National Union League of the 13th Ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
council no. 4, National Union League Association, Thirteenth Ward, philadelphia.
At a meeting held April 20, A. D. 1865, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted by a rising vote:
Whereas, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, at the capital, and the murderous assault upon the Secretary of State, while lying disabled at his home, by emissaries 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 Sumter, 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; and
Whereas, since these things have come to pass, it becomes the duty of every man, as he values the perpetuity of free institutions, and the permanency of the government of the United States as the martyred Lincoln left it, to take his place under the banner which proclaims freedom to every American in the land, whatever be the color the great Creator of the universe designed him to wear; and as He to whose ordinations in this our hour of sore affliction we submit with humble resignation prompted our forefathers to make the declaration, “that all men are born free and equal,” we, their descendants, must see to it that our inheritance be transmitted to posterity unimpaired, and with that declaration sustained to the letter in all its integrity: Therefore, be it
Resolved, That we view the assassination of the Chief Magistrate of the nation (at any time most barbarous and unnatural, forbidden by all laws, human and divine) as being at this particular juncture utterly at variance with known causes or existing circumstances, and altogether, according to human calculations, unjustifiable; it therefore must have been prompted by that spirit of fiendish malice and savage hate which has characterized the wicked leaders of the slave faction in the South, in all their rebellious acts against the States of the North and the government of the Union.
[Page 702]Resolved, That in view of the extraordinary and unprecedented events of the past four years, and of the outrages in every form which have been committed by the leaders of the rebellion, and their aiders and abettors in the North, we, citizens of the 13th ward, will steadily and firmly exhibit, by voice and example, our determined hostility to any party or candidate for office that will fraternize with such blood-stained traitors, or who favor their election or appointment to any position under any future administration of the government of the United States.
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 too, their fullest rights, and mete out to traitors, of whatever class or condition, their justly deserved reward.
Resolved, That we indorse the principle enunciated by our present respected Chief Magistrate, “that mercy towards the rebels is injustice to the nation,” an insult to the memory of the heroes who have laid down their lives in defence of their country, and an act of gross inhumanity towards the thousands of our sons and brothers who still are starving in rebel prisons; and to the support of his administration we hereby pledge our full and undivided support.
Resolved, That a copy of the above preamble and resolutions be forwarded to his Excellency the President, and to the heads of the several departments at Washington, and to the governor and heads of departments at Harrisburg.
Resolved, That we will wear an appropriate badge of mourning for such length of time as the authorities of the city may direct, in honor of the late Chief Magistrate of the nation, Abraham Lincoln.
Attest: