DECATUR COUNCIL, At a regular stated meeting of the above Council, the following Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, We have heard (since our last meeting) of the death of our esteemed and beloved Chief Magistrate, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, by the hand of an assassin, causing sorrow to all loyal hearts, amidst the rejoicings for national victories, and it becomes us as Americans, to express our feelings in reference to this great national calamity; Therefore, be it Resolved, That while we bow with submission to the will of an inscrutable Providence, believing he has suffered this affliction to occur for our good, as a nation, yet we humbly pray for his sustaining power not only for the nation, but for the widow and children of our deceased President in this hour of deep affliction and sorrow. Resolved, That we trust that the perpetrator of this foul deed, and his accomplices, having in view the murder of those having the affairs of the nation in charge, may be brought to a speedy and deserved punishment for their crimes. Resolved, That in ABRAHAM LINCOLN, we recognize "an honest man, the noblest work of God;" his blameless life and pure patriotism has enshrined him in our hearts, and won for him our love and lasting affection. Resolved, That as we regard WASHINGTON as the Father of his Country, so do we hail the "illustrious LINCOLN " as the "defender and preserver of the country." Resolved, That we view in him our political Moses, who, having safely brought us by his statesmanship through periods of eminent peril, died on the borders of our promised land of freedom, and we beseech the protection, support, and guidance of Almighty God for his successor, ANDREW JOHNSON, and pray that in him we may find a Joshua who shall lead and direct us to a full occupancy of the land twice consecrated by the blood of freemen to the cause of liberty, and we would adopt for him, our country, and ourselves, the words of our late Chief Magistrate: "Having thus chosen our cause without guile, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts." Resolved, That in memory of our late President, and as a mark of respect for the illustrious dead, the above resolutions be entered upon the journal, and our charter be placed in mourning until the first anniversary of his lamentable death, which will be April the 15th, 1866. WM. M. WECKERLY, AMOS BRIGGS Committee. Attest, GEO. S. Sasman, R. S. F. T. WECKERLY. C. SPRING GARDEN COUNCIL, No. 38, O. U. A. M. At a regular stated meeting of Spring Garden Council, No. 38, O. of U. A. M., held at their hall, Fourth and George Streets, April 25, 1865, the following Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, Our nation has been overwhelmed with grief at the sudden demise of our Chief, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States; a noble, generous, and Christian patriot, whose firm devotion to his country, her Constitution and her Union, has challenged the world for a superior; Therefore, be it Resolved, That Spring Garden Council, No. 38, O. U. A. M., in common with our fellow-citizens, do mourn the sad calamity that has befallen our noble and distinguished President, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, who fell by the hand of a cowardly assassin, a martyr to the cause of freedom and human liberty, on the 14th day of April, 1865; and while we deplore his loss, we will ever cherish in our hearts his many great and noble virtues, and will revere his memory as the liberator of the oppressed. Resolved, That we drape our charter and emblems in mourning for ninety days, and that a copy of this preamble and resolutions be published in the morning Inquirer. M. Z. SENDERLING, THOMAS M. LOCKE, Committee. Attest, WM. H. FLOYD, R. S. ISAAC EVERLY, C. SCIENCE COUNCIL, At a stated meeting of the above Council, held April 18, 1865, the following Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, A great national calamity has befallen our country, through the deliberate murder, by a dastardly assassin, of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Chief Magistrate of the United States, in whom the country has lost a bright Christian example, a pure patriot and an efficient executive officer; and in whom we recognised "one of the noblest works of God, an honest man;" Therefore, be it— Resolved, That we do hereby express our utter abhorrence of the fiendish and barbarous act which has deprived us, in the midst of rejoicing, of an able leader and an honored President. Resolved, That we believe that his blood with that of thousands more of our countrymen who have been murdered by wicked and ambitious men striving to overthrow the best Government which has ever blessed the earth, calls for the execution of inexorable justice to all the leaders of this foul rebellion. Resolved, That we have no sympathy with those who are ready to receive with open arms leading traitors; and who style their dark deeds of treason, murder, and perjury, acts of patriotism, magnanimity, and pureness of purpose. Resolved, That we do give our earnest support to the present National Executive, ANDREW JOHNSON, who has been thus suddenly called upon to assume the responsibilities of the office. Resolved, That in common with every loyal citizen of the United States, we do sincerely mourn his loss, and tender our heartfelt sympathy to the family and members of the Cabinet of our late Chief Magistrate. Resolved, That as a mark of respect to his memory, the Trustees of this Council are hereby instructed to have our Council Chamber appropriately draped in mourning for the space of six months, and that this Council as a body take part with our fellow-citizens in the funeral obsequies, as recommended by the municipal authorities. |