THE NATIONAL CALAMITY.
None in all the land can forget when the telegraph flashed the fearful
news upon us. But if there was sorrow felt by one class more than
another, we must look to the freedmen of the South, to whom the name
of Lincoln and the government meant one and the same--all justice and
goodness.
On the morning of the 18th of April (communications being so irregular
then), the beauty of the morning and the surroundings seeming to charm
the senses, happiness came upon many a hitherto scowling face, while
a sense of returning forgiveness seemed to hover above the rebellious
city, and the once unfrequented streets began to give evidence of
returning life. The major and a friend were in King Street, when they
were met by a captain, who, stepping from his buggy to the sidewalk,
entered into a conversation: in the midst of it they were interrupted
by a soldier, breathlessly running towards them, holding in his hand a
paper, exclaiming, “My God! President Lincoln is assassinated!”
“No! no! it can’t be so!” replied the captain.
“Some hoax,” interposed the major, on seeing the heading of the New
York Herald; but the trembling hand of the rough soldier pointed out
the telegram, while tears coursed down his cheeks: before the dark
message they stood for a time, gazing one upon the other in mute agony,
without power to express the thoughts uppermost in their mind, while
vengeance seemed written in the quivering of every feature.
Any description, however graphic, would fail to convey an idea of
the feelings produced, as the fatal tidings circulated. If every man
of secession proclivities had been put to the sword, every house
belonging to such burnt to the ground, the Unionists would hardly
have interfered, and would not have been surprised. The only cause
for wonderment was, that there was not a scene of fire and slaughter.
At the major’s quarters, where, in his unfeigned sorrow he had sought
retirement, he was forced to show himself to the excited people; for
while the Unionists generally were aroused to a point of doubtful
forbearance, the intense grief, excitement, and anxiety of the new
freedmen knew no bounds. The white men of undefined politics, and known
secessionists, wisely avoided the blacks, or kept within doors. The
avenging torch at one period seemed imminent, but the outstretched
hands of reason spared the city once more. There was to the casual
observer nothing extraordinary in the outward demonstration, perhaps,
but a strong under-current was madly coursing along, threatening
destruction to every opposing barrier. Doubtless but for the presence
of the black major, whom they sought instantly, and whose influence
over them was powerful, there would have been a most lamentable state
of confusion, so determined were they to avenge the death of their
friend. Some of these were even actuated by fears of being returned to
slavery in consequence of his death.
An order was issued by the military for public mourning. The famous
Zion’s Church was the most tastefully draped, remaining thus for one
year, the military using whatever they could command in the tradeless
city, the secessionist such as was required by law, while the mourning
of the new freedmen presented an incongruity in many instances
extremely touching. Flags made of black cloth were nailed against the
dwelling-houses, or floated from their roofs. Their black flags were
intended as mourning, not as defiance.
Major Delany, in these sad days, was not unemployed. Already had he
devised some tangible and practical evidence by which the colored
people could demonstrate their appreciation and reverence for the
memory of the martyred president. The following is an extract from a
letter to the Anglo-African of April 20. We doubt whether any plan for
a monument was originated previous to this.
“A calamity such as the world never before witnessed--a calamity the
most heart-rending, caused by the perpetration of a deed by the hands
of a wretch the most infamous and atrocious--a calamity as humiliating
to America as it is infamous and atrocious--has suddenly brought
our country to mourning by the untimely death of the humane, the
benevolent, the philanthropic, the generous, the beloved, the able, the
wise, great, and good man, the President of the United States, Abraham
Lincoln the Just. In his fall a mighty chieftain and statesman has
passed away. God, in his inscrutable providence, has suffered this,
and we bow with meek and humble resignation to his divine will, because
he doeth all things well. God’s will be done!
“I suggest that, as a just and appropriate tribute of respect and
lasting gratitude from the colored people of the United States to the
memory of President Lincoln, the Father of American Liberty, every
individual of our race contribute _one cent_, as this will enable each
member of every family to contribute, parents paying for every child,
allowing all who are able to subscribe any sum they please above this,
to such national monument as may hereafter be decided upon by the
American people. I hope it may be in Illinois, near his own family
residence.
“This penny or one cent contribution would amount to the handsome sum
of forty thousand ($40,000) dollars, as a tribute from the black race
(I use the generic term), and would not be at all felt; and I am sure
that so far as the South is concerned, the millions of freedmen will
hasten on their contributions.”
The following design for the monument he proposed was communicated to
the same journal a month later. He, also, through the same medium,
suggested that a gold medal be given to Mrs. Lincoln, as a tribute
from the colored people to the memory of her noble husband. He still
hopes that the suggestion concerning the medal may find favor among
the colored people, and it would be more appropriate if it could be
executed by a colored artist.
MONUMENT TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
I propose for the National Monument, to which all the colored
people of the United States are to contribute each one cent, a
design, as the historic representation of the humble offering
of our people. On one side of the _base_ of the monument (the
_south_ side for many reasons would be the most appropriate,
it being the south from which the great Queen of Ethiopia came
with great offerings to the Temple at Jerusalem, the south from
which the Ethiopian Ambassador came to worship at Jerusalem, as
well as the south from which the greatest part of our offerings
come to contribute to this testimonial) shall be an urn, at
the side of which shall be a female figure, kneeling on the
right knee, the left thigh projecting horizontally, the leg
perpendicular to the ground, the leg and thigh forming the
angle of a square, the body erect, but little inclined over
the urn, the face with eyes upturned to heaven, with distinct
tear-drops passing down the face, falling into the urn, which
is represented as being full; distinct tear-drops shall be
so arranged as to represent the figures 4,000,000 (four
million), which shall be emblematical not only of the number
of contributors to the monument, but the number of those who
shed tears of sorrow for the great and good deliverer of their
race from bondage in the United States; the arms and hands
extended--the whole figure to represent “Ethiopia stretching
forth her hands unto God.” A drapery is to cover the whole
figure, thrown back, leaving the entire arms and shoulders
bare, but drawn up _under_ the arms, covering the breast just
to the verge of the swell below the neck, falling down full
in front, but leaving the front of the knee, leg, and foot
fully exposed. The lower part of the drapery should be so
arranged behind as just to expose the _sole_ of the right foot
in its projection. The urn should be directly in front of the
female figure, so as to give the best possible effect to, or
view of, it. This figure is neither to be Grecian, Caucasian,
nor Anglo-Saxon, Mongolian nor Indian, but African--_very_
African--an ideal representative _genius_ of the race, as
Europa, Britannia, America, or the Goddess of Liberty, is to
the European race.
Will not our clever mutual friend, Patrick Reason, of New
York, sketch the outlines of a good representation of this
design? This is to be prominently carved or moulded in
whatever material the monument is erected of. Let the one-cent
contribution at once commence everywhere throughout the United
States. I hope the Independent, and all other papers friendly,
especially the religious and weeklies, will copy my article
published in the Anglo-African of the 13th of May; also this
article on the design.
In behalf of this great nation,
M. R. DELANY,
_Major 104th U. S. C. T._