TRIAL OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN - American Memory

I
9
and most serious character. These charges were
numerous, and were brought out in the course of
the examination, which was conducted before the
Spirit of the Constitution, who occupied the bench
of Justice. Immediately confronting the august
assemblage was the figure of a man whose linea-
ments have become painfully familiar to the people.
This figure was the representation of Abraham Lin-
coln, and from the expression of conscious guilt
visible upon his countenance, it w^s evident that
he occupied the position of the criminal at the bar.
He was allowed the 'services of a counsel to con-
duct his defense, but on intimating his desire to
act as his own counsel he was granted that riv-
ilege.
The Spirit of the Constitution announced that
the trial of the culprit would now proceed, where-
upon the venerable form of the Father of his Coun-
try arose in the midst of the spirits of the great
men by whom he was surrounded, and proceeded
to read the following indictment against his last
and most unworthy successor. •
" Abraham Lincoln is herein charged with trea-
sonable intent, purposes, and designs, in having
committed the following unconstitutional acts in
the course of his administration :