Inhabitants of Colchester
To his Excellency Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States:
Sir: At a public meeting, held in the public hall, Colchester, Essex, England, on Thursday evening, May 4th, 1865, it was—
Resolved, That this meeting has heard with the profoundest regret the sad and mournful news of the assassination of President Lincoln, a man whose life was of such great value, not only to the American people, but to all free people everywhere, and desires to express its sincerest sympathy and condolence with the government and people of the United States in the distressing bereavement they have sustained, and their deep abhorrence of the diabolical deed by which so precious a life has been sacrificed.
It nevertheless desires to express its firm conviction that the work begun and so nobly carried on by Abraham Lincoln, in connexion with slavery, can lever be undone, and it trusts that you, his successor, will effect the work, both of the extinction of slavery and the reconstruction of the Union.
That this meeting desires to express its gratitude to Divine Providence that he attempted assassination of Mr. Seward has not been successful, and hopes that he will be spared to render valuable service in the utter extinction of slavery and the complete reconstruction of the Union.
[Page 194]That this meeting desires to express its heartfelt sympathy and condolence with Mrs. Lincoln in the distressing bereavement she has sustained, and also its deep abhorrence of the deed which has so suddenly removed her lamented husband.
Justice of the Peace.