1870.] "' ' [Stills. 



men he was guided by a principle far deeper and more enduring than 

 a vagiie sentiment of philanthropy, and that was, obedience to a 

 duty divinely commanded. Hence his zeal had all the characteristics 

 of duty, — courage, constancy and self-denial — and none of the weak- 

 nesses attendant upon mere passionate impulse. 



How completely Mr. Binney's whole life was the outgrowth of this 

 principle of duty was shown by his conduct during the war. He 

 had no favorite theories to establish, no passions to gratify by the 

 subjugation of the Southern people. Moreover, he was one of those 

 who, wliile he deplored most deeply the evils of slavery, felt himself 

 bound by the force of positive law to abstain from interfering with 

 it whei'e it existed. Yet when a gigantic conspiracy to overturn the 

 government of the country revealed itself, he regarded it with almost 

 judicial calmness, and he prepared to resist it, as he would have per- 

 formed any other high duty with all the manly earnestness of his na- 

 ture. Shocked and indignant, no doubt, he was : 



" Neque enim siluisse licebat. 

 Cum passos, mcerens indigna, Columbia crines 

 Et pectus lacerum et stillantia lumina monstrat." 



Yet he never lost his balance : he went about his work with a sober 

 enthusiasm which was deep-rooted in conscientious conviction. He 

 never doubted or wavered, nor weakly desponded, but keeping his eye 

 steadily on the end in view, he gave himself and all that he had to 

 the support of the government. Nothing was more suggestive than the 

 sight of this quiet, undemonstrative gentleman, in active sympathy 

 with the country in danger. Of all the many schemes devised here 

 to give popular aid to the authorities during the war, he was a most 

 zealous promoter. He was one of the founders of the Union League 

 of this City, an agency in the successful prosecution of the war, the 

 value of which I do not think it easy to over-estimate. He was never 

 unduly excited by our successes, or depressed by our reverses, and I 

 do not think that I ever saw him more moved during the war, than 

 when on a public occasion here, he expressed his satisfaction that 

 he was at last permitted to give free play to his convictions concerning 

 slavery, and to aid with a clear conscience in its destruction. 



Mr. Binney's services during the war were not confined, as is well 

 kno^m, to a hearty suppoi"t of the policy of the government. His 

 active sympathy soon embraced those who were called upon to defend 

 the country at the risk of their lives. He sought every opportunity 

 to promote their health, comfort and efficiency. He helped to build 

 up that great monument of American civilization, the United States 

 Sanitary Commission, and he is entitled to a full share of whatever 

 honor may be due to those who organized and carried on the grandest 

 and most efficient system of voluntary relief to the sick and wounded 

 of an Army known in History since wars began on earth. 



