BRAZIL. [Translation.] MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Rio de Janeiro, May 19, 1865. At the conference I had yesterday with J. Watson Webb, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, I manifested to him the great sorrow caused by the information of the dreadful crime perpetrated in Washington, on the 14th of last month, on the person of his Excellency the Honorable Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. It is my painful duty now to tender to General Webb, in the name of the government of his Imperial Majesty, the expressions of the feelings with which it finds itself overwhelmed. The imperial government, with the highest severity, condemns an act so criminal as the one which has for its victim the Chief Magistrate of the Union; and it comprehends the infinite pain thus inflicted upon American citizens, with whom ours so sincerely sympathize, in consequence of the close relations of the two countries. With the hope that General Webb will be pleased to convey this sincere manifestation to the knowledge of his government, I have the honor to reiterate the assurances of my perfect esteem and distinct consideration. JOSE ANTONIO SARAIVA. J. WATSON WEBB, Esq., Minister of the United States. [Translation.] IMPERIAL LEGATION OF BRAZIL, of The undersigned, chargé d'affaires ad interim of his Majesty the Emperor, has the honor to communicate to the Honorable William H. Seward, the Secretary of State of the United States, that the chambers of senators and deputies of Brazil, uniting in the manifestation of sympathy which has been caused in the empire, by the loss which the American Union has suffered in the person the illustrious President, Abraham Lincoln-above all, for the atrocious manner in which his existence was terminated, have resolved to cause the unanimous expression of their sorrow to be presented to the Congress of the United States, and have recurred for that purpose to the government of his Majesty the Emperor. The imperial government, in obedience to the commission thus received from both of the branches of the legislative power, has ordered the undersigned to transmit to the Honorable William H. Seward that manifestation of sympathy, requesting him to be pleased to bring it to the knowledge of the Congress. While complying with the orders of the imperial government, the undersigned avails himself of the occasion to reiterate to the Honorable William H. Seward, the assurances of his highest esteem and consideration. IGNACIO DE AVELLAR BARLOZA DA SILVA. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. The Marquis d'Abrantes to General Webb. [Translation.] BOTAFOGA, May 21, 1865: MY DEAR GENERAL: Allow me to fulfil the painful duty to manifest to you my deep personal sorrow on the deplorable event which has deprived your country of her so highly distinguished President, Mr. Lincoln. But it may be said that the horrible act which has brought to a close his existence has heightened him still more in the thankful citizens of the United States, and insures him a still more renowned name in history. In wishing to your great and fair country every prosperity, I remain, with the most perfect esteem and consideration, my dear general, your friend, J. WATSON WEBB, Esq., Minister of the United States. ABRANTES. Mr. Webb to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 118.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have no heart to dwell upon the horrible and distressing news brought by an arrival from the West Indies and confirmed on the following day by telegraphic despatches. received at Lisbon on the 29th of April, and which were brought to this city by the French steamer from Bordeaux on the 24th. I was at Petropolis. The Emperor kindly telegraphed the distressing intelligence to the Duke of Saxe, who at once sent his secretary and principal chamberlain to impart it to me, and on the following morning I came to town. I will not attempt any description of the universal horror and dismay which this melancholy news caused among all classes in this city. Every member of the diplomatic corps has made a visit of condolence, and the ministers of Peru and the Argentine republic have addressed to me letters expressive of their sorrow and sympathy. * * * * I have received a very friendly letter from the government, to which I shall reply to-day, and forward by the next steamer. Also a letter of a similar character from the Marquis d'Abrantes, late minister of foreign affairs, whose friendship for our country and personal feelings towards myself are known to the department The Rev. Mr. Simonton, a missionary of the Presbyterian church in the United States, preached, at my request, on Sunday, the 21st, an appropriate sermon, and nearly every United States citizen resident in Rio, except a few well-known traitors, were present. At the close of the services, Mr. Simonton announced that the government officials would wear crape on the left arm for the space of thirty days, and that all our citizens were requested to do the same. Also, that the legation and consulate flags would be at half-mast during the same period; and that American vessels in port during the next thirty days would be expected to exhibit the same manifestation of mourning. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. [Translation.] RIO DE JANEIRO, May 18, 1865. The Peruvian minister at Brazil has the honor to address himself to his excellency General Webb, minister plenipotentiary of the United States, in order to express to him the great sorrow with which he has received the news of the tragic death of the very excellent Abraham Lincoln, that powerful nation's President. Wounded to death by a fanatic's weapon, when he finished to surround himself with the purest glory, at a final victory of the redemption war which he conducted as far as his arm reached, the pain of his martyrdom, the feeling of his loss, and the mourning of the North American people will reach every christian soul, every freeman, every civilized people, and especially the Peruvians and their government, who, closely connected with the Union's people and their government, and sympathizing with that great upholder of human dignity, will lament his death more than they perhaps applauded his victories. The undersigned is persuaded that in expressing these feelings to his excellency General Webb, he is a faithful translator of those of the nation and government represented by him, and he begs his excellency to accept them at the same time with his protest of his high esteem and especial consideration. J. WATSON WEBB, Esq., Minister of the United States. B. SEVANE. [Translation.] RIO DE JANEIRO, May 18, 1865. The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Argentine republic, hastens to present to his excellency General Webb, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, the testimony of his profound grief caused by the sad incident that has put all the citizens of the United States in deep mourning-the undersigned being on this occasion, in the feelings that he transmits to his excellency, the true exponent of the sincere sorrow that will be felt by the Argentine people and government when they hear of the unfortunate event which happened on the 14th of April in the country of their greatest sympathies. The Divine Providence which has protected the destiny of the United States in this the most trying epoch of its history, will know how to make of his martyrdom a new encouragement for the faith and heroism of the American citizens in the holy war, in which they defend, along with the institutions of their country, the highest principles of human dignity. The funeral of that great citizen will be morally accompanied by all the free countries of the universe. And be it allowed to the undersigned to assure his excellency General Webb that no country will more sincerely and spontaneously regret this event than the citizens of the Argentine republic. And again presenting his excellency the plenipotentiary of the United States the expression of his profound sorrow, the undersigned begs, at the same time, your excellency to accept the expression of his highest esteem. J. WATSON WEBB, Esq., Minister of the United States. J. MARMOL. BOLIVIA. No. 41.] Hr. Hall to Mr. Hunter. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have had the honor to receive your circular No. 29, apprising me of the horrible assassination of the late President Lincoln. The news of that deplorable event was received here a fortnight ago, through the Panama papers, and produced a sensation of universal and deep regret. From the inhabitants of this city I have received many expressions of sympathy and condolence. The instructions accompanying the circular "that all officers and others subject to the orders of the Secretary of State wear crape upon the left arm for the period of six months," will be carefully regarded by me. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary of State. 1 CHILI. [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, Republic of Chili, Santiago, May 30, 1865. SIR: The government of the republic has been penetrated by grief as sincere as profound in receiving the melancholy intelligence of the crime which has just snatched from the United States their Chief Magistrate and one of their most illustrious sons. This sad occurrence is a just motive of grief, not only for the country which that eminent citizen governed liberally and wisely, but also for all those nations which, like Chili, accompanied him with their prayers and sympathies in the cause of liberty and civilization, which he has not expired without leaving triumphant, and which he sustained for more than four years with incomparable wisdom and perseverance. President Lincoln is no more; but the beneficent results of the victory obtained under his glorious government will be sufficiently imperishable to immortalize his name. Beautiful privilege of free nations, whose works are not chained to the life of one man, be he ever so great! As a free and republican people, as a sincere friend of the United States, Chili has a double right to consider as her own, and to fraternally share, the grief which bows down the generous nation of which your excellency is the worthy representative. My government believes itself the faithful interpreter of the sentiments of the country in expressing its own, and in offering, through the medium of your excellency, to the government and people of the United States its most profound sympathy and sorrow for the grave calamity with which God, in his inscrutable designs, has permitted the resignation and energy of that great republic to be put to proof. As far as regards myself personally, I sympathize with my heart with the grief which oppresses the mind of your excellency, and avail myself of this sad opportunity to reiterate to you the testimony of my most distinguished consideration and regard. Your excellency's most obedient servant, ALVARO COVARRUBIAS. The ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY His excellency José Joaquin Perez, president of the republic of Chili, in his annual message to the congress of 1865, thus alludes to the assassination of Mr. Lincoln: [Translation.] "Nor have we been indifferent to the mourning in which the United States of America have been plunged by the death of their illustrious ruler, Abraham Lincoln. This melancholy event has awakened throughout the country and in the government manifestations of grief and sympathy as just as sincere." |