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

Democratic Society of Sienna

[Translation.]

Democratic Society of Sienna,
May 22, 1865.

Sir: The undersigned, fraternizing with all those who work for the emancipation of the human race, cannot but highly revere the name of him who has headed the armies of freedom.

Abraham Lincoln shone like a star in the heavens! The hand of an assassin attempted to extinguish it, and for the moment succeeded; we say for the moment, because he has now arisen again, crowned with the glory of a martyr.

The intelligence of the infamous crime horrified every one who professes to believe in liberty and progress.

We, not the last to curse the ball which crippled the hermit of caprera, shed our tears to-day over your great misfortune, and have resolved that the name of the republican emancipator of the slaves in America should be placed in the hall of our meetings, as a proof of our friendship, and as an evidence to posterity of our eternal condemnation of this infamous assassination.

Desiring you to be the interpreter to your countrymen of the sentiments which animate the members of this society, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,

F. CELLESI,

President.

The Consul General of the United States, Florence.