"Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration it has already obtained. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces. But let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. * * * The Almighty had his own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of these offenses, which in the providence of God must needs come * * * and he gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern there any departure from those divine attributes, which the believers in a living God always ascribe to him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn by the lash shall be paid by another drawn by the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said that 'the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'" Saturday, April 8, 1865, was a glad day throughout the North. Men met each other early on that day and shook hands with smiling faces. Many shouted and threw their hats in the air. Great bonfires were kindled and bands came out and played happy airs. Flags floated everywhere. That morning word came on the telegraph wires that Richmond had been captured. Lee had surrendered and the war was over. Just one week later men met each other on the street with tears in their eyes; signs of mourning were seen everywhere, and the bands played sad tunes. Word came on the telegraph wire that morning that the beloved president was dead; killed by an assassin's bullet.