Union and Emancipation Society
His Excellency Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States of America:
Sir: We, the members of the Union and Emancipation Society of Glasgow, desire to express through you to the great nation of which you now are chief our profound sorrow for the loss it has sustained through the cruel and atrocious assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and our utter detestation and abhorrence of the foul deed which has brought this calamity upon your people.
We mourn with your nation; for we have long reverenced Abraham Lincoln as a great and good man, discharging the solemn duties intrusted to him, not only with high ability, but with purity of purpose and simplicity of heart, and ever seeking righteous ends through honorable means.
Called to power in the direst crisis of your national history, he has proved to the world that high-principled integrity is practical wisdom, and that the greatest difficulties in the affairs of nations are best mastered by the spirit of simplest nobleness.
We would also ask your excellency to convey our sorrowing sympathy to Mrs. Lincoln, and assure her of our prayer that the Everlasting Arm may be [Page 225] outstretched to uplift and give her strength in her terrible bereavement, and the tender mercy of our Father in Heaven minister the peace which passeth understanding.
We would further beg your excellency to express to Mr. Seward our indignant horror at the vile blows inflicted on him by an assassin’s hand, and our earnest and hearty hope that he may soon be restored to his accustomed place in the councils of your government.
We believe, sir that the universal indignation excited by these crimes which have disgraced humanity will bind even more closely our nation to yours, and that we only utter the feeling of the aroused heart of the mass of our people when we pray that those beneficent purposes of Abraham Lincoln (which, expressed upon the day of his death, are his last legacy to his countrymen) may have their happy and abundant fulfilment in a peace which shall conclude war with mercy, and, while securing freedom for those heretofore held in bondage, shall unite all sections and parties in one nation whose prosperous future will be the best monument to the memory of the great ruler over whose sad grave we mourn with a common sorrow.
Secretary.