Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part IV, Appendix to diplomatic correspondence of 1865; the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late president of the United States of America, and the attempted assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, on the evening of the 14th of April, 1865; expressions of condolence and sympathy inspired by these events

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward.

Legation of the United States,
Paris, May 31, 1865.

No. 109.]

Sir: Among the manifold testimonials of sympathy elicited by the assassination of our late President, some have seemed worthy of being transmitted to Washington to be read, and, perhaps, placed among the archives of the government; others have other destinations, for reaching which the facilities of the State Department are more or lest requisite. I transmit them in a body, trusting that you will give them, respectively, their proper direction.

I have divided them into three categories: the first category consists of eleven letters addressed to Mrs. Lincoln; the second category consists of twenty-nine communications from masonic lodges, three addressed to President Johnson, eighteen to the United States minister at Paris, and eight to American lodges; the third category consists of four letters and addresses to heads of the government, and of twenty-eight to the United States minister at Paris—making in all seventy-two enclosures.

Though these form but a small proportion, numerically, of the testimonials of sympathy which have been already addressed to me by the people of Prance, and a still smaller proportion of those yet to be expected, they will suffice to show not only how profoundly the nation was shocked by the dreadful crime which terminated President Lincoln’s earthly career, but how deep a hold he had taken upon the respect and affections of the French people. It is difficult to exaggerate the enthusiasm which his name inspires among the masses of Europe at this moment—an enthusiasm before which the ruling classes, however little disposed to waste compliments upon anything tainted with republicanism, are obliged to incline. I think it is generally conceded that the death of no man has ever occurred that awakened such prompt and universal sympathy at once among his own country people and among foreign nations. There can be no better evidence that the world is advancing in civilization than this unprecedented and spontaneous homage to the virtues of Mr. Lincoln. It shows that the moral standard of nations has been greatly exalted within the memory of living men. It does not deserve to be reckoned among the secondary achievements of our people during the last four years to have furnished the world with such a striking demonstration of this gratifying truth.

I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,

JOHN BIGELOW.

Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.