Inhabitants of Zanesville, Ohio
in memoriam.
Pursuant to adjournment from the spontaneous meeting held in front of the court house at 9 o’clock this morning, an immense assemblage of the citizens of Zanesville and vicinity convened in the Market-house Hall, at 2 o’clock p. m. Mr. Henry Blandy occupied the chair, and C. W. Potwin continued to act as secretary. Rev. D. D. Mather offered an eloquent and impressive prayer.
The committee appointed at the morning meeting, composed of the Rev. H. K. Foster, Rev. J. M. Platt, Rev. N. A. Reed, A. A. Guthrie, esq., Colonel Granger, and Messrs. V. Best and H. Blandy, reported, through their chairman, A. A. Guthrie, esq., the following resolutions, which were adopted unanimously:
Resolved, That this community learns with consternation and profound sorrow of the death, by the hands of murderers, of President Lincoln and Secretary Seward.
Resolved, That in deliberate and cautious wisdom in judging, in steady spirit and unsullied integrity, and sincere and disinterested devotion to his country’s cause, Abraham Lincoln closely resembled him whom a grateful people have named the “Father of his Country.”
Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Lincoln at this juncture of our national affairs the country suffers a loss the magnitude of which we cannot in our present sorrow adequately estimate, and were it not for our knowledge that God reigns over human affairs, our grief would utterly prostrate and overwhelm us.
Resolved, That, by the death of Mr. Seward, a learned, liberal, and wise statesman has been taken from us; he had ever been a faithful counsellor of his chief, and “in death they were not divided.” He also died for his country.
Resolved, That in these diabolical murders we have but the fuller development of the spirit of the rebellion and its acknowledged cause, and the consummation of purposes and plans formed before Mr. Lincoln’s first inauguration; and that the teachings and acts of the rebel leaders have all tended to this result; and that they are justly held responsible before God and the world [Page 717] for these hellish deeds; and in the name of humanity, as well as that of justice, we demand their punishment.
Resolved, That our confidence still rests in the great truth that God lives and governs, and our recourse must be continually unto Him, beseeching him to preserve and direct the Vice-President, who now succeeds to the chief magistracy; to guide the councils of his cabinet and Congress, and sustain the armies and navy in their self-sacrificing devotion to the national cause; to cause the plots of murderous men to recoil upon themselves, and to deliver our nation from all its present peril.
Resolved, That in this latest development of the spirit and plans of traitors we find an insuperable objection to all schemes of adjustment which ignore the cause of the rebellion, or propose an indiscriminate pardon of its leaders.
Resolved, That we deem this occasion a fitting one to renew our consecration to our beloved country; and now and here we do solemnly pledge ourselves to our imperilled government to maintain and sustain it against all its foes; trusting in God, “sink or swim, live or die, survive, or perish,” we will stand by our glorious flag.
Resolved, That in our deep sorrow for our country we would not forget the deeper sorrow of the families who are utterly overwhelmed by this inscrutable Providence; and that we tender to them our deepest heartfelt condolence, and the assurance of a nation’s fullest sympathy.
On motion, a committee was appointed consisting of A. A. Guthrie, Charles C. Russell, Colonel Gilbert, and General Ball, to make proper arrangements for funeral services to be held in this city at the same time that they occur at Washington.
On motion, it was
Resolved, That the proceeding and resolutions of this meeting be published in the city papers, and in the Ohio State Journal, and a copy thereof be forwarded to the President of the United States and the families bereaved.
Following the proceedings, eloquent addresses were delivered by Revs. Foster, Piatt, Read, Slather, and by Hons. T. J. Maginnis and T. A. Reamy.
- H. BLANDY, Chairman.
- C. W. POTWIN, Secretary.
Note.—It is proper to notice here that since the adjournment of this meeting of citizens the joyful intelligence reaches us that Secretary Seward is still living, and hopes are entertained of his recovery.