:

FRANCE.

Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Bigelow.

[Translation]

PARIS, April 26, 1865.

SIR The telegrams published in the evening papers inform me of the horrible crime of which Messieurs Lincoln and Seward have been the victims. I would not delay a moment longer to express to you our profound sympathy. Yours, very sincerely,

JOHN BIGELOW, Esq.,

United States Minister, Paris.

DROUYN DE LHUYS.

[Translated from the Moniteur of March 2, 1865.]

COMMUNICATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

The PRESIDENT. M. the minister president of the council of state has the floor for the purpose of presenting a communication from the government. [The house becomes attentive.]

His Excellency M. VAITRY, Minister President of the Council of State. Gentlemen of the senate: In pursuance of the orders of the Emperor, I have the honor to communicate to the senate the despatch addressed on the 28th of April last by M. the minister of foreign affairs to M. the chargé d'affaires of France at Washington on the occasion of the death of President Lincoln. This despatch reads as follows:

PARIS, April 28, 1865.

SIR: The news of the crime of which M. le President Lincoln has fallen a victim has caused a profound sentiment of indignation in the imperial govern

ment.

His Majesty immediately charged one of his aides-de-camp to call upon the minister of the United States to request him to transmit the expression of this sentiment to Mr. Johnson, now invested with the presidency. I myself desired by the despatch which I addressed you under date of yesterday, to acquaint you without delay of the painful emotion which we have experienced, and it becomes my duty to-day, in conformity with the views of the Emperor, to render a merited homage to the great citizen whose loss the United States now deplores. Elevated to the chief magistracy of the republic by the suffrage of his country, M. Abraham Lincoln exhibited in the exercise of the power placed in his hands the most substantial qualities. In him firmness of character was allied with elevation of principle, and his vigorous soul never wavered before the redoubtable trials reserved for his government.

At the moment when an atrocious crime removed him from the mission which he fulfilled with a religious sentiment of duty, he was convinced that the triumph of his policy was definitively assured. His recent proclamations are stamped with the sentiments of moderation with which he was inspired in resolutely proceeding to the task of reorganizing the Union and consolidating peace. The supreme satisfaction of accomplishing this work has not been granted him; but in reviewing these testimonials of his exalted wisdom, as well as the examples

of good sense, of courage, and of patriotism which he has given, history will not hesitate to place him in the rank of citizens who have the most honored their country.

By order of the Emperor, I transmit this despatch to M. the minister of state, who is charged to communicate it to the senate and the corps legislatif. France will unanimously associate itself with the sentiments of his Majesty. Receive, &c.

M. DE GEOFROY,

DROUYN DE LHUYS.

Chargé d'Affaires of France, at Washington.

I do not think, gentlemen of the senate, that this communication needs any commentary; it explains itself. I trust the senate will share the feelings of which the despatch which I have had the honor of reading contains the ready expression. In uniting together to brand with reprobation a horrible crime, the Emperor, the great bodies of the state, and France in its totality will give to the republic of the United States a fresh testimony of their sincere sympathy. [Loud approbation.]

The PRESIDENT. Gentlemen: In acknowledging the communication just made by M. the minister, I beg the senate will permit me to express in its name, a sentiment which, in its unanimity and energy, is equally felt by all. The senate felt a deep emotion at the news of the crime committed against the illustrious head of an allied nation. Mr. Lincoln, placed since 1861 at the head of the American nation, had passed through the most afflicting trials that could befall a government founded on liberty. It was at the moment when victory presented itself, not as a signal of conquests, but as the means of reconciliation, that a crime still obscure in its causes, destroyed the existence of that citizen, placed so high by the choice of his countrymen. Mr. Lincoln fell at the moment when he thought he was at the point of arriving at the term of the misfortunes by which his country was afflicted, and when he indulged in the hope of seeing it soon reconstituted and flourishing. The senate, which has always deplored the civil war, detests still more that implacable hatred which is its fruit, and which disgraces politics by assassination. There can therefore be but one voice in this body, to join in the ideas expressed by order of the Emperor, in the name of a generous policy and of humanity. [Approbation.] I propose to the senate to decree that a copy of the minutes of the present sitting be officially transmitted to the minister of state. [Loud and prolonged approbation.]

[Translated from the Moniteur of May 2, 1865.]

CORPS LEGISLatif—Sitting of Monday, May 1.

PRESIDENT SCHNEIDER. M. the minister of state has the floor to transmit a communication from the government. [The assembly becomes very attentive and silent.]

His Excellency M. Rouher, Minister of State. Gentlemen: An odious crime has plunged in mourning a people composed of our allies and friends. The news of that odious act has produced throughout the civilized world a sentiment of indignation and horror. [Assent.]

Mr. Abraham Lincoln has displayed in the afflicting struggle which convulses his country that calm firmness and that invincible energy which belong to strong minds, and are a necessary condition for the accomplishment of great duties. [Repeated assent.]

After the victory he had shown himself generous, moderate, and conciliatory.

[Hear, hear. He was anxious to at once terminate the civil war and restore to America, by means of peace, her splendor and prosperity. [Hear, hear.] The first chastisement that Providence inflicts on crime is to render it powerless to retard the march of good. [Repeated assent.] The deep emotion and elevated sympathies which are being displayed in Europe will be received by the American people as a consolation and an encouragement. The work of appeasement commenced by a great citizen will be completed by the national will. [Hear, hear.] The Emperor's government has sent to Washington the expression of a legitimate homage to the memory of an illustrious statesman torn from the government of the States by an execrable assassination.

By his Majesty's order I have the honor to communicate to the legislative body the despatch addressed by the minister of foreign affairs to our represenative at Washington. It is thus worded: [For the despatch see note from Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. de Geofroy. The reading was frequently interrupted by expressions of approbation and by applause.]

This despatch, gentlemen, does not call for any comment. The Emperor, the public bodies, and France, from one end to the other, are unanimous in their sentiments of reprobation for a detestable crime, in their homage to a great political character, victim of the most criminal passions, and in their ardent wishes for the re-establishment of harmony and concord among the great and patriotic American nation. [Unanimous assent.]

PRESIDENT SCHNEIDER. Gentlemen: I wish to be the interpreter of your thought in publicly expressing the grief and indignation which we have all felt on learning the news of the bloody death of President Lincoln. That execrable crime has revolted all that is noble in the heart of France. Nowhere has more profound or more universal emotion been felt than in our country. We therefore heartily join in the sentiments and sympathies which have been manifested by the government. [Yes, yes.]

Having been called to the direction of public affairs at an ever-memorable crisis, Mr. Abraham Lincoln has always proved himself fully equal to his difficult mission. After having shown his immovable firmness in the struggle, he seemed by the wisdom of his language and of his views destined to bring about a fruitful and durable reconciliation between the sons of America. [Hear, hear.]

His last acts worthily crown the life of an honest man and a good citizen. Let us hope that his spirit and his sentiments may survive him, and inspire the American people with pacific and generous resolutions. [Approbation.] France has deplored the bloody struggles which have afflicted humanity and civilization. She ardently desires the re-establishment of peace in the midst of that great nation, her ally and her friend. [Hear, hear.]

May our prayers be heard, and may Providence put an end to these painful trials. Unanimous approbation.]

The legislative body acknowledges the receipt of the communication just made to it by the government, and demands that an extract of the minutes of the sitting shall be officially addressed to the minister of state. [General marks of assent.]

[Translation.]

After the meeting of the deputies of the opposition, which took place April 30, the following letter was addressed to M. Schneider, vice-president of the legislative chambers:

Mr. PRESIDENT: In presence of the misfortune which has just fallen upon the American republic, and seeing the demonstrations of foreign parliaments which have taken place, we cannot conceal our astonishment that we have not

been called together in a public sitting, and we beg of you, sir, to satisfy the legitimate sentiment which we express to you.

Be pleased to accept, Mr. President, the expression of our high consideration.

Address of the deputies of the left to Mr. Bigelow, minister of the United States at Paris.

United from the bottom of our hearts with the American citizens, we desire to express to them our admiration of the great people who have destroyed the last vestiges of slavery, and for Lincoln, the glorious martyr to duty.

M. de Lhuys to M. de Geofroy.

[Translation-Communicated by the French legation.]

Department of Foreign AFFAIRS,

Paris, April 28, 1865. • SIR: The news of the crime of which President Lincoln has recently become the victim has caused to the imperial government a profound sentiment of indignation.

His Majesty immediately charged one of his aides-de-camp to repair to the residence of the minister of the United States, to ask him to transmit at once the expression of his indignation to Mr. Johnson, who is now invested with the presidency. I also desired, myself, by the despatch which I addressed to you of yesterday's date, to apprise you, without delay, of the sorrowful emotion we have felt, and I have to-day, in conformity with the will of the Emperor, to render merited homage to the great citizen whose loss the United States deplore.

Elevated to the chief magistration of the republic by the suffrage of his countrymen, Abraham Lincoln had brought to the exercise of the powers placed in his hands the most substantial qualifications. Force of character was allied in him with loftiness of principle. Therefore, his vigorous spirit never quailed before the terrible trials reserved for his government. At the moment when an atrocious crime snatched him from the mission which he filled with the sense of religious duty, he enjoyed the consciousness that the triumph of his policy was definitively assured.

His recent proclamations are traces of the thoughts of prudence which inspired him in undertaking resolutely the task of reorganizing the Union, and of consolidating peace. The supreme satisfaction of accomplishing this work has not been accorded to him. But, in gathering up these last testimonials of his high wisdom, as well as the examples of good sense, of courage, and of patriotism, which he has given, history will not hesitate to place him in the rank of citizens who have done most honor to their country.

By order of the Emperor, I transmit this despatch to the minister of state, who is charged to communicate it to the senate and legislative body. France will unanimously take share in this thought of the Emperor.

Receive, &c.

Mr. L. DE GEOFROY,

DROUYN DE LHUYS.

Chargé d'Affaires of France, Washington.

P. S.-You will please remit a copy of this despatch to the Secretary of State of the United States.

Mr. Geofroy to Mr. Hunter.
[Translation.]

LEGATION OF FRANCE TO THE UNITED STATES,

Washington, April 16, 1865. SIR: I have received the note by which you announce to me the sad events which now afflict the people of the United States.

You please to inform me at the same time that the Vice-President, Andrew Johnson, has, under the Constitution, officially entered into possession of the presidency, and has authorized you, sir, to fill, until further order, the functions of Secretary of State.