RELIANCE COUNCIL, At a regular stated meeting of the above Council, the following Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, The nation has been deprived of its honored Chief Magistrate, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, by the hand of an assassin, nerved to the infernal deed by traitors who designed that the Government also should cease to exist, at a moment when by the magnanimity of his leniency toward them he called forth their surprise; when he was about witnessing the successful issue of his and his country's efforts to suppress a wicked and causeless rebellion, and when his heart so full of kindness, even for his enemies, throbbing joyously with the prospect of peace and united happiness, at such a time he fell, overwhelming the nation with lamentation and mourning; Therefore, be it Resolved, That the members of this Council deem it a high duty to express their abhorrence of the fiendish act that deprived him of life, and their detestation of those who in any manner were accessory to it. Resolved, That the blood of the slain calls for the sternest justice to be executed upon the leaders of this accursed rebellion. Resolved, That as a ruler, his kindness of heart and firmness of character, conjoined with his great abilities, render his loss such that fills our hearts with unaffected sadness. Resolved, That we will earnestly support those who are left to administer the Government, praying that they may imitate the steady purpose and constant policy of the lamented deceased, that ere long we may again become a united people, and enjoy the blessings of peace, prosperity, and happiness. I. L. EISENBREY, W. U. BUTCHER, Committee. J. F. TROUT, C. Attest, W. U. BUTCHER, R. S. DILIGENT COUNCIL, At a regular stated meeting of the above Council, the following Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, The assassination of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, at the Capitol, and the murderous assault upon the Secretary of State, while lying disabled at his home, by emisaries of the slave power of the South, has overwhelmed the nation with anguish and filled all loyal hearts with indignation and sorrow, in that which should have been throughout the Union the hour of congratulation and joy; and, whereas, for the space of four years, traitors in arms have warred against the Government of the United States, and have bathed their hands in the best blood of the nation; and upon the evening of the day on which conquered and humiliated, they were compelled to witness the restoration of the old flag to its legitimate place upon the battlements of Fort Sumpter, the herald of freedom to a land redeemed, their hired assassins crowned the infamy of the rebellion, by stealing upon the secure moments of the revered heads of the nation, and by the perpetration of a crime without a name, effected that from the contemplation of which humanity turns with mourning and execration; Therefore, be it Resolved, By Diligent Council, No. 42, O. of U. A. M., That the sad event which deprived our country of its Chief Magistrate, and threw a nation into tears, is far removed from all party relations and affinities, and is of a kind to call upon the Council for an expression of sympathy with all who mourn the death of President LINCOLN, as a national calamity, and with all who regard his death as a national dishonor. Resolved, That the virtues of "Honesty, Industry and Sobriety,' which mark the character of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, as a man, endears his memory, and fully justifies all our regret, that the cardinal virtues which constitute the basis of our Order, should have lost an exponent so illustrious in his position and beneficial in his practice. Resolved, That the private virtues and genial disposition of Mr. LINCOLN manifested themselves in his public acts, and that the beauty of his domestic life and the gentleness of his social bearings were consistent with the humanity and charity of his official life, and the grief which the nation now indulges in, and in which the Council participates, is for a good and faithful man, whose only desire seemed to be to restore to the nation, peace and prosperity. Resolved, That we heartily commend to God the wife that is widowed, and the children that are orphaned by this sad calamity, and with the same devout reliance on our Heavenly Father, we commend to His holy care the nation that was widowed by the ruthless hand of the assassin, and we beseech him to govern, direct, and bless this Republic. Resolved, That the time has now fully arrived, when the nation must look on treason, wherever it exists, as a crime, and as such be denounced and punished; that justice, strict and 'inexorable, shall exert its power and the laws, and the Government be maintained with the dignity and propriety becoming a united, sovereign, and free people. Resolved, That while as a people we ask not for vengeance against the vanquished, we deserve protection from any similar attempt in the future, and hereby call upon his Excellency, ANDREW Johnson, President of the United States, to administer those laws against traitors which will give to loyal men and loyal women, their fullest rights, and mete out to traitors, of whatever class or condition, their justly deserved reward. Resolved, That we endorse the principle enunciated by our present respected Chief Magistrate, that mercy toward the rebels is injustice to the nation, an insult to the heroes who have laid down their lives in defence of their country, and an act of gross inhumanity toward the thousands of our sons and brothers, who, half starved in rebel prisons, and to the support of his administration we hereby pledge our full and undivided support. Resolved, That as a further token of respect and honor for our late lamented President, the charter frame of this Council be draped in mourning for the space of six months. A. ECKHART, C. FRANCIS G. LUpton, Committee. PHILADELPHIA COUNCIL, No. 43, O. U. A. M. At a regular stated meeting of the above Council, the following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted: WHEREAS, We have heard with unfeigned sorrow of the deliberate assassination of that great and good man, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, late Chief Magistrate of our country, who has been murdered in a cowardly and brutal manner by those whom he always treated with kindness and pity, and who have by this means deprived themselves of their best friend; Therefore, be it Resolved, That in the death of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, our country. has lost a true friend to liberty and her free institutions; a Christian and patriot possessed of those cardinal virtues which we, as United American Mechanics, so highly esteem, viz: "Honesty, Industry, and Sobriety.' Resolved, That we view with unutterable horror and detestation the fiendish and brutal act, which in the midst of rejoicing, has deprived our country of so able a leader and efficient executive officer. Resolved, That we believe this great crime, with innumerable other dark deeds, committed and sanctioned by the enemies of our Government, call for the execution of inexorable justice upon all the leading and responsible men engaged in this foul rebellion, whether at home or abroad. Resolved, That we loathe and detest those in our midst who sympathize with treason, and look upon them as worse than traitors in open arms against the Government. Resolved, That we hereby tender our heartfelt sympathy to the family and members of the Cabinet of our late Chief Magistrate. Resolved, That we give our undivided support to his successor, ANDREW JOHNSON, who has been thus suddenly called upon to assume the responsibilities of the high office. JOHN S. HEMPHILL, JACOB ENGELMAN, PAUL BANNEN, R. S. JAMES DEVEREUX. Committee. MOUNT VERNON COUNCIL, At a stated meeting of the above Council, held April 20, 1865, the following Preamble and Resolutions were adopted: WHEREAS, It has pleased an all-wise Providence to remove from our midst, by death, our noble, patriotic, and beloved President, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, who was cowardly stricken down by the hand of an assassin, at a time when peace was about to be proclaimed throughout the land; Therefore, be it— Resolved, That while we bow in humble submission to the will of Him, who doeth all things well, we cannot but feel the loss, this our beloved country has sustained, in the death of so noble and magnanimous a statesman in this, the hour of victory. Resolved, That we tender to his bereaved family, in this, their hour of affliction, our sincere and heartfelt sympathy, and recommend them to the guiding hand and protecting power of Him whom it has pleased in His infinite mercy and wisdom, to remove from their midst, a fond husband, a loving father, and a zealous patriot. Resolved, As a token of respect to the memory of our lamented President, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, that the charter, roll, regalia, and other property of Mt. Vernon Council, No, 44, O. U. A. M., be draped in mourning for the space of sixty (60) days, and that each member of the Council be requested to wear a suitable badge of mourning for the same period, and that a committee of five be appointed to carry the foregoing resolutions into effect. |