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

Inhabitants of New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, April 28, 1865.

At a public meeting held in the city of New Orleans, on Saturday, April 22, 1865, for the purpose of honoring the memory of Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States, and expressing the universal condemnation felt by this community of the deed whereby the late President lost his life, and the life of W. H. Seward, Secretary of State for the United States, was attempted, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Whereas it has been permitted by an Allwise God that the life of Abraham Lincoln, our President, should be taken by the hand of an assassin, and that a murderous attack should be made upon William H. Seward, the Secretary of State for the United States, and both under circumstances of strange atrocity; and whereas the citizens of New Orleans have now gathered in solemn assembly to signify their emotion at these awful dispensations: Be it

Resolved, That, the people of New Orleans utterly condemn and abhor these infamous deeds, by which the American name has been disgraced—the American heart wrung with sorrow.

Resolved, That the attack upon the President and Secretary of State must inspire all friends of security and law throughout the world with apprehension and dismay; that the safety of every government is endangered, and all the dearest rights of the citizens given to hazard by such appalling, horrible examples.

Resolved, That in the death of President Lincoln, we mourn the loss of fervid patriotism, unwavering honesty, personal purity, a liberality that reached magnanimity, a love of liberty that was passionate, and practical large ability; we mourn a man who more than any other of his time was a representative of the people of America. By the nobility of his nature, not less than by the value of his services, he won his way to the hearts of his fellow-countrymen They loved and greatly respected him while living; their tears flow for him now.

Resolved, That we learn with great satisfaction that the assault upon Mr. Seward was not wholly successful, and that the eminently serviceable labors of that distinguished statesman and true patriot may yet be continued for the benefit of the nation.

Resolved, That out of respect to the memory of our late President we will wear badges of mourning for thirty days; that we will unite to-morrow in our several places of public worship in imploring Divine assistance, that this great public chastening may be made the means of good to our national life, and that the Ruler of the universe will continue to vouchsafe to us that loving protection our fathers received, and which has not been hitherto withheld from us.

Resolved, That the citizens of New Orleans unite with the people of the nation which Abraham Lincoln preserved, in the expression of a heartfelt sympathy for the sorrow which has suddenly invaded the family of which he was the loved and honored head.

Resolved, That the chairman of this meeting be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the family of the late President, and to the Secretary of State.

• H. KENNEDY,
  Mayor. President.
• D. L. GIBBONS,
• SIDNEY G. BROWN,
• EDW’D C. BILLINGS,
• W. T. GILBERT,
  Secretaries.