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A GREAT MARTYR OF DEMOCRACY.

Slavery, before expiring, has gathered up the remnants of its strength and rage to strike a coward blow at its conqueror.

The Satanic pride of that perverted society could not resign itself to defeat; it did not care to fall with honor, as all causes fall which are destined to rise again; it dies as it has lived, violating all laws, divine and human.

In this we have the spirit and perhaps the work of that famous secret association, "the Golden Circle," which, after preparing the great rebellion for twenty years, and spreading its accomplices throughout the West and North, around the seat of the presidency, gave the signal for this impious war on the day when the public conscience finally snatched from the slaveholders the government of the United States.

The day on which the excellent man whom they have just made a martyr was raised to power they appealed to force, to realize what treason had prepared.

They have failed. They did not succeed in overthrowing Lincoln from power by war; they have done so by assassination.

The plot appears to have been well arranged. By striking down with the President his two principal ministers, one of whom they reached, and the General-in-Chief, who was saved by an accidental occurrence, the murderers expected to disorganize the government of the republic and give fresh life to the rebellion.

Their hopes will be frustrated. These sanguinary fanatics, whose cause has fallen not so much by the material superiority as the moral power of democracy, have become incapable of understanding the effects of the free institutions which their fathers gloriously aided in establishing. A fresh illustration will be seen of what those institutions can produce.

The indignation of the people will not exhaust itself in a momen tary outburst; it will concentrate and embody itself in the unanimous, persevering, invincible action of the universal will; whoever may be the agents, the instruments of the work, that work, we may rest assured, will be finished. The event will show that it did not depend upon the life of one man, or of several men.

The work will be completed after Lincoln, as if finished by him; but Lincoln will remain the austere and sacred personification of a great epoch, the most faithful expression of democracy.

This simple and upright man, prudent and strong, elevated step by step from the artisan's bench to the command of a great nation, and always without parade and without effort at the height of his

position, executing without precipitation, without flourish and with invincible good sense, the most colossal acts, giving to the world this decisive example of the civil power in a republic, directing a gigantic war without free institutions being for an instant compromised or threatened by military usurpation, dying finally at the moment in which, after conquering, he was intent on pacification-and may God grant that the atrocious madmen who killed him have not killed clemency with him, and determined instead of the peace he wished, pacification by force-this man will stand out in the traditions of his country and the world as an incarnation of the people, and of modern democracy itself.

The great work of emancipation had to be sealed, therefore, with the blood of the just, even as it was inaugurated with the blood of the just. The tragic history of the abolition of slavery which opened with the gibbet of John Brown will close with the assassination of Lincoln.

And now let him rest by the side of Washington, as the second founder of the great republic. European democracy is present in spirit at his funeral, as it voted in its heart for his re-election, and applauded the victory in the midst of which he passes away. It will wish with one accord to associate itself with the monument that America will raise to him upon the capital of prostrate slavery.

In the Corps Legislatif, soon after the opening of that body, M. Rouher, Minister of State, rose and said:

An odious crime has plunged in mourning a people which is our ally and our friend. The report of this crime has produced throughout the civilized world a sentiment of indignation and of horror. Abraham Lincoln had exhibited in the sad struggle which rends his country that calm firmness and indomitable energy which belong to strong minds and are the necessary conditions of the accomplishment of great duties. In the hours of victory he exhibited generosity, moderation, and conciliation. He hastened to put an end to war and to restore peace-America to her splendor and prosperity. The first punishment which God inflicts upon crime is to render it powerless to retard the march of right. The profound emotion and the deep sympathy manifested in Europe will be received by the American people as a consolation and encouragement. The work of peace, commenced by a grand citizen, will be completed by the national will. The government of the Emperor has caused to be sent to Washington the expression of a legitimate homage to the memory of an illustrious statesman, torn from the

government of the United States by an execrable assassination. By order of the Emperor, I have the honor to communicate to the Corps Legislatif the despatch sent by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to our representative at Washington. It is conceived as follows:

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The news of the crime of which President Lincoln has fallen a victim has caused a profound sentiment of indignation in the imperial government. 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 deplore.

Elevated to the Chief Magistracy of the republic by the suffrage of his country, 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 definitely 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 accorded him; but in reviewing these last testimonies to 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 the Minister of State, who is charged to communicate it to the Senate and the Corps Legislatif. France will unanimously associate itself with the sentiment of his Majesty. Receive, &c., &c., DROUYN DE LHUYS,

M. DE GEOFRY, Chargé d'Affaires de France à Washington.

After the reading of the despatch, which was received with unanimous marks of approbation, M. Rouher continued:

This despatch needs no commentary. The Emperor, all France, are unanimous in their sentiments of condemnation of a detestable crime, in their respect for a grand political character, now a victim of the worst criminal passions, in their ardent wishes for the reestablishment of harmony and concord in the grand and patriotic American nation.

M. Schneider, President of the Corps Legislatif, said:

GENTLEMEN-I desire to be the interpreter of your sentiments in publicly expressing the sorrow and true indignation which we have all felt at the news of the bloody death of President Lincoln. This execrable crime has revolted all that was noble in the heart of France. Nowhere has the emotion been more profound and universal than in our country. We also desire unqualifiedly to unite our sentiments with the sympathies which have been manifested by the government. Called to the direction of affairs in an ever memorable crisis, Abraham Lincoln showed himself equal to his difficult mission. After displaying unshaken firmness in the struggle, it seemed that he would, by the wisdom of his language and his views, soon bring about a happy and durable reconciliation among the people of the country. His last acts are the crowning ones of the life of an honest man and good citizen. Let us hope that his wishes and his sentiments will survive him and inspire the American people with pacific and generous resolutions. France has herself trembled at these 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. May our prayers be heard, and may Providence put an end to these sad trials. The Corps Legislatif will acknowledge to the government the receipt of the communication which it has just made it, and will ask that an extract of the procès-verbal of this session shall be officially addressed to the Minister of State.

No further remarks were made upon the communication.

In the Senate the same communication was presented, and the following remarks made by the President :—

GENTLEMEN-In receiving this communication from the Minister, I ask the Senate to permit me to express, in its name, a sentiment which, by its unanimity and its energy, will be received by every heart. The Senate has experienced a profound emotion at the report of the crime committed upon the illustrious chief of a friendly nation. Mr. Lincoln, placed since 1861 at the head of the American nation, had passed through the saddest trial which a government founded upon liberty could have encountered. It was at the

moment when victory offered itself to him-not as a sign of conquest, but as a time for reconciliation-when a crime, still obscure in its causes, has destroyed the existence of this citizen elected to so high a position by the choice of his fellow-countrymen. Mr. Lincoln fell when he thought he had reached the end of the evils through which his country had passed, and while nourishing the patriotic hope of soon seeing it reconstituted and flourishing. The Senate, which has always deplored this civil war, detests with stronger reason those implacable hatreds which are its fruit, and which produce a bloody policy of assassination. There is in this body but one voice to unite itself with the sentiment expressed by order of the Emperor, in the name of a policy generous and humane."

ITALY.

The Italian Chamber of Deputies was draped in black on the 27th, and continued so for the three following days, in mourning for Abraham Lincoln. The Minister of Finance moved, and the Chamber agreed, to send this address to the American Congress expressing the grief of the country and the House at Mr. Lincoln's assassination.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONGRESS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

HON. SIR-The intelligence of the assassination of President Lincoln has moved and profoundly grieved the deputies of the Italian Parliament. From all the political factions of which this Chamber is composed one unanimous cry has arisen denouncing the detestable crime that has been committed, and conveying the expression of deep regret and sympathy for the illustrious victim and the free people whose worthy ruler he was. This Chamber has unanimously resolved to cover its flag with crape for the space of three days, in token of mourning, and has charged me to notify you in a special message its grief, which is also that of Italy, and of all friends of liberty and civilization. The news of the attempt made to assassinate Mr. Seward has inspired the Chamber with like sentiments. In readily, though sadly, fulfilling the mission with which I have been charged, I beg you will accept, Hon. Sir, the assurance of my sympathy and consideration. CASSINIS, President of the Chamber of Deputies.

BELGIUM.

The King of the Belgians charged one of his aides-de-camp to visit Mr. Sanford, and express the feelings his Majesty experienced at the attacks made upon the President and Minister

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