YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 06126 6319

Parker, Henry E.
Discourse the day after the reception of the
tidings of the assassination of President Lincoln..
Concord, 1865

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Gift of the
LIBRARY ASSOCIATES

DISCOURSE

THTE DAY AFTER THE

RECEPTION OF THE TIDINGS

OF THE ASSASSINATION OP

PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

PEEAOBED IN THE

<f 0tttlt ^0tt0«^g^tiottat (^%m£%

CONCORD, N.H., APEIL 16, 1865.

BY TBE PASTOR,
KEV. HENRY E. PARKER.

CONCORD :
PEIKTBD BY McFARLAND & JENKff.
1865.

\

DISCOURSE.

JOHN 11: 53.
" Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him
to death." It is no new thing for the good to be hated, and to
be martyred. Eighteen hundred years ago a Divine
One walked the earth ; yet he had bitter enemies, who
foully plotted against his life ; nor did their malice
subside till their fiendish machinations were success
ful ; with a traitor's aid they compassed his death one
Friday afternoon in April, or the month most nearly
corresponding to it in the Jewish Calendar. That day
has been remembered. A large part of the Christian
world annually commemorate it with enjoined fastings
and penitential sorrow. Day before yesterday was its
anniversary ; the day once made dark with the cruci
fixion. It is by a strange permission of Providence
that henceforth the American mind will associate with
Good Friday and its dying Lord, the death of our
honored President. Providence has permitted the
singular coincidence, sad and sacred. Nor was it any
dishonor to thee. President Lincoln, to have fallen by
the hand of such an assassin — the victim of such
malice. The friendship of such men would have been
a dishonor — men in whose hearts was still rampant
the demon of secession and rebellion. This is not the

first case where hatred, and wrong, and violence, have
been an eternal honor to him who has experienced
them. Thine assassination by Secessia's hand is the
very crown of thy patriotism and worth !
And murder, murder just like this, horrible as hell
could conceive, which has stunned the nation this day,
which will shock the world, we had, perhaps, full rea
son to expect, "^hen, four years ago this last fall,
the votes of the nation declared to the South that
they could no longer rule the country, that their
power had departed, then were forined plots to seize
upon the government by violence, and prevent the
rightful occupant from ever reaching the Presidential
Chair. '' Then from that day forth they took counsel
together for to put him to death." We well remem
ber how, only through the adroit management of
fi'iendly railroad ofl&cials, the President reached Wash
ington at aU. We could not believe it till the fact
was forced upon us, that there was a definite, well-laid
plan to assassinate him on the way; and that leading
southem men were both cognizant of the plot and
accessorv to it. We know, however, that for a lono-
time guards were felt to be necessary about the Pres
idential mansion. We know how that, firom time to
time, discoveries were made of new plots, requiring
new precautions. We remember how, when for
health's sake the President had reitired to the " Sol
diers' Ketreat". as a summer residence, it was found
requisite for his safety that he should be daily accom
panied in and out from Washington with a mounted
escort. The threats of the dangers of assassination
thus have always hung about him.
Or is it surprising that the black heart and bloody

hand of the genius of slavery and rebellion should
have been equal to an act like this ; the pitiless heart,
the savage hand, long familiar with lacerating the
naked bodies of bondmen and bondwomen, tearing
husbands and wives asunder, parents and children ; —
that black heart which could nourish treason such
as this rebellion has brought forth, how natural a
nest for such a project of assassination ! That matri-
cidal hand lifted against the mother-country of us
all — how slight a thing for it to wield the assassin's
weapons ! And when, by the recent victories, it had
at last become 'evident to the blindest southern pride
and hate that the miserable cause of the Confederacy
was meeting its miserable end, then, stung to mad
ness in its disappointed rage, this act is most naturally
committed : like the devils of the bottomless pit,
ruined themselves, their only remaining care to ruin
as much with them as possible. I know of no parallel
out of hell. The nearest to it in human history is
the act of Herod, who, when he knew that he must
die, incarcerated the most eminent citizens of the
realm, with strict orders for their assassination at the
moment of his death, that there might be some mourn
ing in the land. Oh that it had been the will of
heaven in like manner to have frustrated this infer-
nalism as it did that ! I
Yes, we had reason enough to infer this act, but it
had been deferred so long we fondly hoped that safety
was secured. Alas ! how terribly were we mistaken !
Oh, my country, my country ! How have I, in these
late years, mourned for thee in thy prostration in the
dust ! — at the humiliating spectacle thou has made
for the derision of the nations — who have scoffed at

6
thy struggles and thy sorrows — who have mocked at
thy departing greatness and glories, as they hoped ;
who have looked upon thy gigantic eflbrts against thy
foe, thy wounds and thy blood, as the degenerate
thousands of the ancient amphitheater stretched their
eager necks, and with fiendish satisfaction gloated
over the strug-o-linor oladiators of the arena,
" Butchered to make a Eoman holiday I ''
And now. when at last I saw thee, my noble country,
emerging from thy humiliation and disgrace, and
springing to thine old position of influence and re-
no-wu. and more, — Oh, to see thee present this most
humbling sight of all before the world, of having
nourished such a monster, capable of such an act, and
of having such a deed committed upon thy soU ! for,
excepting ihe murder of the ages, the crucifixion itr
self human history seems not to have furnished its
parallel. But, my hearers, are there any words to be uttered
this hour, beside those of bitter lamentation for the
act and execration of it ? Can I to-day perform my
usual dutv of utterino- God's lessons to vou, as sug-
gested by the volume of his word or the book of his
providence ? SuflS.cient time has not yet elapsed to
enable us to recover from the appalling, bewildering
effects of the tidings. We can not yet look upon the
matter with a clear and steady eye. StiU, I feel there
are some things I can even now say.
And, first : I feel that we are more than ever in
God's hands ; that he is most directly and conspicu
ously dealing with us. Think of our feelings the

past two weeks till yesterday. There were no bounds
to our joy — we could not express it! And how that
joy brought the nation in gratitude to God ; the na
tion never so acknowledged him in any joy. Every
speech that was made did it ; men did it one with
another ; men who seldom spoke his name felt then
they must speak of him ; where men gathered in the
business mart, and on the exchange, doxjologies must
be sung, and prayer and the devout offering of
thanksgiving be made. I am so glad God was thus
acknowledged ; not indeed as he ought to have been,
but yet as he never was before, it gives us such
ground for trusting that this terrible thing is some
thing other than a divine rebuke. And now our
sorrow is as great as was then our joy. The very
greatness of these extremes in the permissions of
God's providence, are a proof that he is as signally
with us. It is not in wrath, it is not in divine deser
tion that we are experiencing this. The magnitude
of the previous mercy shows this. That was in one
sense a gracious preparation for this ; and we have
stiU all our late successes and victories to lean vipon
to strengthen and support us.
It is possible that without great and increasing
elation, there may have been some danger that we
should come to lose our sense of dependence — come
to feel as though all our troubles were past, no more
dangers to fear, and so soon become God-forgetting
and self-sufficient. I do not know ; perhaps God saw
this was about to be — and he anew humbled us, and
taught us, right in the midst of our highest joy, that
without his preservation, every cup of our hopes and
satisfactions wiU be dashed.

8
Long ago I learned to feel that the more striking
the events in our personal experience, the more evi
dently God is dealing with us as individuals. I do
not know why I should have any less strong convic
tions when applying the rule to national events.
II. But I see more clearly the hand and the mercy
of God in not allowing this event to occur until it
did. Had the first intentions of assassination, and the
first attempts four years ago been successful, it is diffi
cult to say how dire might have been the results.
Anarchy, very likely, would have sprung upon us at
once. Our institutions, our circumstances, certainly
then could not have borne such a trial, so critical a
test as they can now ; or if the event had occurred at
any time subsequently until the present. And think
what an interposition of the divine goodness we ought
to call it, and most in the loyal States will call it, that
the President was not taken away before completing
the great acts of his administration, especially the two
which have most signahzed it, the bringing an end to
slavery and to the rebellion.
in. Another thought which presents itself is, that
perhaps this last act was needed to complete the infar
my of the rebelhon and secession, and of that nefarious
system of human servitude out of Avhich secession
and rebellion grew. Such an act as this is the legiti
mate off'spring of those monsters, and nothing else.
It is the very hard-hearted pitilessness and savagery
of slavery which can thus wrest the hfe of the devoted
husband from directly beneath the eyes of the loving
wife, and tear the hfe of the fond father directly from

the embraces of dear children ; slavery can educate
to such bloody heartlessness. It was the hand of
rebellion and secession that first recklessly and ruth
lessly snatched war's flaming brand and waved it
challengingly and defiantly in the eyes of this govem
ment and this nation ; and it is the same hand of
revolting and appalling recklessness and crime which
has now seized the assassin's weapons, and, after with
one of them murdering the defenseless man, the hus
band, the father, the President, waved the other with
that tragedie style and devil's heroism which have
characterized the actors in the rebellion aU along.
Perhaps this last consummating act was needed to
open fully the eyes of foreign nations sympathizing
with secession to the true animus of the rebelhon.
I doubt if we hear any more commendations of it, or
apologies for it ; it will at last have succeeded in
awakening the detestation and abhorrence of the civ
ihzed world, as it long ago should have done.
And I am not sure but that we too needed this
further deed of horror to be done, that we might be
preserved from all false leniency toward that trio of
abominations, slavery, secession, and rebellion ; that we
might at once proceed with unsparing and speedy
hand to root out every vestige of them. I have of
late feared much lest their downfall should not be
stamped with sufficient ignominy for the best instruc
tion and safeguard of coming generations. There is
little fear now, however.
At the outset of this rebellion I, in this house, laid
the charge and crime of it at the door of slavery !
Little did I think, that in its closing hours such a final
illustration of its general character and leadings would

10
be furnished. But this foul, fell act comes from the
same influences which could lead, ten years ago, to
that brutal, murderous beating of the Massachusetts
senator, defenseless in his legislative seat ; which four
years ago could fiendishly fling the horrors of cIatI
war into this land of happiness and peace ; which
afterward could wretchedly imitate that miserable vil
lain of two hundred and sixty years ago, Guy Faux,
and mine the Libby Prison to destroy, at a single
explosion, our prisoners, if Capt. Dahlgren should
seek to liberate them, and then, subsequently, without
shame, justify the act ; and which could deliberately
starve so many thousands of our poor captive soldiers,
if to death they did not care, out of all possible future
serviceableness to their country they meant, if not to
death ; this last work of horrid assassination is but
the latest. God grant it the final flowering of the
same hellish plant !
IV. And not only may this foul deed have been
needed to put the last possible brand of infamy upon
the rebellion and its primal cause, but it also may
have been desirable as the final, highest test of the
strength of our institutions and form of government.
The rebellion and its Subjugation have been a fearful
but most triumphant test ; this is a further, in the
view of some it would be even a severer In other
lands the assassination of the chief ruler has perhaps
usually been the precursor of anarchy and revolution.
Wisely was it that not four hours were suflfered to
elapse before our Vice-President was swom into the
ofl&ce of President. As foreign nations see us pass
through the ordeal of the termination of one Presi-

11
dent's career by violence, and the immediate intro
duction to the oflfice of his successor, without commo
tion, and the continuance of each department and
ofl&ce of the government without any infringement
upon the usual order and routine, it may be regarded
as under God the last, highest test of the suflficiency
of our Republican form of institutions for any and
all emergencies.
V. Again, it may be observed, that very possibly
the work of President Lincoln was now done, so far
as he could complete it. Very possibly another could
better take it up and carry it on. He has done a
great work — a marvelous work ; history wUl record
it as of unsurpassed magnitude and honor. He could
not have added to his fame. The remaining work is
now that of reconstruction, and the meting out the
best measure of blended clemency and justice to those
who have been traitors and rebels. Very possibly a
southern loyal man may know better their true spirit
and deserts, and decide upon the better course of
treatment with respect to them. To us, indeed, it
seems as though Mr. Lincoln could carry on the
remaining work better than any other ; yet it may be
otherwise. To us, it seems, at the least, a fearful ex
periment to turn from the always discreet, self-poised,
temperate and sober man, to put the highest authority
of this government into the hands of a man who has
so recently and unutterably disgraced himself and us
through him. But if the imposing upon him this
great burden of responsibility shall have the same
efiect the similar imposing of a similarly weighty
responsibiUty is said to have had upon the great

12
Lieutenant-General of our armies, he has abundant
talents, knowledge and experience for the position.
God keep him and bless him. God bless President
Johnson I M}" own conviction is that he will better
complete what Mr. Lincoln has so incomparably thus
far carried on, than even our lamented late President
hunself, if spared, would. «
A^. Yet again, it may be observed, that this fear
ful event wiU ha.ve a mighty and happy tendency to
unite our people. It is not going to have the eflfect
of throwing us into anarchy, or of confusing any of
the operations of our government, or retarding at all
the progress of our triumphant quelling- of the rebell
ion, as perhaps the perpetrator of this crime and his
associates imagined. It will be a new and signal
iUustration of the folly of revenge. This act wHl
utterly destroy what little remaining sympathy there
was in any quarter for the faUing cause of the con
federacy. It wfll estal>lisli an ineradicable aversion
toward it in the breasts of aU right-minded men, of aU
patriot.s, of all lovers of law and order, of aU friends
of their fellow-men, of aU desiring the welfare of
mankind. He had cen fered upon him those animosi-
tie'^ every where felt toward those who stood by our
government; those animcsities, to a oreat extent
wfll be buried with him ; — while even where, to any
extent, they may partiaUj- or temporarily remain, his
sad and wicked end wfll greatly soften and amehorate
them. Diversities of political views and feelino-s can
be no longer violently cherished over such a grave ;
we shall aU together deprecate the deed, and the causes
which led to it. There are none of us, I think, who

13
wiU go forward to our work and duties as citizens of
this Republic any the worse for going on more soberly
and sadly. This event falls most exactly in the line
of God's dealing with us ever since the commence
ment of our diflficulties, by never letting us long rest
in our dependence on any individual. He has sig
nally disappointed us in this respect, by death and
otherwise, and utterly defeated all our tendencies to
the adulation of aii}'^ one. It seems to be his great
purpose thus, as in other ways, that, under him, our
people must look to themselves for the accomplishing
what they need and desire. It is a great eflfort of his
providence to elevate and strengthen the individual
sense of duty and obligation among all the people.
It is a republicanizing and democratizing of the people
on a plane of elevation and importance in advance of
every thing thus far in our national experience and
character. But most imperfectly can our poor discernment
now interpret the lessons of this event. Let us at
least "humble ourselves under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt us in due time" from the
dust of our present abasement and sorrow. Let us
together give our united, undying enmity to those
great causes and evils which have culminated in this
final crime. Let us give ourselves anew to the love
and service of our country, on whose altar such sacri
fices have been laid. Let us in the presence of such
a death realize anew the old-urged truth that no posi
tion gives immunity from the grave, and that every
life hastens speedily to render its account to God.

14
And now rest thee, thou man beloved by more
hearts and more beloved than any man in this nation
before, and by none more than the dusky race, who
wfll ever hafl thee as their deliverer from bondage ;
thou man — mercifully raised up by heaven for the
fearful crisis of our times — singularly endowed,
doubtless, with the qualities most needed for the
peculiar and arduous position to which thou wast
called — by tums doubted of by every class and
party, but in the end centering upon thyself more
regard and confidence by far than any other ; — thou
kindly-hearted man, incapable of malice or ill-wiU
long retained, thy very genialness and humor, a gift
sustaining thee, perhaps, when others would have
sunk beneath depression and care ; — thou man of the
people — thou perfect representative of the character
and the admirableness of our institutions, which can
elevate the humblest and the poorest to the loftiest
position among us, and fit worthily and well to fiU it ;
thou wouldst not thyself have regretted that thy
blood should mingle with that of the myriad patriot
heroes, the victims of the spirit and deed of this rebell
ion — one affluent more of that mighty tide of blood
ransoming our land ; — how much better thy dead and
mutflated form to the Uving form of the noAV fugitive
head of the rebelUon ; — thou diest, a nation bending
over thee in sorrow and m love ; — he lives, a nation's
execrations following him for evermore ! — rest thee,
wom and weary with the cares of State in most un
precedented burden, our need and our perfls imposed
on thee — well and bravely hast thou bome the bur
den, untirmgly, uncomplainingly ; and now thou hast
laid it oflf; not too soon for thee, we pray it may not

15
be too soon for us ! — the last, greatest murder of the
rebellion, the last, greatest sacrifice for us ; — the hatred
of our enemies toward us laid on thee — their venom
concentrated upon thee — their malice, by the most
detestable of crimes, wreaking a coveted, cowardly
vengeance ; — bearing so much, suflfering so much, and
at last thus murdered, simply because thou wert our
President, sustaining, directing, defending, delivering
our government; — rest thee now from thy great
and weary work! history will give thee a high
and spotless fame ; it will record thee as one of the
most amiable and unexceptionable of men, as one
of the truest and noblest of patriots, as one of the
wisest and ablest of Presidents; — rest thee in the
Repubhc's undying honor, reverence, gratitude and
love — and may a Redeemer's advocacy and blood
crown thy soul with celestial glory, immortal happi
ness, and everlasting Ufe !