such service. That rightful claim belongs to the United States, because every one born on their soil, with the few exceptions of the children of travellers and transient residents, owes them a primary allegiance. Every one so born has been counted among those represented in Congress; every slave has ever been represented in Congress; imperfectly and wrongly it may be-but still has been counted and represented. The slave born on our soil always owed allegiance to the general government. It may in time past have been a qualified allegiance, manifested through his master, as the allegiance of a ward through its guardian, or of an infant through its parent. But when the master became false to his allegiance, the slave stood face to face with his country; and his allegiance, which may before have been a qualified one, became direct and immediate. His chains fell off, and he rose at once in the presence of the nation, bound, like the rest of us, to its defence. Mr. Lincoln's proclamation did but take notice of the already existing right of the bondman to freedom. The treason of the master made it a public crime for the slave to continue his obedience; the treason of a state set free the collective bondmen of that state. This doctrine is supported by the analogy of precedents. In the times of feudalism the treason of the lord of the manor deprived him of his serfs; the spurious feudalism that existed among us differs in many OBSEQUIES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN UNION SQUARE NEW YORK APRIL 25 1865 PRINTED FOR THE CITIZENS' COMMITTEE D VAN NOSTRAND 192 BROADWAY 1865 110M 7324.6 U.S.6302,97 OBSEQUIES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Moses Taylor, John A. King, John A. Dix, Simeon Draper, M. H. Grinnell, A. A. Low, Hamilton Fish, George Bancroft, Sam. Sloan, COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS. Richard D. Lathrop, Marshall O. Roberts, Samuel Wetmore, Henry Clews, Waldo Hutchins, Chas. H. Marshall, William M. Evarts, S. B. Chittenden, W. E. Dodge, Morris Ketchum, George Opdyke, Jonathan Sturges, William T. Blodgett, Benj. R. Winthrop, Henry K. Bogert, Shepherd Knapp, John J. Astor, Jr., John Steward, Francis Lieber, Robert L. Stuart, Robert S. Hone, Charles P. Daly, A. C. Kingsland, R. H. McCurdy, Benjamin W. Bonney, Edwin Hoyt, James Wadsworth, George Cabot Ward, William H. Fogg, John J. Phelps, J. F. D. Lanier, W. M. Vermilye, James Brown, Geo. Wm. Curtis, Henry M. Taber, William B. Astor, Elliot C. Cowdin, Richard M. Blatchford, B. C. Morris, Chas. H. Russell, Moses F. Odell, Seth B. Hunt, Wm. M. Tweed, Edwards Pierrepont, John A. Stewart, John C. Green, Marvelle W. Cooper, William H. Lee, Peter Cooper, Douglas Taylor, John J. Cisco, A. T. Stewart, Leonard W. Jerome, Frank W. Worth, R. L. Cutting, A. B. Baylis, Nehemiah Knight, W. H. Neilson, Prosper M. Wetmore, Paul Spofford, Josiah Hedden, Thos. C Acton, E. P. Cowles, Wed. W. Clarke, F. S. Winston, T. C. Doremus, D. Van Nostrand, HENRY CLEWS, Treasurer. Alfred Edwards, John D. Jones, S. S. Wyckoff, G. G. Howland, Timothy G. Churchill, Saml. B. Caldwell, Rufus F. Andrews, William H. Webb, Chas. A. Stetson, Horace B. Claflin, Chas. Gould, L. W. Winchester, A. R. Wetmore, John E. Williams, Josiah M. Fisk, S. R. Beebe, Frank E. Howe, Denning Duer, John A. C. Gray, Robt. L. Kennedy, John Alstyne, C. H. Ludington, James Low, George W. Hatch, Richard Schell, Willard Parker, William H. Guion, Chas. G. Cornell, E. Caylus, Wm. K. Strong, E. S. Sanford, Thomas C. Chalmers, Ezra Nye, F. A. Conkling, Henry E. Clarke, M. H. Levin, John H. Almy, Oliver K. King, MOSES TAYLOR, Chairman. S. B. CHITTENDEN, HENRY M. TABER, Secretaries. FRANK E. HOWE, NEW YORK, May 3, 1865. DEAR SIR: Permit us to thank you sincerely for the admirable Oration you delivered at the Obsequies of our lamented President. No American citizen could more fully and appropriately speak the emotions of our Nation's heart, and the estimate of our Nation's mind. We cannot refrain from mentioning the singular felicity of your Oration. Strong in thought, graceful in language, you spoke with the impartiality of an historian, and the sorrow of an afflicted citizen. Modestly affirming that the hour had not come for historical impartiality, nevertheless you pronounced the judgment of the future. living. In remembering the dead, you did not forget the We tender you our thanks on behalf of the Citizens' Committee, and of our common country, and are, with great respect, Your friends and obedient servants, MOSES TAYLOR, Chairman of Citizens' Committee. WILLIAM T. BLODGETT, Chairman of Committee of Arrangements. Hon. GEORGE BANCROFT. |