qualities, into the very hearts of the people. The nation, suddenly called upon to lament, mourned his loss as that of a personal friend. This was shown in the simple demonstrations of mourning which everywhere appeared. Without waiting for official orders or influence, on the morning of the 15th, before such directions could be given, places of business were closed and the houses in the large cities and elsewhere almost universally were draped in black. There were few so poor as not to exhibit some badge of sorrow of this kind. Trade was suspended while the people gathered in groups wondering at the calamity or listening to the voices of speakers who gave expression in popular harangues to the common sorrow. The voice of party was hushed. If the assault four years before on Sumter had developed the real unity of the nation, the assassination of the President immeasurably strengthened the sentiment and sane tioned the Union. Nothing was more noticeable during the period which followed than the calmness and sense of security which were exhibited by the great body of the people. There was not a moment's doubt of the strength and stability of the Government. The finances stood firm, the political confidence undoubting. The recent military suppression of the Rebellion doubtless added to this; but had it been otherwise, and if General Grant had yet his great victory to win, the result would not have been dissimilar. The Constitution, so often of late severely tried, was equal to this emergency, and the violent assassination of Lincoln at the culmination of an unprecedented civil war, caused no more disastrous effect than had occurred on the peaceful natural deaths of Presidents Harrison and Taylor. Vice-President Johnson succeeded to the Chief Magistracy with no more disturbance than had occurred on the accession of his predecessors, Taylor and Filmore. Immediately upon the death of President Lincoln, Attorney-General Speed waited upon the Hon. Andrew Johnson and officially informed him of the event by the following communication from the members of the Cabinet: "Sir,-Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot by an assassin last evening at Ford's Theatre, in this city, and died at the hour of 7:22 o'clock. About the same time at which the President was shot, an assassin entered the sick chamber of the Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary of State, and stabbed him in several places in the throat, neck and face, severely, if not mortally wounding him. Other members of the Secretary's family were dangerously wounded by the assassin while making his escape. By the death of President Lincoln the office of President has devolved under the Constitution upon you. The emergency of the Government demands that you should immediately qualify according to the requirements of the Constitution and enter upon the duties of President of the United States. If you will please make known your pleasure, such arrangements as you deem proper will be made. Your obedient servants, Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury; Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War; Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy; William Dennison, Postmaster-General; J. P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior; James Speed, Attorney-General. To Andrew Johnson, Vice-President of the United States." Mr. Johnson requested that the ceremonies take place at his rooms at the Kirkwood House, in this city, at 10 o'clock in the morning. The Hon. Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the United States, was notified of the fact, and desired to be in attendance to administer the oath of office. At the abovenamed hour the following gentlemen assembled in the Vice-President's room to participate in the ceremony: The PRESIDENT JOHNSON. Hon. Salmon P. Chase; the Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury; Mr. Attorney-General Speed; F. P. Blair, sr.; the Hon. Montgomery Blair; Senators Foot, of Vermont, Yates, of Illinois, Ramsay, of Minnesota, Stewart, of Nevada, Hale, of New Hampshire, and General Farnsworth, of Illinois. After the presentation of the above letter, the Chief Justice administered the following oath to Mr. Johnson: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." After receiving the oath and being declared President of the United States, Mr. Johnson remarked: "Gentlemen, I must be permitted to say that I have been almost overwhelmed by the announcement of the sad event which has so recently occurred. I feel incompetent to perform duties so important and responsible as those which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me. As to an indication of any policy which may be pursued by me in the administration of the Government, I have to say that that must be left for development as the Administration progresses. The message or declaration must be made by the acts as they transpire. The only assurance that I can now give of the future is reference to the past. The course which I have taken in the past in connection with this rebellion, must be regarded as a guarantee of the future. My past public life, which has been long and laborious, has been founded, as I in good conscience believe upon a great principle of right, which lies at the basis of all things. The best energies of my life have been spent in endeavoring to establish and perpetuate the principles of free government, and I believe that the Government, in passing through its present perils, will settle down' upon principles consonant with popular rights, more permanent and enduring than here 627 tofore. I must be permitted to say, if I understand the feelings of my own heart, I have long labored to ameliorate and elevate the condition of the great mass of the American people. Toil and an honest advocacy of the great principles of free government have been my lot. The duties have been mine-the consequences are God's. This has been the foundation of my political creed. I feel that in the end the Government will triumph, and that these great principles will be permanently established. In conclusion, gentlemen, let me say that I want your encouragement and countenance. I shall ask and rely upon you and others in carrying the Government through its present perils. I feel in making this request that it will be heartily responded to by you and all other patriots and lovers of the rights and interests of a free people." Official notice of this assumption of the duties of the Presidency was communicated to the country by Secretary Stanton, coupled with a formal announcement that the President would retain the present Secretaries of departments of his Cabinet, and that "they would go on and discharge their respective duties in the same manner as before the deplorable event that had changed the head of the government." The arrangements for the funeral of President Lincoln were referred to the members of the Cabinet, and in concert with the family of the deceased it was determined that the remains should be accompanied by a national escort from Washington to his former home at Springfield, Illinois, by way of Baltimore, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New York, Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and Chicago. The first of the imposing obsequies which ensued was celebrated on the 19th of April, at the White House at Washington, where the body was lying in State. There were present at these initial funeral ceremonies, which were held in the large East Room of the Presidential man through all the circumstances atmansion, a large array of representa- tending these melancholy events. As tive persons, including the diplomatic the great funeral procession proceeded corps in full dress, the heads of bu- by railway, all along its course, whether reaus, the city authorities, various mem- by night or day, it was witnessed by bers of Congress, the governors of sev- multitudes who awaited its arrival with eral of the States, delegates from north- every demonstration of respect. At the ern cities, officers of the army and navy, great cities where it rested meetings including General Grant and Admiral were held, processions formed and oraFarragut, while the Supreme Court was tions delivered. It was a fortnight from represented by Chief Justice Chase. the time the remains left Washington Precisely at noon President Johnson, before they reached their final restingwith the members of the Cabinet, enter-place at Springfield. "That rain of ed and took their places at the right of tears," says an eloquent witness of the the coffin. The services were commenced scene," was there ever anything like by the Rev. Mr. Hall reading the open- it in our American history? Millions ing parts of the Episcopal burial ser- crowded to his funeral. Five hundred vice, including the usual portion of the thousand, it is estimated, gazed upon 15th chapter of St. Paul to the Corin- that dead face, as onward, by day and thians. The Right Rev. Bishop Simp- night, the sad procession moved through son, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the cities, towns and hamlets of our then delivered a prayer, and was fol- land. The writer witnessed it at an inlowed by the Rev. Dr. Gurley, of the land station, where no outward show of Presbyterian Church, who pronounced preparation could be made. Still there, an eloquent funeral discourse. The re- as elsewhere, while the dark draped car mains were then conveyed in a long and moved slowly through, was there the imposing procession to the rotunda of manifestation of the same substantial the Capitol, where they lay in state till sorrow-the silent crowd, the spontathe 21st, when they were conveyed to neously uncovered head, while drops Philadelphia according to the programme were stealing down the manly cheeks already indicated. The 19th, the day and muffled sobs betrayed the female of the funeral at Washington, was sol- grief. emnly observed in the Northern cities; the churches were opened and appropriate services were held in concert with those at the national capital. The heart of the people throbbed as that of one Home," June, 1865 All hearts were softened, all malice silenced, all party spirit hushed." * Professor Taylor Lewis, of Union College, Schenectady, in an article on Abraham Lincoln, in "Hours at CHAPTER CXV. CONCLUDING EVENTS OF THE WAR. APRIL-JUNE, 1865. THE surrender of Lee's army to General Grant proved as had been anticipated, the virtual extinction of the military power of the rebellion. Other armies, indeed, remained in the field, Johnston's in North Carolina, the remains of Taylor's forces in Alabama, Maury's fugitives from Mobile, and a considerable force under Kirby Smith in Texas; but these, one after another at short intervals, followed the precedent which had been set by General Lee, laid down their arms and surrendered to the United States authorities. The process was slightly interrupted in the first instance, that of General Johnston, by a negotiation between that officer and General Sherman, the particulars of which were communicated to the country on the 22d of April, in an official dispatch from Secretary Stanton at the War Department. From this it appeared, that on the 18th of April an agreement for a suspension of hostilities and a memorandum of what is called a basis for peace" had been entered into between Generals Sherman and Johnston, near Durham's Station, North Carolina, the particulars of which were as follows: First,-The contending armies now in the field to maintain their statu quo, until notice is given by the Commanding General of either one to its opponent, and reasonable time-say forty-eight hours-allowed. Second, The Confederate armies now in existence to be disbanded and conducted to their several State capitals, there to deposit their arms and public property in the State arsenals, and each officer and man to execute and file an agreement to cease from acts of war, and abide action of both State and Federal authority. The number of arms and munitions of war, to be reported to the Chief of Ordnance at Washington City. subject to future action of the Congress of the United States, in the meantime to be used solely to maintain peace and order within the borders of the States respectively. Third,-The recognition by the executive of the United States of several State Governments, in their officers and legislatures, taking oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, and where conflicting State Governments have resulted from the war, the legitimacy of all shall be submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. Fourth.-The re-establishment of all Federal courts in the several States, with powers as defined by the Constitution and laws of Congress. Fifth, The people and inhabitants of all States to be guaranteed, so far as the Executive can, their political rights and franchise, as well as their rights of persons and property, as defined by the Constitution of the United States and of States respectively. Sixth,-The executive authority of the Government of the United States, not to disturb any of the people by reason of the late war. so long as they live in peace and quiet, and abstain from acts of armed hostility, and obey laws in existence at any place of their residence. In general terms, war to cease; a general amnesty, so far as the executive power of the United States can command, or on condition of disbandment of the Confederate armies, and the distribution of arms and resumption of peaceful pursuits by officers and men Government to pay the rebel debt, and certainly subjects loyal citizens of the rebel States to the debt consummated by the rebels in the name of the State. Sixth,-It put in dispute the existence of loyal State Governments, and the new State of Western Virginia, which had been recognized by every department of the United States Government. Sev as hitherto composing the said armies. Not being fully empowered by our respective principals to fulfil these terms, we individually and officially pledge ourselves to promptly obtain necessary authority, and to carry out the above programme." On receipt of this memorandum a cabinet meeting was immediately held, at which the action of General Sherman was disapproved by Pre-enth,-It practically abolishes the consident Johnson, by the Secretary of fiscation laws, and relieved rebels of War, by General Grant, and by every every degree, who had slaughtered our member of the cabinet. General Sher- people, from all pains and penalties for man was ordered to resume hostilities their crimes. Eighth,—It gives terms immediately, and was directed that the that had been deliberately, repeatedly instructions given to General Grant by and solemnly rejected by President LinPresident Lincoln on a previous occa- coln, and better terms than the rebels sion,* directing him "not to decide, dis- had ever asked in their most prosperous cuss or confer upon any political ques- condition. Ninth,It formed no basis tion" were approved by President John- of true and lasting peace, but relieved son, and "were reiterated to govern the rebels from the pressure of our victoaction of military commanders.' The ries, and left them in condition to renew fellowing comment was appended to the their effort to overthrow the United memorandum of negotiation in the dis- States Government, and subdue the patch from the War Department. "This loyal States, whenever their strength proceeding of General Sherman was un- was recruited, and any opportunity approved for the following among other should offer." reasons: First,-It was an exercise of authority not vested in General Sherman, and on its face shows that both he and Johnston knew that he (General Sherman) had no authority to enter into any such arrangement. Second,-It was a practical acknowledgment of the rebel government. Third,-It undertook to re-establish the rebel State government, that had been overthrown at the sacrifice of many thousand loyal lives, and an immense treasure, and placed arms and munitions of war in the hands of the rebels at their respective capitols, which might be used as soon as the armies of the United States were disbanded, and used to conquer and subdue the loyal States. Fourth,--By the restoration of the rebel authority in their respective States, they would be enabled to re-establish slavery. Fifth,-It might furnish a ground of responsibility by the Federal * Ante p. 562. The immediate circumstances which led to this "negotiation" and the motives which influenced him in making it are narrated by General Sherman in the subsequent final report of his campaign. On the 14th of April, the anniversary of Sumter, when General Sherman had established his head quarters at Raleigh, the enemy being between Greensborough and Hillsborough, he received a communication from General Johnston inquiring "whether in order to stop the further effusion of blood and devastation of property you are willing to make a temporary suspension of active operations, and to communicate with Lieutenant-General Grant, commanding the armies of the United States, the request that he will take like action in regard to other armies, the object being to permit the civil authorities to enter into the needful arrangements to terminate the existing war. To this General Sherman |