Address of the Italian Lodge. TUNIS, May 12, 1865. SIR: We come as the delegates of the Italian Lodge (Carthage and Utica) of Free and Accepted Masons in this city, to express to you, who so fully partake of the elevated sentiments of your countrymen, our profound sorrow for the death of your illustrious Chief Magistrate, Abraham Lincoln. The name of Abraham Lincoln will henceforth be honored in our annals. Though he was an American, we in Africa are benefitted by his life, and the world is his debtor. He was wise, honest, and persevering; and while putting down the greatest and most infamous rebellion that ever disgraced the annals of history, he struck a death-blow to the institution of slavery, thus giving vigor and strength to the cause of liberty throughout the world. While we honor Washington as the father of his country, we shall still ever venerate Lincoln as the liberator of slaves and as one of the greatest benefactors of humanity. While admiring the character of Abraham Lincoln, we are instructed by our fraternity to express the hope that the work of emancipation so well commenced by him may be fully consummated by his surviving countrymen. And now, honored sir, praying that the republican institutions of your country may ever be maintained in their purity and powers, diffusing blessings far and near, we beg you to accept the sincere expression of our profound respect. Hon. AMOS Perry, DR. G. MUGNANI, DR. G. ZERAFA, L. FALCA, G. B. GIOJA, Delegates of the Italian Lodge, Carthage and Utica Consul General of the United States of America at Tunis. 40 A UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. President Murillo to Mr. Burton. [Translation.] BOGOTA, June 21, 1865. MR. MINISTER: I am advised that, by the death of your great fellow-citizen, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson has entered upon the discharge of the presidency of the United States of America for a constitutional term. From the time the mournful echo of the night of the 14th of April in Washington reached our community you have been able to note how deep and painful has been the sensation produced in it. My fellow-citizens have sadly lamented the loss of that high magistrate who has associated his name with emancipation of four millions of men, and erasing the stigma of an odious institution, a true misfortune in itself; and I, who had the favorable opportunity, almost of intimate association, to appreciate the gifts and to receive proofs of his benevolent character, have united with lively emotion in the just grief of the American people. [Translation.] UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA, DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Foreign RelatioNS, Bogota, October 11, 1865. The undersigned, secretary of the interior and foreign relations of the United States of Colombia, had the honer to receive the note in which the honorable minister of the United States of America makes known his having received instructions from his government directing him to communicate to the citizen President the lively sentiments of friendship and gratitude produced in the minds of the American people and government by the unmistakable demonstrations of grief caused in the Colombian Union by the death of Abraham Lincoln, and soliciting at the same time a special audience of the first magistrate for the purpose of making to him said communication by order of his government. The citizen President has designated Thursday next for such reception, and being profoundly grateful for this mark of consideration on the part of the American government and people, he will have the pleasure to manifest again and officially the profound feeling which has been caused throughout this Union by the unfortunate death of that honest and virtuous citizen who so honorably for the republican world sustained the just Union and true liberty of the great republic. The undersigned renews to the honorable Mr. Burton the assurances of his very high consideration. [Translation.] SANTIAGO PEREZ. Speech of President Murillo to Mr. Burton. MR. MINISTER: It is very flattering and pleasing to the people and government of Colombia to know that the American people and government should have been gratified at the expression of sorrow and kindly sympathy emitted by us when we heard that a crime had deprived your country of one of its most enlightened citizens, as a victim offered upon the altar of duty, and these frequent manifestations of sympathy between the two countries are very grateful to me, because they tend to strenghten the mutual esteem which ought to exist between republican peoples living on the same continent. [Translation.] Legation of Colombia to the United States. NEW YORK, April 17, 1865. SIR: The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Colombia, has received your note of the 15th instant, informing him of the violent death of the President of the United States, and of the criminal attempt upon the life of Mr. Seward and his son, in consequence of which events Mr. Andrew Johnson, the Vice-President, has assumed the functions of President, and has authorized you to act as Secretary of State. The undersigned, in expressing his sincere regret for the unfortunate events that have taken place, and which he has hastened to communicate to his government, makes himself the interpreter of his countrymen, and assures you that the sad event will be deplored in the United States of Colombia, as well on account of the fraternal interest they feel for this nation, as their sympathy in the humane policy of the lamented President, which is cherished in our country, and inspires our institutions, based on justice and liberty. The undersigned is pleased to learn from the daily papers that the honorable Mr. Seward and his son are recovering from the atrocious attempt to take their lives, and that their wounds will have no serious consequences. The antecedents of the eminent citizen who is called to preside as Chief Magistrate of this country is the best guarantee the undersigned can offer his government that the new administration will continue its frank, cordial, and friendly policy towards the United States of Colombia. . The undersigned congratulates you on your appointment as Acting Secretary of State, and embraces the occasion to repeat the assurances of his most distinguished consideration. Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. E. SALGAR, Mr. Burton to Mr. Seward. No. 181. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Intelligence of the assassination of President Lincoln, and the attempt to murder the Secretary of State, reached this city on the 23d of May last. The news created a general and profound sensation of horror and indignation. His Excellency President Murillo sent immediately to his secretary of foreign relations to express the deep grief experienced by the Colombian government and people at this frightful and melancholy event, requesting me to convey the same to the President of the United States, with his sincere sympathy and condolence. The spontaneous manifestations of sympathy offered by the diplomatic and consular bodies in this capital, and by the citizens, were of the most touching nature. I set apart the 21st of June as a day of mourning for our great misfortune, which was responded to in an impressive manner, as will be learned from the accompanying papers. On consulting the foreign secretary as to the most appropriate day for this purpose, wishing to avoid any conflict with the numerous days dedicated to religious ceremonies, his Excellency the President tendered me a public audience to announce the death of our lamented President, which I accepted out of respect to his earnest desire to pay the most expressive honors to our late Chief Magistrate. After making the announcement I repaired to the office for foreign affairs, and announced to the secretary the attempt on Mr. Secretary Seward and his son. He expressed his deep sympathy for them in their misfortune and sufferings, and the consequent misfortune to my country, and requested me to make the same known to them, with his sincere hope that they would be restored to health, and to the great cause of which he regarded Secretary Seward as the worthy representative. In consequence of our affliction I did not intend to open the legation to the usual ceremonial rejoicings on our national anniversary. I learned, however, on the evening of the 3d of July, that the Colombian government, foreign representatives and citizens, had arranged to pay their respects in a solemn manner, and I received them accordingly. The occasion was one of melancholy satisfaction. At six o'clock p. m. the whole military of the city passed in mourning in front of the legation, and through the evening the presidential bands, numbering sixty musicians, saluted it with solemn dirges. In common with our afflicted people I mourn our sad bereavement. In common with them I render devout thanks to God for the delivery of the Secretary of State, his sons, and faithful attendants. I have the honor to be, sir, your cbedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. ALLAN A. BURTON. No. 194.J Mr. Burton to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: As directed by your No. 126, I, on yesterday, in public audience, delivered to his Excellency the Citizen President of Colombia the message of gratitude for the condolence and sympathy tendered by the Colombian government and people on the bereavement sustained by the death of the lamented Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States, with which I had been intrusted. As other bodies in the republic had followed the example of the constituent convention of Bolivar, I ventured to extend the message to the whole country. His excellency the secretary of foreign relations communicated it in a note to each body. The annexed papers will explain how I have attempted to fulfil your instructions. I was received on the occasion by the military in full dress, and by bands of music. The attendance at the audience, as well as the whole proceedings, was highly flattering. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. ALLAN A. BURTON. Nov. 1, 1865.-P. S. Having previously announced the attempt on the lives of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of State, I had the pleasure, by a note to the foreign office, to announce their recovery. My correspondence being suspended with that department a day or so after, on account of my health, as explained in my No. 195, I have, consequently, not received the secretary's acknowledgment. These papers will be sent to the department hereafter. ALLAN A. BURTON. [Translation.] UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA-SOVEREIGN STATE OF CUNDINAMARCA-EXEC UTIVE POWER. The President of the state to the Hon. Allan A. Burton, minister resident of the United States of America. BOGOTA, June 20, 1865. The undersigned hastens to answer the note which the honorable Mr. Minister of the United States of America has done him the honor to address him, under date of yesterday, announcing officially the death of the never-to-be-enoughlamented Mr. Lincoln, late President of that republic. The honorable Mr. Minister knows the high considerations which the undersigned entertains for the United States of America and its government, and the veneration he has always attached to the name and merits of the deceased, Mr. Lincoln, and it is, therefore, useless to express to the minister the sincere grief and deep pain with which he has received this unhappy intelligence; and it is certain that the state of Cundinamarca will be sadly impressed by this melancholy event, and in evidence of which the state flag will be displayed in mourning from the government house on to-morrow. The undersigned gives to the honorable Mr. Burton, individually, the most feeling and cordial condolence, and has the honor to improve this opportunity to reiterate to him the expression of his high esteem and distinguished consideration. RAFAEL MENDOZA. HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S LEGATION, SIR: I have this moment had the honor to receive your excellency's note of this day's date, by which you announce to me the melancholy intelligence of the death of the President of the United States of America, in the city of Washington, on the morning of the 15th of April last. In stating your belief that this sad announcement would awaken within me feelings of sincere sympathy, your excellency has truly interpreted my sentiments. No one, indeed, could have heard with more profound grief, with greater horror and indignation than I, the intelligence of the fearful calamity by which the United States has been deprived of its illustrious Chief Magistrate. It is, therefore, with a mournful satisfaction that I avail myself of the opportunity thus afforded me to give utterance to these feelings, and at the same time to convey to your excellency the expression of my heartfelt condolenee. I need not add that, in compliance with your request, and as a tribute of respect to the memory of the illustrious dead, I shall cause the British flag to be displayed to-morrow from this legation. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your excellency's most obedient humble servant, His Excellency Mr. ALLAN A. BURTON, CHARLES O'LEARY. Minister Resident of the United States of America, &c., &c., &c. |