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

Señor J. Volio to Mr. Riotte

[Translation.]

Palacio National, San José, May 16, 1865.

The President of the republic has, with profound grief, in the despatch you were pleased to send me from Punt Arenas, found the confirmation of the sad intelligence of the murder committed on the person of the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, which occurred the 14th of last month, at Ford’s theatre, in the city of Washington.

You have also been pleased to inform me of the criminal attempt to assassinate in their own house the Messrs. Seward, Secretary and Assistant Secretary of State, an attempt which, though fortunately frustrated, caused to these gentlemen several wounds and blows endangering their lives.

My government would wish, in honor of humanity, that this savage act should appear isolated, and: solely chargeable to the wretched assassin who attacked the life of the unfortunate President. And it must be so. Whatever ferocity may be ascribed to the anti-national party, it is inconceivable how, even in a state of desperation, it should go to the extreme of defiling its cause with the most horrible of all crimes, without any other political result but that of calling down upon it the indignation of the whole world.

Costa Rica deplores as her own the loss sustained by the United States in the death of the eminent man who for four years governed, with such justice, firmness, and loyalty, the great republic of the north, in the midst of the troubles and anxieties of an intestine war. She laments the violence of passions called into existence by political fanaticism, and condemns now, more than ever, the cause of those who attempted to destroy the American Union.

In mark of mourning the President ordered the national flag on all public buildings to be raised half-mast during the 14th instant.

Rejoicing in the restoration of the momentous health of the honorable Mr. Seward, and in the inauguration of Mr. Andrew Johnson in his character as President,

I have the honor to reiterate, &c.,

J. VOLIO.

Hon. Señor C. N. Riotte, &c., &c., &c.