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

Municipal Council of Dundee

Dundee, April 28, 1865

Excerpt from minutes of meeting of the magistrates and town council of Dundee, held on the 28th day of April, 1865.

assassination of the president of the united states of north america.

To his excellency the ambassador to the court of Great Britain for the United States of America:

The provost called the attention of the council to the intelligence recently received of the assassination of the President of the United States of North America, and of the attempt to murder Mr. Seward.

On the motion of the provost, seconded by Bailie Owen, the council unanimously resolved

1. That the provost magistrates and town council have heard of the horrible acts of assassination in the city of Washington with sorrow and indignation, and unite in desiring humbly and respectfully, but in the kindest spirit, to represent to the government of the United States of America, and the whole people, their sincere sympathy, and the sympathy of every class of the people of this town, young and old, rich and poor, in feelings of abhorrence towards the miserable actors and their adherants, wherever and whomsoever they be.

2. When such events happen the good part of human nature asserts its sway. The people of the United States are part of ourselves, shares with us in a common ancestry; cross interests, and chance events, and the evil part of our nature may create temporary estrangement and distrust, but when trouble comes we are all one—brethren in origin and in progress; and it is in this spirit we seek to approach the people of North America, in sincere affection and good will and sympathy.

3. That the provost do transmit, in the name of the magistrate and council and whole people of Dundee, and under the seal of the burgh, to the representative of the United States in Britain, through the United States consul in this town, an official declaration of the feelings of sympathy and love entertained by this large community towards our brethren in North America, in this the hour of their affliction.

4. That the provost do cause a special communication to be made to his excellency the ambassador of the desire of the council to tender, in the way which the ambassador shall consider to be best suited to the circumstances, to Mrs. Lincoln, the widow of the President, the respectful sympathy of this corporation and community, and their earnest prayer that the Almighty will be pleased to lighten her affliction in the way accordant with His infinite goodness and mercy.

5. That there be a like communication to Mr. Seward.

Extracted from the records of the magistrates and town council of Dundee.

[seal.]

CHAS. OWEN,

Town Clerk.