Inhabitants of Sherbrooke
Copy of resolutions passed at a public meeting of the citizens of the town of Sherbrooke, province of Canada, on Wednesday, the 19th day of April, 1865.
Resolved, That this meeting is shocked at the fearful tragedy which took place at Washington, the capital of the United States, on Friday night last, in the fiendish and dastardly murder of the honorable Abraham Lincoln, President [Page 336] of the United States, and filled with the most painful emotions that a man holding so high a position, upon whose life so many hopes were resting, and whose character was such as to give promise of so much good, should fall by the hands of a brutal assassin, in the presence of a peaceful audience.
Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize with the widow and family of the late President in the sudden and unexpected death of one so near and dear to them; who amidst the unceasing cares and responsibilities devolving on him as the ruler of a great nation, at the same time retained those social and domestic qualities which so endeared him to his family, and to all those privileged with meeting him in the social circle.
Resolved, That we deeply feel for and deplore the loss our friends and neighbors in the adjoining republic have sustained in the removal of their Chief Magistrate—a man eminently qualified for his high position, and combining in his person those characteristics which, at the present critical juncture of their national affairs, rendered him, under Almighty God, the instrument of great good to their country.
Resolved, That we trust the mysterious dispensation of Almighty God, in permitting at this juncture of affairs in the United States the removal of Abraham Lincoln by the hand of death, will Be so ordered and overruled as not to prove detrimental to the best interests of the republic, and that although the leading instrument in the conduct of affairs during their present unhappy struggle to an issue giving promise of peace has been removed from his high position, the progress of true freedom will be onward, and the principles of liberty perpetuated throughout the length and breadth of the land.
Resolved, That as Canadian citizens connected with the British empire, we but express, we believe, the opinion of all our fellow subjects in deploring the removal of Abraham Lincoln at this present important epoch in the world’s history, believing him to be desirous of maintaining friendly relations with other nations; and that, in connection with the honorable Mr. Seward, he was prepared to promote and advance the best interests of the world, by endeavoring to perpetuate the good feeling and friendly intercourse which have so long existed between the United States and European powers.
Resolved, That we feel grateful for the kind interposition of Almighty God in preventing the cowardly assassination of the honorable Mr. Seward and his son, on the evening of Friday last, and trust that their lives will be spared to prove a blessing to their country in carrying forward to completion those plans inaugurated by their late President for the restoration of peace, and the re-establishment of liberty on a firm basis.
Resolved, That the mayor of this town, as chairman of this meeting, be requested to forward a copy of these resolutions to Washington on behalf of the citizens of Sherbrooke.