spiring greater and more general confidence than at this present moment, when peace and concord are rapidly being restored under the auspices of a wise and magnanimous Chief Magistrate. I have the honor to be, President, with the highest respect, your obedient, humble servant, W. RAASLÖFF. Mr. Wood to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 194.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR There was but one feeling of horror here on learning the assassination of President Lincoln and the attempt on your life. As soon as it was authoritatively known, the diplomatic corps and the ministers of state called to express their sympathy, and the King, in a note from Mr. Blumhe, the foreign minister, (who is still confined to his house from illness,) feelingly expressed his; and this on the day of the funeral services for the deceased Czarowitch, his intended sonin-law, and at which all the foreign ministers assisted. I congratulate you on your narrow escape. I hope I can on your son's, but the news is contradictory, and I fear the worst. This terrible tragedy at Washington is a natural sequence of this rebellion, and in keeping with the murder of Union prisoners by starvation. It is a consequence of slavery. Well if the nation now rouse to the conviction (as I have long since have, as you well know) that there is a class at the south, (of whom Booth was one,) the plotters of this rebellion, and their brigands, who must, as a political necessity, be expatriated, or in some way annihilated from our soil, if the freedman and the northern emigrant are to dwell in peace and safety at the south. The future of the south demands this. I remain, very truly, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Secretary of State. * * BRADFORD R. WOOD, Minister Resident, &c. Governor Birch to Mr. Perkins. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, St. Croix, June 14, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 3d instant, in which you has informed me of the assassination of the President of the United States. President Lincoln's sudden death has everywhere in the civilized world called forth a profound sympathy, and the nefarious act, a deed in foul atrocity scarcely ever equalled, to which he fell a victim, has awakened a vivid horror and indignation. I am aware that these sentiments have been fully participated in in Denmark; and here in his Majesty's West India colonies, connected as they are with the United States by many and near interests, the tidings of the abhorrent crime must necessarily seize all minds. I beg, sir, to express to you the sincere sorrow I have felt at the great calamity that has befallen the American nation. About the same time we had received the sad intelligence of the murder of President Lincoln, we also received the account of those achievements that finally terminated that disunion which, for more than four years, has split the United States; and it has given me great joy, through every new information which has reached us from America, to find expressed an unshaken faith in the future, and a full confidence in the new President, Mr. Johnson. I can, therefore, to the expression of my deep concern at President Lincoln's tragic fate, fully add the expression of my best and heartfelt wishes for the United States and President Johnson's prosperity and welfare, which I beg you in behalf of your government and your country to accept. It gives me much pleasure to know that the Hon. William H. Seward, the Secretary of State, and his son, Mr. F. W. Seward, the Assistant Secretary, will 800n have completely recovered from the wounds inflicted upon them by a murderous hand, extended from the same villainous plot that destroyed the President's life. I have the honor to be, sir, with the highest consideration, E. H. PERKINS, Esq., Consul of the United States of America. W. BIRCH. ECUADOR. Mr. Herrera to Mr. Hassaurek. [Translation.] QUITO, May 22, 1865. The undersigned, minister of exterior relations of the republic of Ecuador, has received and communicated to his excellency the President your excellency's note of the 15th instant, in which your excellency informs the undersigned of the death of his excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, who was assassinated in the city of Washington on the 14th April, and that in consequence of this deplorable event his excellency Andrew Johnson, Vice President of the United States, has succeeded to the Presidency. Such a lamentable and painful event has filled the Ecuatorian people and government with the deepest grief, because of the cordial and sincere sympathies which they have entertained and do entertain for the powerful republic of the Union; and to manifest their condolence, the government of the undersigned has ordered that all the officers and employés of the republic shall wear mourning for three days, during which time the flag of the republic shall be displayed at half-mast. The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity, &c., &c. His Excellency the MINISTER RESIDENT PABLO HERRERA. Of the United States of America. Mr. Herrera to Mr. Hassaurek. QUITO, May 22, 1865. The government of the undersigned has received with deep regret the communication of your excellency, dated Guayaquil, May 15, informing the undersigned that on the fatal night of the 14th of April, and almost at the same hour when the President of the United States was assassinated, an attempt was made by an unknown individual to assassinate his excellency William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, but that fortunately, by the protection of Divine Providence, his life was saved, and that, though wounded by the assassin, he was already considered out of danger; also that for the time being the honorable William Hunter has taken charge of the department of foreign relations. The undersigned entertains the most fervent wishes for the recovery of his excellency William H. Seward, and for the preservation of order and peace in the powerful republic of the United States. Availing himself of this opportunity, &c., &c. His Excellency the MINISTER RESIDENT PABLO HERRERA. Of the United States of America. President Garcia Moreno to Mr. Hassaurek. [Translation.] QUITO, May 22, 1865. The fatal news which arrived by yesterday's mail has produced a profound and painful impression on me. Never should I have thought that the noble country of Washington would be humiliated by such a black and horrible crime; nor should I ever have thought that Mr. Lincoln would come to such a horrible end, after having served his country with such wisdom and glory under so critical circumstances. Although the minister has already written to you officially to manifest to you the grief which we all feel for the lamentable loss the great republic has sustained, I wanted to write to you individually, as a friend and as an American, to unite my regret with yours and that of all righteous and honorable men. I am your affectionate friend and obedient servant, His Excellency F. HASSAUREK, U. S. Minister Resident, &c., &c., &c. G. GARCIA MORENO No. 155.] Mr. Hassaurek to Mr Seward. [Extract.] LEGATION OF the United STATES, SIR: The shocking news of the assassination of President Lincoln and the murderous assault on you has produced the greatest consternation here. * * * Enclosed you will find the proceedings of a meeting of American citizens held at this place on the 17th instant, to give expression to their grief and indignation. At the request of the secretary, I enclose one copy of the proceedings directed to you, and another to the widow of our late lamented President. But these feelings of grief and sorrow are not confined to the American residents. The native population sympathizes with us most tenderly in our great affliction. Numerous were the visits and expressions of condolence I received from the authorities and prominent citizens; and I may say that, for many years, no other announcement has produced such sadness here as the death of President Lincoln. For him a whole continent is in mourning, and his loss will be lamented all over the world. I have the honor to remain your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, F. HASSAUREK. Secretary of State. No. 160.] Mr. Hassaurek to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Besides ordering that all the officers and employés of the republic of Ecuador shall wear mourning for three days, during which time the Ecuadorian flag shall be displayed at half-mast from all the public buildings, President Garcia Moreno, immediately after the arrival of the horrible news of President Lincoln's death, at Quito, wrote me a letter of condolence. * * I also received letters of condolence from the minister for foreign affairs, and other prominent citizens of Quito. These and other manifestations will enable you to judge what a sensation of amazement and regret Mr. Lincoln's lamentable death has produced in Spanish America. Even those who were but lukewarm friends of the Union, or open sympathizers with the rebellion, are now loud in their condemnation of the south. With expressions of profound respect and consideration, I have the honor to remain your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. F. HASSAUREK. |