 19-tand so puo lwo:e,-ss,: a, tIlnAo)e' e il been enactedt upoin thie hi..h thleatC- of a n:~1t. o.'_..11o. 0s1expiring stina' of the dla,.;~o~ of treason,
seon- a       n   vi  ein    ii!o'l          leschtlt21ven il  deihA  t r    es.  i t is  yet t ooe itv!i  t.o...{'dIt~ s fiu11i  e. o -to c  cutte its fail results.   T  e
tanvusted  1ha     1ithdee   ii, hc e   hv]:o    should ruil   nave iredl.ee ied our: fsHSted  B u   ly  tll o11  lt! 3.    1)   01 t11llta  it I-10 1l   Pi  J     it-1  I, - re (I  1
sa. oio  LBu-t  M ay thoniebts are not your t]uoughts, iieither your wajI
muy at  lys, nit  t.I.e Leord.  Be stil.l andll 10m  tchat tI anl God.   Put
not your ltruLst i  princes,  nor inl thlue.son of' I-llman  in  1hom0111 there is
no help.  T.is,eath Coei. frt    he iereturnlethl to his earth; in  that
very day day:i  thouglhts perishl.   Iap)y is lie t- UIt hil l the God of
Jacob for his ihep), lwhose lhope) is i  tlhe Loird hll  God,  hiAllellh nIade
healven aCnd e:-utal I tle sea. acd. ll that therenl   is;- A  wmeh -icllc keepeth
t'lruth forever;  -'l?]ii'tl cete.-t  jucl d po'mnt for hte oppressed; w l-l ch
-ivethl food to the hulngTlry.  Th1e Lord  looseth  the priso-ners; lthe
Lordc  raisetht  tieiim  that are boLved  dow n.  The   Lord lorveth  the




righteous. He relieveth the fatherless and the widow; but the way
of the wicked he turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign forever; even thy God, 0 Zion, unto all generations."
Mlly friends, we are to be saved and purifiecl as a nation. I have
no cloubt of it. But God. is to do it, not man. He will claim all
the glory, and yield no portion of it to his instruments.  God's hand
was in the very wickedness which plotted and begun. this terrible
war; overrulinog it for the accomnplishment of his great designs of
mercy; God's hand has conducted it, leading us, both rulers and
people, by a path we dreamed not of; God's hand has cut it short
in righteousness, has brought it to a conclusion, which, awful and
unexpected as it is, we may be sure will vindicate alike his justice
and his mercy: will impress upon the nation, as no other event
could have done, that he is the real governor, guide and protector
of the Republic: challenging, as nothing else could have done, our
recognlition of his presence, and our obedience to the laws of his
holy and universal empire. Even that dear heart, which now has
ceased to beat, went before the nation in this reverent acknowledgment of God: humbly owned that he hadcl been led in his administration by a higher than any human hand, and by a way which his
own wisdom could never have devised. In the midst of the bitter
tears of disappointment and sorrow, which have so suddenly flooded the national heart, in the full tide of jubilant rejoicings, let us remember his profound acknowledgment of God's hand in the conduct
of our national affairs; and so far forth, at least, let us follow his
example.  Thankful to God for all he has enabled him to accomplish for the deliverence of the Republic from the machinations of
treason, let us henceforth seat ourselves at the feet of this higher
than any human teachers.
How solemn the emphasis, which this act of inhuman treachery
and blood, deeper dyed in guilt than any regicide in the history
of the world, adds to the second word, with which it was my original purpose to conclude this discourse.  That word was, that in
their civil relations and their civil actions, the followers of Christ
are to be Joly.  We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the
world. We are to acknowledge God, and the laws of his holy kingdom, in our civil relations and in our civil actions, no less than in
all the other relations and acts of our earthly lives.  God has
taught us, 0 by what sad andl solemmn and bloody lessons of na



29
tional retribution and suffering, that he is the God of nations as
well as of individuals.  God has taught us that when the wicked
rule, the people mourn. If the events of the last four terrible years,
if this awful and concluding tragedy of the war, does not burn that
lesson into our very soul, we must be brutish indeed. Whatever
may have been true of us in the past, if we have any capacity to
learn in the school of Providence, we are no longer to be seduced
by the sophistry of demagogues and placemen to talk about policy,
to ignore justice: in the election of rulers, we are no longer to talk
about availability, and ignore rectitude and the moralities of life as
necessary qualifications in candidates for civil office. We owe all
the horrors and sufferings of this war to bad men in power.  Treason commenced its work in the capital, by pecljury.  It has finished
its work, and thank God its ownI execrable life as well, by the assassincation in the capital of the most benign and clement as well as
pure-heartedc, righteous and venerated Chief Magistrate of the nation. Above all this awful scene of wickedness, woe and death, sat,
and still sits, the avenging NTemesis of divine and eternal retrib-ution.  The strokes of God have fallen, we may be sure, with an n1lerringo aim. True, indeed, the heaviest blow of the divine justice
have fallen upon that section of the country whose corrupt leaders
plotted and attempted to consummate the destruction of the nation's life. But the terrible woes which the loyal States have suffered, terminating  in the fearful tragedy which, on lFriday night,
robbed the nation of its head, ought to teach us that God has had,
and still has, somewhat against us also. What that G" somewhat"
is, how liRght or how heavy the national guilt which it inAvolives, we
will not to-day any further inquire.  From the stunning blow which
has fallen upon us we have not yet sufficiently recovered distinctly
to read the lessons which it was designed to teach.  Our hearts are
too troubled and sorrowtful for caln and consecutive thought.  But
let us at least acknowledge that the hand of God is pressing heavily
upon us. Let us at least endeavor to obey the admonition of his
word: In the day of prosperity rejoice; but in the day of adversity
considcer. Let uls hunmble ourselves under the afflictive hand of the
Almighty, andwlc hilst we mingle our sympathetic tears with those
of the heart-stricken  families of our slaughtered rulers, and our patriotic tears with those of a whole people bowed down under the
weight of a great national sorrow, let us humlbly and penitently in



30
plore liln to make us understand the lessons which he designls  to
teach us by thlis awful event.  Let us confess before him  the sins of
the nation: espeeially that great si' -  our national forgetfulness of
God.  Let us seek his grace to enable -us to put krx fr'om  us  nll the
futare, everything  in our individclal and inationa-l-life wthich has
offendecd  him in thle past.  Let us pray.
On  Sulnda        eve-ihg,  at th-e Lafayett-e Street Presbyterian    Ch-urch, after thle  usual iodrtoluctory  services, at
the reqcuest of Dr. Hleacoek, the Story of th-e assassination
of V-ilanam tihe Silent was reiad by Rev. Mir. Furman
Dri  Helecoek thlen o-iered a few  remnearkls: e said:
I   )Ei P.first to the ]itxooi stic  isqil,ne whi:_l ]lha  juist, beiin rena.,
in order to cihd ci th ll esper ate t.hlough]%s vhlichl tihe feclhig thlat
iiotlin,' 1l l ie this c   t, Ai  thle assass.ilnation of orc Our n Pblesid T en:t.i —ies ever  occarred  in  urman all rhiystory, wotuld provol.ke~.  Fiendish ml-ali.i-lity and ha-te have found such expressio-n beifore.  Nor is s uch ain,
event as this to dait en nlto s ol-tay'l]oom tohe Pc-te of a good mlni
o oood and.l  thl  grneat..e _mil. en by just such distaiC d! y nmeaii-s
ei)'e. c;  n  tehe Awor(d'S Thic]~C acecopa1:i- ied thli;,  bloody sact. hero'e Aas
evi enced  a imind as stoid  nL  pot i)ihi ac  1, t i Aas b  uta1: at   Sic  sem1per3
tyrat.niliSo  These twords utterled to jnitiLi, tue mr detr    o-C a  C iLtit..
toill p   oo'l, o   g' o   TL J_  e Tl ii ht  LT  0 ].  e T  ti   t    oi  tt iO J*
ii' 00017 ii  t. o.... h.{i           t of       iX J  --
r1.'r er3m 1 lo itel tel'l cm  wovr$    1   1    1,5 C1(cij' a  izL1 ularde;- J1Stt1l1 JT'deoenl t _l[ti'
tics'1  to joiom  and ciSmplote t;1e  louon  idl1 oll of u Oulr.'  iu  aI31;
war; r    to lay iis bo:ioio cc dlast di   I dVe the lahm nIlb'set — aA- oi' t0  el!n.
bosloet soler        a- of t].ie 5.t -o,-ol
r liendl,,t    u  briatbe no chdit c  i:                  n eeitv   ih ee!e)bL
authois 0 llthi  giy  trleisonl o' rgao.t otls to:e ];asn Mati ion.   ( et 
leot uls bewarTle of thoe- mn1flo tne scel-A, i i i o rILe 1,ost selfiesh of-' P,,iarposes to craite synpallthy foi tlris,to eason aiO etd Pr a.thors.  God  n -:or3)id tf-lt the  nhovist-i-l puIlpit shouhi evver  e lefIs  ito utcher any Aords
I.which would be approved by those nmost mnermcelnary enemlies of thelir
ountiiytr  tihe mNortheorn symnpatllizers, with Southe:r'n treasonl,  It has




been said the South was provoked to all this. Wlho provoked them
to starve onr prisoners? shoot our soldiers who had surrendered?
or to assassinate our good and great Chief Magistrate?
It is said that this sad event has killed the spirit of party. Ah!
to destroy that our murdered President, I believe, would freely die
again. With slavery dead andcl t'he bad spirit of party dead the country is surely redeemed   It is said the South has slain its best friend:
to such madness God has left them at every step of their course.
"Whom thle gods would destroy they first make mad."
Yet let us not think God has abanidoned this land.  I-e has great
and rich purposes of mercy toward it. The prayers of the fathers
and all its history assure this. Let us fear not. HI-e who gave to
us such a man as him we mournl can raise us up others in our need.
After the singing of a hymn:
"Servant of God well done"
Dr. Lord  next addressed  the  crowded  congregatioln.
The irrepressible symppatliy of the andience broke ont inexpressions whichl yet seemed noot at all inconsistent wRitl
the gravity of the occasion, the time or lthe place.  It
seemned  like an auLdible reverent mAen~ thongh it tool
another form,  YWe -have never hearld  Dr. Lord  exceed
himself in the vwords of th'is evening.  The substance of
his aciddress is given in another part of this pamphlete
though it was not a imere repetition of hinmself, but he
spoke as one, out of a furl heart.
Dr. Lord was followed in most earnest, ringing, eloquent words, by Rev. M'r. Plu-Tb,       of Chelsea, MlTas., wiho
presented some of the moral aspects of this dread crimie
and the need of susltaining  the sentiment of public and_
governmental justice in the pun.ishmnent of high crimes.




32
After which -  with  one more tender thought of the
the pale, sad, silent face of our dead President as he lay
in the quiet sleep of death in the still chambers of the
Federal mlansion -  and with a hymn of holy trust:
"0 Gocl, our help in ages past," etc., etc.: —
after the Christian benediction by Dr. Lord - the vast
assembly slowly dispersed.  Never had there been such a
day in that sanctuary.
T-IE B iOAD  OF TADE.
At the opening of the Board on Saturday morning, the
President, S. H. Fish, Esq., called the members to order,
saying, " All know the solemn circumstances under which
we mleet; no tongue can utter a word; every heart is
wr1ung with anguish."
L. K. Plimpton offered the following resolution:
j  ESOLVED, That in view of the terrible calamity which has bei'iallen this country by the assassination of its Chief Magistrate,
a committee of five be appointed by the President to prepare suitable resolutions, expressive of the sense of this Board under such a
bereaverment, and present the same to the Board at the usual time
of meeting on Monday next, and that the committee be authorized
to drape this room with suitable insignia of mourning for thirty
days; and also to co-operate with other committees that may be appointed by the Common Council or citizens in relation to this sad
event.
Adopted unanimously.
The Chair appointed the followilng gentlemen as the




33
conimittee: -  L. K. Pliupton, N. C. Shinons, B. F. Bruce,
J. S. Buell, Win. Thurstone, L. T. Kimball.
On motion of D. S. Bennett,
ESOLVED, That the doors of this roomn be now closed ancl
draped with the proper insignia of mourning; andc that all meimbers of the Board are hereby requested to suspend business for the
day.
Adopted unanimously.
The Board then adjourned.
On the following lMonday, an adjourned meeting, with
reference to the great na-tional calamity, was held by the
Boarid of Trade.  The spacious room was crowded to its
utmost capacity.  The hall had been beautifully and appropriately draped and decorated, the walls being nearly
covered with the insignia of grief. The decoration was
made under tlhe direction of ][. St. Ody, assisted by a
committee consisting  of Messrs. B. F. Bruce, Geo. T. Bentley, Wiinm. Thurstone, L. T. K Kimball,  and others.
The President of the Boarcd, S. H. Fish, Esq., was in
the chair and the meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Lord.  L. K. Plimpton, Esq., then offered the
followilug preamble and resolutions:
WTHEEREAS, by a resolution of the Board of Trade, adopted at
its last meeting, the undersigned were appointed a committee
to prepare suitable resolutions expressive of the sense of this Board
in view of the terrible calamity which had befallen this country by
the assassination of its Chief Iagist-rate, and to drape this room with
suitable insignia of mlourning for thirty days, and also to co-opelrate




34
with other committees that may be appointed by the CommimO   Council or citizens in relation to this sad event: your committee would
therefore state that they have caused the Board of Trade rooms to
be duly draped in mourning, and with great hesitation have undertaken, with feelings of profouilcld sadness, and in a community of
heart-stricken people, to prepare such an expression as would faintly indicate the views and feelings of this Board in view of the great
calamity which has overwhelmed oLiur common country, and therefore present the following for your consideration:
Teiierecas, in view of the tragical and lamentable event which has
appalled the people- of this nation, by the assassination of' our great
and good President, and in the deadly assault upon New York's favorite son, the wise and sagacious Secretary- of' State, and the members of' his family - that it becomes us, located at the Enmpire Gateawray of the Eastern States, as citizens of BUtlal1lo, and as membersl of
the Board of Trade here assembled, to give such expression of our
views  as may be consistent and appropriate to the occasion and the
mourinful circumstances under which we are placed; therefore,
Besolvecd, that it is with feelings of inexpressible sadness that we
recognize the  -rieat calamit u -ity  hich has befallen the people of this
country at this critical period in its history, and, as it were, in the
hour of its trimlllph, by the death of Abraham Lincoln, its chosen
Chief ilagist ate, and that while we be ow humbly to the Divine will
in this removral, we can not but fleel that in His good purpose He
moves in a iysterious  maniner,   " and that his ways a-re past finding
O it,'
-so'e,,,tl-  in the  indst of joy and. triuniph, the nation is slad-.
dc1iy ctlcled to deplore the loss of its greatest and truest frieLnd,.A1ibrla ham  iCo!Li,t President of the United States, stricken down in
i-l t 1n    of, li   o a    ma,,rtyr's grave, asnd at at a tim e when strongCest
in the hearts otf aI gorateful people'; and inl his death, brought about
r     i t be  Inds of a L:riltor aassassin, the country has lost the noblest
-wor01 of  od  ain honest man - and an exalted  pa triot - the friend
oa the poom and opprlessed   the deliverer of his country -  and a
cond Xrashing ton itl tin e i   hearts of a sorrow-stricken people.
csolvecL tihat the citizens'of PBuffalo anid the 1melnmbers of the
Bo ard of Trade, who aidmiLred  and loved the fallen pat'iot and who
have so generously sustained the holy cause lie represented imay
lPPot3'riatelvy testify their sorrow over this national calamity, and for




35
that purpose we will abstain from all business on Wednesday next,
the 19th instant, and unite in dedicating the day, in the language of
the Governor, to services appropriate to a season of national bereavement.
]Resolved, that to the afflicted family of our chosen and late Chief
3Magistrate we tender our heartfelt sympathies in this their, as well
as their country's, hour of affliction, commending them to the care
of HilmL who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, who will also care
for the wicdow and fatherless.
Reseolved, that in Andrew Johnson, the constitutional successor
of Abraham Lincoln as President of the JUnited States, we entertain
the utmost confidence, in his integrity, his patriotism and his manhood, and following in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessor,
we hereby pledge ourselves to give him our undivided and unfialterinlg support, imploring the blessings of God to grant him that wisdom in counsel, sound conservative policy, prudence as well as energy of action, patience, single devotion to the cause of his country,
ancl virtue, which characterized his lamented predecessor.
Resolvec, that we entertain the greatest solicitude for the critical condition of our worthy and sagacious Secretary of State; that
we sympathise with him in his afflictions, and hope for his speedy
restoration to health, and that the country may be favored for many
years to comle with his judicious counsel and experienced statesmanship.
-Resolved, that this Board will participate in such public demon,
strations of respect to the memory of our deceased President as may
be determined upon, and that a committee of five be appointed by
the President of this Board, in the place of all other committees, to
co-operate with similar committees from other bodies to that end.
Besolved, that these proceedings and resolutions be recorded at'
length in the book of the minutes of this Association, and copies
thereof be furnished to the press of the city for publication; also,
copies be transmitted by the Secretary of this Board to kindred
associations.
On motion of G. S. Hazard, Esq., the preamble and
resolutions were unanimously adopted.
The ehair appointed the following' coimmittee:-  t[essrs.
3




v36
L. K. Plimpton, G. S. Hazard, O. L. Nims, D. S. Bennett,
and S. S. Guthrie.
Rev. Mr. Allison being called on, spoke as follows:
T can be no ordinary event which brings so many of the business
men of this city together at this hour of the day. Your sad
countenances, your rooms draped with mourning, reiterate the appalling fiact which has thrilled the heart of this nation with a sorrow
more poignant than we ever felt before. Yes, our noble President
is dead, and our grief has strange elements mingled with it, and our
sorrow has an unwonted tone. He fell by the hand of an assassin!
What a transition from the peans of joy in which the late victories
were cel.ebrated to the wail of sorrow now surging around the body
of our murdered Chief Magistrate. HIow poor are mat's words
when'God comes forth to speak to the people. It is, nevertheless,
our duty, gentlemen, to strive to mitigate our grief with whatever
of hope may lessen the sadness of this hour. MIay not blessings be
concealed in this affliction?
We have had four years of civil war. Our energies have been
devoted to one object —the overthrow of this rebellion.  Your
money, your brothers, your children, have been laid upon the altar
of your country; and during this time business has flourishedcl, fortunes have been made and a tide of unwonted commercial prosperity has swept over the land. Amid all this we may not have grown
better. Our victories were possibly leading us away from Him who
only "'maketh wars to cease."  To-day we witness the unusual
spectacle of strong men in tears. These tears will do the nation
good. By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
It is a blessing to men whose thoughts are wholly given to business
and politics to be humanized and softenedcl, even if some great calamity be the means.
Under firee governments where every man's right to express his
opinion is recognized there will be friction, sometimes contention,
and occasionally strife. During a warm political canvass we are
too apt, like Homer's heroes, to first quarrel and then stand apart,
but as these same warriors were brought together by a common calamity, so will we be brought face to face in the presence of this
terrible affliction. Over the grave of our murdered President we




37
will forget our feuds and think only of our own and our country's
loss.
Mr. Lincoln's death will strike a chord which will vibrate to the
ends of the earth.  Other nations will feel it and will be prompt to
express their abhorrence of the crime which deprived this nation
and the world of a wise and good man. As the subject of a country nearer by many bonds to this nation than to any other, I hesitate not to say that causes of irritation have arisen during this rebellion. Nor can I exempt from blame the government and people
of Great Britain. This, however, is not the occasion to discuss
these wrongs.  Whatever delusion may have warped the views of
European governments, will now be dispelled.  When it is seen
that the animus of the South can only find its legitimate expression
in assassination, the favor with which it has been regarded abroad
will give place to unmlleasured condemlnation.
The people of Great Britain, especially, will be filled with indignation when the afflicting news reach their shores, and they will
hasten to show their sympathy for this sorrowing land -a sympathy as deep and genuine as it has been slow and cold in the past.
And, Mr. President, if these two great nations are drawn again
into that close intimacy which a common ancestry, a common history and language and religion and civilization and interest renders
so desirable, we can not but rejoice.
Mr. Lincoln will now be considered a martyr to the principles of
the Union, and men from afar will begin to see him in his true character. IHis stern integrity, his republican simplicity, his firmness
in the hour of trial, his sagacity as a statesman, his real excellencies
in all the relations of life, and withal, his simple and unostentatious
piety, will command the admiration of good men everywhere.
The Poet Laureate of Englhndc will feel the force of his own prophetic words, when he wrote of the man:
Who makes by force his merit known,
And lives to clutch the golden keys,
To mould a mighty state's decrees,
And shape the whisper of a throne;
And moving up from high to higher,
Becomes on fortune's crowning slope
The pillar of a people's hope,
The centre of a world's desire.




38
Alas that the pillar is broken; but let us be thankful that the
temple is complete, founded not oil men but upon principles more
lasting than men. This grief will hallow the nation. Four years
in the furnace nmade hotter than is wont, will purge away the dross,
will bring out the pure gold. iMr. Lincoln is not dead, the rectitude of his character -the soundness of his views, and the strength
of his administration still live.
"Great minds can never cease; yet have they not
A separate estate of deathlessness, 
The future is a remnant of their Iife;
Our time is part of theirs, not theiris of ours."
Speeches were also made by Rev. Dr. Lord, Judge
Clinton, and others; after -wThich the Doxology was sung,
and a benediction pronounced by Mr. Allison.
C 031 TOAr CGO UCVCIL.
At the regular meeting of the Common Council, on
Monday, April 17th, the following communication was
received from His Honor MIayor Fargo:
BUFFALO, April 17, 1865.
To the Honoascble the  ommnon CGozcil of thle City of BBtfflcdo:
/- ENTTLEBIEN:  — It is my melancholy duty to officially commiu-T nicate to you the intelligence that Abraham Lincoln, President
of the United States, was assassinated on the night of the 14th inst.,
and that his funeral obsequies will take place at Washington, at
noon on Wednesday the 19th inst.
This sad calamity- the more distressing because it has befallen
the nation at a time when the events of the war anld the policy of
the President gave promise of the restoration of peace-has suddenly changed the joy of the people to the most profound grief.
We mourn not only the loss of the Chief Executive of the Republic,
but that in the laaner of his death a blow has been struck at the




39
national life, and at the individual security of every citizen.  I
scarcely need suggest that the Council take suitable action in reference to this great national bereavement, and that a committee be
appointed to act in concert with the committees of the Board of
Trade and the citizens, in making arrangements for the observance
of the day designated for the funeral.
Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM3 G. FARGO, 3Mayor.
Alcld. Moores moved that a committee of five be appointed by the chair to report appropriate resolutions for
the consideration of this Council.  Carried.
Whereupon the chair appointed Alds. Moores, Bryant,
Ryan, Ambrose and Burgard as such committee, who submitted the following:
HEREAS, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States,
has met with violent death at the hands of an assassin, actuated by motives of revenge, or by sympathy with the rebellion which
has for four years been seeking to overthrow the government of our
fathers, which is the rightful inheritance of ourselves and our children; and
WhTereas, this great calamity has befallen the nation at a time when
the events of the war and the policy of the President gave promise
of the speedy restoration of peace and union, and commanded the
approval of a majority of the patriotic people of the country; therefore
-Resolved, that in this sad event the nation is called to mourn the
death of an exalted patriot, and the world a truly honest man; and
that the Common Council of the city of Buffalo, feeling that a blow
has been struck, not only at the national life but at the personal security of every citizen of the United States, declare their unalterable
attachment to the Union and the Constitution, and their determination to uphold the National Government and its constituted authorities at whatever cost or peril.
-Resolved, that the city clerk be directed to cause the council chamber to be suitably draped in black fobr forty days.




40
-Resolved, that a committee of five be appointed to co-operate with
the committees of the Board of Trade and of citizens, in making arrangements for the suitable observance of the funeral obsequies.
Aild. Bryant moved that James M. Smith, Esq., be invitecl to address the Council on the sulbject of the above
report.  Carried.
At a subsequent meeting of the Council, Aid. Marsh,
by unanimous consent, offered the following:
X/THEIREAS, arrangements have been perfected by which the remains of President Lincoln are expected to arrive in this city
on the morning of the 27th instant,, and remain during that day,
when an opportunity will be afforded our citizens to view the remains and unite in a testimonial to his memory; therefore
Resolvecd, that this Council will in a body at such hour, on that
day, as the committee having the matter in charge shall name, attend such ceremonies wearing the usual badge of mourning, and
that his Honor the Mayor be requested to make such arrangements
on behalf of and at the expense of the city, with reference to the occasion, as he may think proper.
Adopted.
THE FUNTREAL OB2EQ UIES'.
Wednesday, April 19th —the day set apart for the Funeral Obsequies of President Lincoln -  was signalized by
the most solemn ceremonies ever witnessed in Buffalo. In
accordance with the proclamation of Mayor Fargo and the
request of the committees appointed to make arrangements for the proper observance of the day, business was
universally suspended, and the emblems of mourning were




41
visible everywhere. Factory and store; shop and office
were abandoned for the day, and the utlmost quiet prevailedc everywhere. The day was as balmy as couldc be
wished, and long before the time announced for the exercises, Main street, and other principal streets, were alive
with mourning humanity.  The flags were suspended at
half-mast, and over the stars and stripes projected the
emblem of sorrow. Many of the stores on Main street,
the printing offices, public buildings, depots, and numberless dwellings, were heavily draped exteriorly, and but few
stores. or houses in the city were there that did not wear
the insignia of mourning.  The various churches in which
services were held, the Board of Trade rooms, Common
Council chamber, Citizens' Club room, and numerous
other places, were most tastefully draped interiorly.  In
a mumber of store windows were displayed the lithographed likeness of the late President in mourning, and
on the streets every breast bore its badge, or every left
arm its crape. As the time for the procession approached, the sidewalks on either side of Main street - the windows of stores from tlhe Terrace to Tupper street-the
buildings from  ground floor to roof, and the streets converging in Niagara square, became thronged with people
of all classes and ages, till it seemed as if the population
of the city had turned out en macsse.
At the hour designated, the various divisions which
were to compose the procession, took position on the
streets in the vicinity of Niagara square in accordance




42
with the programme, and through the eforts of the police,
each division was allowed ample space for its movements.
At about ten minutes before twelve, the first minute
gun was fired, the bells were rung, and the procession
commenced to move, the military companies marching
with arms reversed.
The line of march was up INiagara street to Mlain, up
Main to Virginia, countermarching on Main to Tupper,
down Tupper to Delaware, down Delaware to Niagara,
up Niagara to ]Main, down Main to the Terrace, across
the Terrace to Franklin, up Franklin to Erie, down Erie
to Terrace street, and thence to the Terrace.
The procession occupied one hour and five minutes in
passing a given point, and was about two miles and a half
in length. Embodying as it did the various military,
civic, and religious organizations of the city, it was the
most dignified and imposing funeral cortege ever witnessed in Buffalo. The military bore draped flags, and the
various societies which followed carried their banners appropriately decorated. The Fire Department looked better than we ever saw it before, and the decorations of
their carriages, trucks and engines, were very tasteful.
The Funeral Car was a superbly draped canopy resting
on four pillars, richly trimmed with black velvet, silver
fringed. The car was exquisitely festooned with velvet
and silver, and the inside of the canopy draped in white
and black crape. In the centre of the car was the dais
upon which rested the coffin, the whole covered with




43
drapery. The tops of the pillars which supported the
canopy were ornamented with large knots of black and
white crape, a black plume surmounting the canopy itself.
The car was decorated by M. St. Ody, and was altogether
a magnificent affair. It was drawn by six gray horses,
each wearing on his head a black plume, and on his back
a covering of broadcloth trimmed with fiinge. The animals were led by colored grooms, and, with the car to
which they were attachedl, made up the most interesting
feature of the cortege.
The best of order prevailed, and the movements of the
procession were made with a precision we have never seen
equalled. Had a month's discipline been instituted in
advance, the programme so far as it related to the procession, could not have been carried out more satisfactorily;
and no less can be said for the looklers-on, who avoided
the scramble for sight-seeing positions, usual to such occasions, and preserved the most perfect quiet throughout.
The procession having arrived on the Terrace the various
divisions were drawn up in lines, the Funeral Car occu.
pying a position in front of the platform. The stand was
a large one, erected in front of Pratt & Co's and Pratt &
Letchworth's stores, and was very appropriately decorated
with American flags, with whose folds were blended the
solemn symbols of grief. The seats were occupied by the
orator and officiating clergymen, the pall-bearers, members
of the Common Council and Board of Trade, ladies of the
Sanitary Coummission, and others.  At half past one




44
o'clock, Mr. Lewis F. Allen called the meeting to order,
and read the programme of exercises, after which a dirge
was played by the Union Cornet Band.  The following
eloquent and effective prayer was then offered up to the
Throne of Grace, by 1Rev. Dr. Allison:
THOU, who art everywhere present, we acknowledge Thee as
the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. All things are beneath
Thy control. All men are subject to Thee. In deep distress we
approach. Our sorrow and loss are known to Thee. We have
done evil in Thy sight, O Lord. As a nation we have sinned against
Thee, and Thou hast permitted Thy servant, our Chief Magistrate,
to be taken away from- us by the hand of violence. That he lived
to accomplish so much good we adore Thy Holy Name. That he
was the instrument in Thy hand of subduing this wicked rebellion,
and in rescuing so many of oar fellow creatures from slavery, and
in upholding in its integrity the Constitution of this nation, we
praise Thee. And now, 0 our Father, that he is removed, we pray
Thee to bless us and sanctify to onr good this painful dispensation
of Thy providence. Where we cannot trace Thee in thy mysterious
Providences, may we trust Thee. WVe acknowledge thy sovereignty and bow down unto Thee. O bless this nation, now bereft of its
tried and honored President. Give continued victories to our armies
and navies until our last enemy is subdued, and no traitor or rebel
voice be heard througbout our land. Sustain Thy servant, the newly installed President, in the discharge of the important duties to
which he is now called. Mlay he have wisdom and strength given
to him to conduct successfully the affairs of this great Republic.
MLay he receive the confidence and co-operation of the people for
whose welfare he occupies his high position. M3ay those from whomI
he seeks counsel be under Thy especial direction and care. We
commend to Thy care our afflicted Secretary of State. WVe thank
Thee that Thou hast saved him from sudden death by the assassin's
knife. Preserve Thou his life, O God, that he may again, by Thy
blessing, resume his important duties; and may we long enjoy the
influence of his counsel and wisdom.
Biay all who have suffered from this desperate wickedness be




45
speedily restored to health again.  Look in great compassion upon
Thine handmaid, who mourns in her widowhood to-day.  Be Thou
her stay and support. May her sorrow (keener than ours can be) be
assuaged by Thee.  Protect and guide her children.  MXay the spirit
of the father be given to the sons. Preserve them  that they may
be a blessing to the land he served so well, and to the people who
this day mourn his loss.
Give soundness and health to the sick and wounded soldiers who
drag out weary days in our hospitals.  And we pray Thee speedily
to give peace in all our borders.
Bless the exercises of this occasion to the good of all present.
May Thy servant who shall address this great multitude of people,
be strengthened for the comforitable performance of his duty, and
may this great concourse of our fellow citizens be protected in safety
to their homes at the close of these services.  iMay we all be kept
from  danger, accident and sudden death; and, finally, may we inherit eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
The various  singing  societies next gave a  deep  and
solemn rendering  to the following lines, written for the
occasioln:
WHAT MEANS THAT CRY?
What means that cry, that is rising high
From the darkened land to the startled sky.?
WhWat means, etc.'Tis the solemn sound of a nation's woe,
For him who was first in its heart, laid low!
For him, etc.
What sudden night, with a spell of might,
Hath quenchecl the glow of victory's light?
What sudden, etc.'Tis a nation's life that is draped in gloom,
Its love and its hope that are laid in the tombh
What sudden, etc.
Oh! let the dirge, with its mournful surge,
Float o'er the land to its farthest verge;
Oh! let, etc.




46
While we smooth o'er his honored form the sod,
And the soul of the martyr ascends to God!
And the soul, etc.
Then followed an extenpore oration by the Rev. Dr.
Lord:
T/VHY is this vast assembly gathered here to-day?  How comes
it that the nation is clad in mourning?  Wherefore are the
cannon booming, and why is the victorious flag of the Republic
draped in mourning, and hung at half-mast, from New York to San
Francisco-from the Bay of Massachusetts to the Chesapeake? To
the Chesapeake, did I say?  I should have said to the Gulf of
Mlexico. Four years ago a plain man from  Illinois declared at
Washington that this starry flag must be replaced on every Southern town and fortress, and to-day his command is fulfilled. This
flag waves to-clay from  Richmond to Raleigh, fiom  Raleigh to
Coluimbia, from Columbia to Charleston, fiom Charleston to MIobile,
and fiom  TMobile to New Orleans. Whence, then, this mingled
grief and indignation of which I am to be interpreter, and which
has a voice and an expression in every town and village of the Republic?  Our venerated President is dead. lIe has fallen, foully
slain by the blow of an assassin, and this is the day of his funeral!
Twenty millions of people lift their hands to Heaven, crying,
" Remember not our bygone years,
Great God! before the mercy seat;
Behold a universe in tears,
A nation at Thy feet!"
But whence this terrible agitation? Why do strong men bow themselves to hide their tears? Why does the nation stagger under the
blow like a palsied giant? and this, too, at the very moment of its
triumph, when victory after victory is reported to our arms throughout the length and breadth of the land? Why this extraordinary
grief?  Two Presidents, in our past history, have fallen in the
midst of their labors. Neither is the assassination of rulers and of
the great and noble a new event in the history of the world. Abraham




Lincoln is not the first of high officials who have fallen thus. Henry
IV. of France fell by the dagger of Ravaillac. The NWashington of
Holland, William the Silent, Prince of Orange, was slain by the pistol shot of an assassin. The great Duke of Buckingham was murdered
by Felton. Il later years a Prime  linister of Great Britain, MIr.
Percival, was assassinated when passing out of the House of Commons. How  many Kings and other eminent men have barely
escaped assassination?  Of such are both the first and second
Napoleon. George III. of England was fired at. In the old Empire of Russia how large a proportion' of its rulers have fallen by
the dagger! It is not, therefore, a strange event under the sun
which calls us together to-dclay.  Whence, then, this immoderate
grief,g-whence this horror in all minds, making the flesh to creep
with terror?
The character and services of our deceased President, together
with the time and manner of his death, are a sufficient explanation
of the grief and indignation which has so touched the heart of the
nation and brought an unnumbered multitude together to-day to
hear his funeral obsequies.
Abraham Lincoln was the son of' a poor man, and was born of a
family of poor whites, in Kentucky, in 1809. By the removal of
the family to a free State, the boy obtained scope for his advancement. Poverty and ignorance, heirlooms of one of his class in a
slave State, were no longer necessities of his birth and pecuniary
condition. He was pre-eminently a self-made man, and in his
earlier years followed his father's occupation of farmingl. H-is first
promotion was to the captaincy of a militia company raised during
the Black Hawk war, and he has been known to say that this early
success gave him more pleasure than any subsequent. It doubtless
excited his ambition and led him to persevere in his efforts at selfeducation. He next became a melmber of Congress from the State
of Illinois, and afterwards was a candidate for the United States
Senatorship, with Stephen A. Douglas (veneracbile zonmzen!) as his
competitor. Those who have been accustolned to sneer at Abraham
Lincoln's abilities, should have remembered that the fact of his
having borne himself with credit against such an antagonist furnished a most abundant proof of his ability before as well as after
he becamn'e President.  Mlark well the title of " rail splitter " which
has been contemptuously fastened upon him, and the reproach laid




48
upon Andrew Johnson of having risen from a tailor shop. Such
words are nlt the going forth of the true Republican spirit.
It is the glory of our institutions that the poorest man may look
forward to his son's becoming the President of the United States,
and never was a time in our history when the true Democratic
temper of the American people and the genius of our free institutions were made more manifest than when a iarmer and a tailor
were elected President and Vice-President of the great Republic.
When, if ever, this sneer at labor shall become universal, our
liberties are lost: our government is a Republic no longer, but an
Aristocracy almost as bad as that foul oligarchy against which the
nation, for four years, has been battling for life. The election of
Abraham Lincoln at the Chicago Convention was a remarkable
fact. His rival was perhaps the most polished statesman in the
United States. Mr. Sewarcl is an educated, polished ancl wealthy
man, but Providence decreed that the plain man should triumphl
and become President.
Need I speak of the acts of Abraham Lincoln-how he has
grown, year by year, upon the respect and affections of the people?
His countenance, homely yet benign; his plain manners, his very
gait are present with you now, as if you were looking on his face in
yonder gorgeous hearse.  His character was unspotted-not a
single stain rests upon his memory. HIe was the most pure, gentle
and generous of men. He retained his, simplicity of character,
manner and hlabits in his high position. His blood had not a drop
of malice in it. He was a peculiar man. There was in him an
irrepressible vein of humor and an overflowing of anecdote which
served as a safety valve in his innumerable trials and perplexities;
with this genial temper he possessed an almost unerring judgment,
and with all his mildness an unyielding firmness on vital points.
IHe carried in his face and conversation the tokens of a universal
charity. If his worst enemy had fallen into his power, he would
have been visited with not a single particle of vengeance.  IHe
was as ready to forgive his foes as they were eager to injure him.
Of the religious character of Abraham Lincoln I chance to know
something more than what appears in his published words and in
his recent Inaugural —his Inaugural, that strange prophetic utterance, more a prayer than a public document, the fervid power of
which led the London Times to pronounce it Cromwellian. Not




49
that this haughty, and toward us always contemptuous English
organ intended a compliment, but any parallel with Cromwell will
be accepted as such in this country, where the Protector is
esteemed the ablest man that ever ruled over Great Britain. More
like a prophecy than an address to his fellow-countrymen, that
Inaugural seenms to have been inspired by prophetic anticipations
of the death he has met. I know from the testimony of a member
of his household that 1Mr. Lincoln was a man of prayer, a believer
in the Gospel. In all the anguish and labor of the first term  of
office he sought God for succor and guidance. Was ever mlan so
traduced, so overborne with trial and sorrow, so perplexed, as he
who was fBin to say, when certain  persons visited  himl  and
reproached him in regard to the thousands slain at Chancellorsville,
that he would gladly change his place for that of any of the men
who lay in their blood on that field?
Shall I tell you of the services of Abraham  Lincoln?  He
was raised up to guide us through such a trial as no nation
ever before endured. Not but what the foundations of other
countries have been laid in the blood of civil war. Ours is not
the first nation which has been drenched in the gore of its own
citizens. On the contrary, no nation has ever sent down great
roots of steadfastness and perpetuity, but these were nourished
by the blood of civil strife. But what was this trial of ours?
Eight millions of people revolting, with fury and murder in their
hearts-sundering rudely all ties of love, of a common religion, a
common nationality and a common language! Never before was
revolt so formidable: never was its territory so vast, its population
so numerous, its resources so great, its spirit so revengeful and
malignant. You are witnesses to-day how patiently and with what
wisdom Abraham Lincoln guided our affairs until at last the flag of
the  Republic waves over the last fortress of the rebellion and is
covered with complete and final triumph. With the fall of Raleigh,
of which we hear this morning, the last stronghold of the enemy
has been surrendered.  When Abraham Lincoln entered Richnmond
he was suffered to see, for the first time, the reward of his work.
I will not detain you to speak of the sufferings and trials to which
he was subject.  Assailed on all sides by extreme men; denounced by fanatics of opposing schools, and annoyed by the
divisions and dissensions of his own party, none but a calm, kind,




50
wise man such as Abraham Lincoln could have managed to preserve
harmony amllong his supporters. How wisely, patiently, urbanely
and successfully he managed, you are witnesses as you stand to-clay
with the rebellion beneath the nation's heel, while the venomous
monster writhes and with its last hiss stings to death our Chief
Mcagistra te.
The time of Abraham Lincoln's death provokes our grief. It seems
to us that he ought to have seen more of the triLumph his hand had
wrought —that he ought to have lived to see the land. fully purged
of rebellion, and until he felt himself truly to be the undisputed
President of every inch of soil within the limits of the territory of
the United States. But God thought otherwise. He caused himl
to go up like Ioses, into the mountairn at Richmond, and look over
upon the promised land which it was not permitted him to enter.
The manner of our lPresident's death excites our indignation. I-ad
it been wrought at the instigation of personal revenge, or of vindictiveness which his conduct had created, there would have been a
different impression muade by this stupendous crime. But the assassin planned his deed at no such impulse. Back of the act stand
perhaps a thousand conspirators fired by a sentiment of political
malignity. And the assassin even undertook to play the dramatist,
appearing after he had committed the foul deed and waving a dagger, with the words of the motto of Vilrginia, "Sic secnper tyra)cnis,"
in his mouth —" So always with tyrants."  lie publicly proclaimed
himself in this theatrical manlner the representative of Southern
secession and treason. The motto might better be translated "So
always by tyrants," for it was the tyrant who struck; it was
Hampden who fell! Our horror is provoked because it is an or'ganized conspiracy by which we are stricken. The proof of this is
accumulating from day to day. The assassination of the President
has been publicly advertised, threatened and justified in advance by
Southern leaders and Southern prints.  F'rom the day of his first
inauguration they have anticipated the crime and made it their aim.
The rebellion has now executed its first threat in its last venomous
act-the murder of Abraham  Lincoln. The blow is aimed at the
heart of the country; at you who have stood by your President;
at free speech, free soil and fiee men.
Besides, Abraham Lincoln is the first ruler of a great nation who
has been assassinated because he represented liberty. With one




exception —and that the case of William of Orange, who was killed
rather as a sacrifice to religious fanaticism than from political motives, though his death did gratify the hatred of Philip II.-President Lincoln is the first instance of' a ruler being slain for the sake
of liberty. Tyrants have fallen often, but never before has the
head of a government fallen because he was the enemy of slavery:and tyranny and the friend of fireedom. This stirs up our horror —:this fires our indignation-that a man so just, so merciful, so innocent, should have fallen to gratify the lust of so foul an oligarchy
as that of the rebellion.
But are there no consolations connected with this terrible event,
this tremendous crime9?  I have already spoken of his blameless
life and character and his full preparation for death, and in these:we find one ground of consolation. But there are others. The
work of Abraham Lincoln was clone. Can we think:for a moment
that God, who preserved him from the pistol of the assassin four
years, would have suffered him now to have fallen if his work had
not been complete?  Not if we belie ve in God. Another consola-tion is this: mark it well! Abraham Lincoln's death by murder
canonizes his life. His words, his messages, his proclamations, are
now the American Evangel. The seal of martyrdom  is set to President Lincoln's policy and acts. And may not his death in this way
accomplish almost as much as his life?  Godcl has permitted him to
die a martyr because He wished to consecrate the works, the polity
and proclamations of our President as the political Gospel of our
country, sealed with blood. It will be hard now to oppose anything:that he has done, or to pronounce unwise or foolish aught that he
has said.
The assassination of Abraham  Lincoln is the crowning proof of
the barbarizing influence of slavery. There are witnesses herethese emaciated and maimed soldiers-who represent the unparalleled sufferings of their class and proclaim the unspeakable barbarities and atrocities which have made the rebel prison-pens synonymous with cruelty and murder. The facts are denied in England,
but they will yet be admitted and made patent before a shuddering
world. We have seen something of the malevolence of rebellion.
We have seen fifty thousand of our bravest men starved and tortured to death in the hands of rebels. Twenty years from now this
will form the blackest page in history and will be so recognized by
4




52
all civilized men. The English still keep fresh the horror of the
Black Hole of Calcutta; but what was the crime of a drunken
Rajah who could not be waked to give relief to a small corps of
suffering English prisoners suffocating in an unventilated dungeon,
compared to the systematic, designed murder by the South of thousands of their prisoners. These victims of rebellion were starved
and tortured to death by inches, and atrocities were committed upon
them which it will not do to name-which even themselves will
never reveal. These things are sufficient proof of the barbarism
of slavery. For who are the people who committed these crimes?
They are of the same stock as ourselves.
When I resided in Mobile I found that about the half of the
population were Northern born. How is it that so many men at
the South of Northern birth and Northern breeding have been
transfbrmed into demons? HIow is it that Massachusetts men as
editors in Richmond and Charleston exhausted the vocabulary of
foul and furious epithets in their abuse of the North? Is there any
cause for this transformation but slavery? The South have the same
language, the same Bible as ourselves-their blood is intermingled
with ours. It is slavery alone which has debased and brutalized
them. Its crowning act is the assassination, under the motto of
Virginia, of President Lincoln. The whole tragedy shows forth
the virus of insurrection and slavery. And now is there any man
who, in future, will not curse this monstrous thing? CWill it ever
be tolerated again, or again find apologists?
It may seem hard to say what I am about to affirm of a certain
class at the South. But I have been there and observed in what
men the virus of the rebellion is contained. It is not the poor whites,
nor yet the wealthy slaveholders, but a body of hangers-on upon
the latter who were wont to fill New Orleans and Mobile with
corpses night after night, who practise dueling as a profession and
are without regard for human life, who are responsible for the atrocities which have from first to last characterized the great Rebellion.
This class of the Southern people ought not to live. In the bitter
words of an old poet they are -
"As fall of devils and as manifold
As finite vessels of God's wrath can hold!"
The death of our venerated President forever silences and shames




53
the sympathies of that educated class in Europe who have been accustomied to uphold the South in its rebellion. Those represenltatives
of the Confederacy who have been not only tolerated but feted in
London and Paris, will find a sudden change in their situation when
the terrible news crosses the ocean. The finger of scorn will be
pointed at them. I have faith in England and in France as well,
that the people of each will from henceforth abhor the cause of which
this assassination is a representative act, and will brand the slanderers who have filled their newspapers with vile abuse of our government, as liars and murderers. America is vindicated in the Old
World by the dead body of its martyred Chief Magistrate. The
dagger of Booth settled the question of the respectability of secession in Europe.
We have another consolation in our confidence in the character
of Andrew Johnson, the President by succession. God in his Providence has called now to the head of the nation a Southern man
bred in the midst of slavery - twice a Governor of Tennessee and a
United States Senator from that' State. The judgment of the rebels
is left to a man whom they have hunted from his home as a partridge upon the mountains. Hle has already announced that he will
have no mercy for traitors — that he will spare the rank and
file, but hang the leaders of the rebellion. We are not the advocates of private or personal vengeance. As individuals, forgiveness
of all men is our duty. But Andrew Johnson is called as the head
of the nation to bear the sword of government, and the Apostle declares that the ruler shall not bear the sword in vain. There
is a solemn curse pronounced on whosoever shall resist the exercise
of this lawful power. What good citizen will resist this divinely
appointed authority, or interpose when this sword of justice is lifted
to punish treason?  Out upon the mawkish sentimentalism which
would stay this righteous vengeance! It is neither Christian nor
manly. God demands that there shall be a vindication of law by
the sword of lawful authority, and Andrew Johnson will see to it
that this is clone. As I have said elsewhere, the South have put
away a Son of Consolation and taken in exchange a Son of Thunder. There is a sort of poetical justice in the fact that they are now
to be judged by a Southern man accredited a statesman by themselves, and constituted their judge by the act of assassination which
deprives the nation of its venerated President. But, my friends,




54
we are all fatigued, and this subject might be elaborated for hours,
yet the protracted services of this sad occasion demand brevity.
God has seen fit to repress our joy.
But a day since we were ready to shout hallelujahs. That exultation God has seen fit to temper by causing us to look on the broken
body of our beloved President. The tears of the nation will bedew
the grave of Abraham Lincoln, and he will be held in all time as the
first great martyr of American Liberty. The vast army of 300,000
souls, who in the same cause have suffered before him, will hail the
advent of their Chief whose life is the most glorious that has been sacrificed in this terrible and hitherto doubtful war. The lowly class
from whence Abraham Lincoln sprang, will revere his memory and
rejoice in his glory. Four millions of slaves whom he has freed, will
forever guard his name and fame with sleepless vigilance and present at his grave their votive offerings, as at a shrine. The nation
has canonized him, and will supplicate for his successor divine support and guidance, as they lift to heaven the prayer: 1" Help, Lord,
for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men."
This address of Dr. Lord was necessarily extempore
from the fact that he had but a few hours notice of the
appointmentt. *
At the conclusion of the oration Mr. Lewis F. Allen
addressed a few words to the audience, detailing an interview he had had a short time since with the late President at Washington.  On Mr. Allen's informing him that
the people of the North were all well pleased with his
course, Mr. Lincoln replied that he was glad to hear it,
adding: "I have done just as well as I knew how."
i [ The editor is requested by Dr. L. to express his appreciation of the ability and
fidelity of the reporter, David Gray, Esq., of the Courier.]




5
At the close of Mr. Allen's remarks, the singing  societies sang the following:
REST, SPIRIT, REST.
Rest, (rest,) rest, (rest,) rest, spirit, rest, (rest.)
In Heaven blest, Rest, spirit, rest, (rest.)
Rest, spirit, rest,
Thou art fled, to realms of endless day,
In Heaven blest, by warbling chpirs of seraphs led
Soar, spirit, soar away, Rest, spirit, rest.
Rest, (rest,) rest, (rest,) rest, spirit, rest, (rest.)
In Heaven blest, Rest, rest, spirit, rest, (rest.)
Soar, spirit, soar, (spirit soar,) spirit soar, (spirit soar.)
In Heaven blest, (heaven blest,) spirit rest, (spirit soar.)
Rest, (spirit,) rest, spirit rest, (spirit rest.)
In Heaven blest, (rest,) rest, (rest,) rest, spirit rest.
Benediction  by the Rev. Dr. Smith  closed  the impressive exercises, and the immense  assemblage  congregated
on the Terrace dispersed.   Pleasant  and  exhilarating as
the day was, there was no disposition anywhere manifested to give it a holiday character, as is generally the case
xwhen an entire community are relieved from  all business
care and duty.  Seriousness and sorrow  held the supremacy in every heart, for the people, with one accord,
mourned sincerely the loss of their Chief, and clasped
hands in a common grief.  To see men of all parties, and
religious denominations; of opposing classes and interests;
of antagonistic thought and  action, stand  upon a single
platform, and do homage as one man to the memory of
the great martyr, could not but waken the strongest emotions of thankfulness, that the destinies of this great nation are in  the  keeping of such a people.   Wednesday,




56
April 19th, will never be forgotten by those who took
part directly or indirectly in the obsequies of President
Lincoln.
The committee who perfected the arrangements for the
observance of the day, and Chief Marshal IMajor-General
Howard and his Aids, are all entitled to the gratitude of
the city for the manner in which the ceremonies were conducted.  So far as the procession is concerned, it is universally admitted that it was the grandest ever witnessed
in Buffalo, and the march was worthy of veterans.
THE REMAIINS OF THE PRESIDENT AT BATA VIA - THEIRII
ARRIVAL A1iD RECEPTION AT B UPEALO.
From the Buffalo Conmmercial Advertiser of April 27th and 28th.
Tr-HE committee appointed to proceed to Batavia, to meet the funeral train, left at 6 o'clock on the evening of the 20th, a special
car having been provided for their accommodation.  They were
hospitably received and courteously entertained by the citizens of
that place. The following gentlemen composed the committee:
Hon. 1MILLARD FILLArOR:E,      Hon. JAMES SHELDON,
"  N. K. HOPKINS,              " E. S. PRossoR,
"  I. A. VERPLANCOK,           " P. DORsHEIMuER)
"  J. G. IMASTEN,            JOHN WVILKESON,
C  F. P. STEVENS,            S. H. FISH,
"  HENRY ~MARTIN,            S. S. JE WETT.
TH-E RECEP TION A T BATA VIA.
The people of the village were awakened by the firing of cannon
before daylight this morning, and as the gray dawn appeared a most
imposing sight was witnessed at the depot. It seemed to us that
the entire population of the village, men and women, young and




old, had assembled about' the spot. The two sides of the depot
were tastefully and appropriately draped - the work of the town
authorities, under the superintendence of Homer Bostwick, Esq.,
President of the village. Many of the most prominent places in the
village were also draped in mourning.
Promptly to a moment, according to a special time-table previously arranged, the pilot engine, with one car attached, made its
appearance. These were simply but becomingly draped.
After the lapse of ten minutes the funeral train made its appearance. This was composed of nine cars - three sleeping cars - besides the funeral car, in which lay the remains of the lamented dead.
The coaches furnished by the company were all new, and probably
formed the most elegant train which ever passed over the road. All
were tastefully draped.
THE FUNTERAL CAR.
The funeral car is a beautiful specimen of the builder's art, and
was designed and constructed by Mr. B. P. Lamnerson, for MIr. Lincoln's use, but the present sad occasion is the first time this splendid car has been put in motion. Of a deep chocolate color', the
panels relieved with a delicate tracery of small pure white lines, the
car would seem almost specially designed for its present use. There
are twelve windows with plate glass panes on each side, and the
entire exterior of the car is of the richest character.
The edge of the roof is tastefully and richly hung with deep silver
fringe, as well as the ends of' the porches. Above the windows is
a heavy row of crape festoons, looped over each window by a silver
star and a large silver button tassel. Pendant between each window hangs a deep fold of crape, edged with silver fringe.
The interior of the car is hung with black tapestry, which completely conceals the rich walnut paneling, and the closets, sleeping
berths and other appliances of comfort. The platform upon which
the coffin stands is covered with black, and all around the car the
deep and solemn aspect of the interior is somewhat brightened and
relieved by silver stars and tassels.
THlTE ThRAIV.
As the train approached the depot, all heads were uncovered,
and the deepest silence prevailed. The locomotive was'the " Dean




58
Richmond,'" a splendidly built machine, one of the largest and most
powerful on the road. In the front, over the lamp, two American
flags, intertwined with emblems of mourning, were gracefully festooned, while beneath the lamp was a fine portrait of the deceased
President, also enwreathed in black. In the sockets for the flagstaff on either side, was a beautiful bouquet composed of evergreens,
lillies of the valley, ivy, etc.'A similar bouquet also surmounted
the sand box.  The hand rails were gracefully festooned with
white and black crape, and the polished work shone with dazzling
brightness.
The delegates from Buffalo took their places in the car reserved
for them, as did also the delegation from Batavia, composed of the
following gentlemen:
HARRY WILBER,                   H. J. GLOWACKI,
D. W. TOMLINSO:N,               BENJ. PRINGLE,
JERRY HASKELL,                   W. S. MALLORY,
MYRON II. PECK,.                W~. TYRRELL,
JOHIN FISuHER,                  D. D. WAITE,
SETH WVACKERMAN,                 H. U. HOWARD.
L. IDOTY,
A most pleasing feature in the reception at Batavia, was the singing of a choir, under the lead of Myron H. Peck, Esq. On a platform, which had been erected for the purpose immediately in front
of the depot, a large number of ladies and gentlemen took their position, and the sweet strains of the hymn " Speed Away," floated
out on the morning air, producing a most solemn and beautifull
effect. Another hymn followed, and the train took its departure.
The citizens of Batavia - ladies and gentlemen - are entitled to
all praise for the good taste and feeling displayed.
The various stations on the road were passed at the precise time
set down; and at each place, and for that matter, all along the entire route, the inhabitants, notwithstanding the early hour, thronged:
the way, and silently and respectfuilly uncovered as the train passed.
THE ARRIVAL A T B UFFAL O.
How shall we attempt to describe the scene on approaching the
city? It seemed to us as we stood upon the platform of the car and
looked over the vast multitudes which thronged every street and
sidewalk, every window and house-top, every available position, in




59
fact, that the population of Buffalo must have been trebled since yesterday, and that all had flocked to that portion of the city through
which the train passed on its way to the depot.
Arrived in the depot, the officers in charge, the escort, committees and others were shown into Bloomer's model railroad dining
saloon, where a sumptuous and very acceptable breakfast had been
prepared.
Breakfast over, and the hour of eight o'clock having arrived, the
remains were taken from the funeral car and conveyed to the hearse
prepared to receive them- that used on the 19th.
LEAVING THE DEPOT.
The coffin was borne on the shoulders of ten of the soldiers, preceded by Gen. Dix and Staff, the officers composing the cortege,
and the members of Gov. Fenton's Staff, viz:
Inspector General —GEo. E. BATCHELLOR.
Judge Advocate Genercl —A. W. H3ARVEY.
Quartermaster General-MEIRITT.
Paymaster General-MARvIN.
Chief lJilitary _Bureau-Co L. L. L. DOTY.
The sergeants bearing the coffin were flanked by the remainder
of the Guard of Honor with drawn swords. On the right and left
of these walked the bearers, as follows:
SAMUEL F. PRATT,             GEO. R. BABCOCK,
WARREN BRYANT,              W-Al. WILKESON,
G. T. WILLIAMS,             JACOB HETILICI, J.,.
THOS. J. DUDLEY,            ISAAC HOLLOWAY.
The coffin being placed on the hearse, and all being in readiness,
the procession commenced its march.
THE PR OCESSION.
The following was the order of the procession:
Major-General R. L. H OWARD and Staff.
Union Cornet Band.
Brigadier-General WAr. F. ROGERS and Staff.
74th Regt. N. G., Col. W. G. SEELY.
Battery of Light Artillery —6 pieces-commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel R. FLACH.
3Miller's Band.




60
Army and Navy Officers.
-Iajor-General Dix and other General Officers in carriages.
0
7o  0
0 C 
U  ~go                   0 o
Common Council on foot.
Citizens in Carriages.
Citizens on foot.
AROUND ST. JAMES BUILDINGS.
The crowd in the neighborhood of the St. James Buildings was
immense, and it was with the utmost difficulty that the police, who
seemed to be everywhere present, were enabled to carry out their
instructions and enfobrece obedience to the regulations which were
made for the accommodation of all. No cars or other vehieles were
allowed to pass along Main or Eagle streets- ropes being stretched
across the former, and the latter having been closed by a high board
fence.
IN THE HALL.
After traversing the route laid down, the funeral car stopped in
front of the Main street entrance of the Hall, about 9 o'clock, and
the coffin was borne by its trusty guardians to the place prepared
for it. The lid was removed from the face by the embalmer and the
undertaker, who accompanied the train from Washington, and the
face of the martyredl President was exposed to view. Wreaths of
flowers were placed upon the coffin and a most beautiful floral device in the shape of a harp, with broken strings, the gift of the ladies
of the St. Cecilia Society, was placed at the head.




61
About 10 o'clock, the doors were thrown open and the public
were admitted to the Hall.
The internal arrangements of the Hall for exhibiting the remains
of the President could not, in our opinion, have been better conceived, when it is remembered that in the construction of public
halls for exhibitions but little provision is or can be made fbr exhibiting except with gas light. In draping with black such a hall as
the St. James, the light of the few windows is so much absorbed or
shut out that we think the plan adopted of depending entirely upon
gas for lighting was an admirable one. The tent or canopy was
erected in the centre of the Hall, fifty feet in diameter by thirty in
extreme height. Two thousand yards of black undressed cambric
were used in its construction. It was lighted by the large chandelier, the fifty jets of which, tempered by the sombre surroundings
created a pleasing yet saddening effect upon the mind, entirely in
keeping with the time and occasion.
The walls of the canopy were decorated with hangings of black.velvet and silver bullion fringe, alternating with large braids of
black and silver, with large rosettes interspersed. Ten large mourning pillars, appropriately festooned, were distributed around the
sides of the canopy.
The platform or dais upon which the coffin rested, was beautiful
in design and in decoration, so perfectly in keeping with the finish
of the coffin that it seemed that one mind must have conceived both.
To M. St. Ody belongs the credit of all this, and if any evidence had
previously been required to establish his reputation as a gentleman
of exquisite taste, the deficiency has been abundantly supplied.
The entrance from Main street was reserved for ladies. On entering here all passed up the right hand side of the stairway, entered the
main Hall through the side door, passed the coffin over a raised and
railed platform, and countermarching, passed out by the same door
and stairs through which they entered-always keeping to the right,
and thus avoiding confusion. Gentlemen entered by the Eagle street
door, passed up the easterly stairs, thence through the Hall, past the
coffin, and down by the westerly stairs. No person was allowed to
stop or leave the line for a momelit. The order was excellent. Since
the doors were first opened for the reception of visitors this morning, there has not been a single moment's pause in the living stream
which has flown through the Hall. Twenty thousand we believe




would not be too high an estimate of the number which visited it
between nine o'clock and noon.
Before the opening of the coffin, a dirge was sung by the members
of the St. Cecilia Society, occupying a position in the gallery, above
the canopy which enclosed the coffin, and the effect was pronounced
by those who were present, as striking and impressive in the extreme. The coffin having been opened, the singers changed their
position to the opposite side of the Hall, and again the solemn
strains of the dirge filled the vast apartment.
VISIT OF THE COSiMVON COUNCIL.
At 12 o'clock the Common Council of the city of Buffalo and the
city officials, headed by Mayor Fargo, the Supervisors of Erie
county, the Common Council of the city of Rochester, with Mayor
Moore and Aid. Draper, President of the Council, Brig.-Gen. Williams, of the 25th N. G., and staff, and Col. Clark, of the 54th N. G.,
and staff, visited the Hall. The civil anda military officers from
Rochester arrived on the eight o'clock train, and joined our city officials at the Council Chamber by invitation.
Throughout the entire day some of the officers belonging to the
escort, accompanied by officers of the Union Continentals, maintained a position at the head of the coffin, and never was there a
single moment when some of them were not immediately beside the
remains.
It is impossible to speak too highly in praise of the members of
the Police force who were on duty inside the Hall. Vigilant and
untiring, they performed their duties in a manner thoroughly acceptable to all. Never speaking above a whisper, passing noiselessly through the Hall, they were everywhere present, courteous but
firm, neat and gentlemanly in appearance, and were materially instrumental in bringing about the results so highly spoken of.
The Union Continentals, too, are deserving of all praise. From
morning till night they were at their posts, performing their onerous duties with a degree of efficiency, and a cheerfulness and alacrity, hardly to be expected in men whose age and position entitle
them to rank among the fathers of.the city.
Having conversed with several observing gentlemen whose duty
required them to be present in the Hall throughout the day- some




63
of them having counted and " timed " the number passing the coffin
at various intervals -we are convinced that at least oNE HUNDRPED
THOUSAND persons visited the Hall fron the opening to the close.
The stores on Main street, and, indeed, throughout the greater
portion of the city, were closed during the day. M[any of the prominent places of business on Main street weile elaborately and beautifully draped in white and black, and there was no place which did
not exhibit some signs of mourning. Flags at half'mast, shrouded
and draped, were seen on every hand, and every possible mark of
respect was apparent.
CLOSING TIlE COFFII.
At ten minutes past eight o'clock, Capt. N. KI. Hall, of the Union
Continentals, gave the order for the doors to be closed, and all further admission was denied. The Continentals formed in single file,
and passed around the coffin to take a last look at the face of the
illustrious dead; the embalmer and his assistant removed the wreaths
of flowers from the coffin and silently brushed the dust from the velvet covering; the lid was screwed down and the flowers replaced;
the manly looking Sergeants of the Guard of Honor —the carriers
- approached and reverently raised the coffin to their shoulders
and proceeded with it out of the Hall — past their comrades and
officers drawn up with sabres at the present  past the Continentals in the outer Hall - past the soldiers of the 74th - past the Committees -and bore it to the funeral car which ~was in waiting in
front of the Main street entrance.
DEPARTURE OF THE TRAIN.
The escort was the same as in the morning. The depot was
reached-the body was borne to the funeral car, and the escort
took its leave. A large gathering of citizens surrounded the depot
and crowded the entrances.
The train on the Lake Shore road consisted of nine coaches, including the funeral car and the magnificent sleeping car which had
also come from Washington. The coaches of the Lake Shore road
were new and beautiful, and all were decorated with exquisite taste.
The hour of departure having arrived, the train moved off
promptly at the minute, the solemn strains of the dirge, performed
by Miller's Band, filled the place, and the remains of the venerated




64
Chief Magistrate of the Union passed on their way to their final
resting-place.
The citizens of Buffalo acquitted themselves with high honor
on'this sorrowful occasion, and the part taken by them on the memorable 27th of April, 1865, will be recorded and mentioned to their
credit for a century to come.
The 74th Regiment never looked better than yesterday, and Col.
Seely, Lieut.-Col. Baker and all the officers and men may congratulate themselves upon the fact that their bearing was such as to call
forth not only the praise of our citizens, but that of veteran officers
fresh from the field, whose opinions in such matters are entitled to
additional weight.




NOT LE.
The Editor of this pamphlet desires to say that the greater part of
the matter has been selected fromt the reports of the different daily
papers of the city. His object has been simply to present a corrected history of the proceedings had in Buffalo, commemorative of
the death of President Lincoln, in a shape better adapted for preservation than in those " brief chroniclers of the times" to whom he is
thus indebted.
It is proper to add that, besides those here given, several sermons
were preached on the occasion. Some of these have been published
in pamphlet form, which will account for their absence from this;
others he wvould have been glad to give, but they were either not
accessible to him, or would not come within the limit prescribed
for the work.




.From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, Aray 3d, 1865.
THE SILENT SORROW  OF THE ENFRANCHISED  SLAVE.
Suggested by the Obsequies of President Lincolzn in Bsufalo.
BY JOHN C. LORD.
The silent sorrow of the enfranchisecd slave
Has no fit place amid our sad array;
No symbol of these mo-urning millions wave
Among our emblems, as they should, to-day.
What tears like theirs, for whom the Martyr bled?
WVhat wail of thronging thousands can compare
With their unspoken anguish for the dead,
Deep in its silence, dumb in its despair?
No booming cannon vocalize their grief,
No long processions, moving sad and slow;
No solemn dirges give their souls relief,
No gorgeous standards, draped with signs of woe.
Sadly the Freedmen wend from hill and vale,
Gath'ring in their rude huts at set of sun,
In solemn awe, to hear the appalling tale
Of that foul deed on their Deliverer done.
Ah! who can know their untold agony,
To whom his death appears the crowning loss?So the Disciples feared on that dread day
When the great SUFFERER hung upon the Cross.
The sable Mother, as her eyes grow dim,
WNails o'er her first-born by the cottage fire;
Freedom, though late for her is all to himMust it, alas! with that great life expire?
Old, scarred and palsied slaves, who from the shore
Of burning Afric in their youth were torn,
Bow down in speechless misery before
The tale of horror on the breezes borne!
They know not that the manner of his death
Forever seals their chartered rights as men -
That in their Martyr's last expiring breath
The Nation heard these solemn words again:Two hundred years of unrequited toil
Have heaped up treasure for this day of blood,
And every drop of Slave-gore on our soil
Dezmands another from the Sword of God!