American Residents of Lima
In pursuance of the call made by the minister of the United States, a large and highly respectable meeting of the citizens of that country, resident in Lima and vicinity, assembled at the legation of the United States at 12 o’clock to-day, the 22d instant, for the purpose of expressing their sorrow at the untimely and lamented death of the late President, Abraham Lincoln.
The meeting was called to order by the honorable Christopher Robinson, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Peru, who, in eloquent and affecting language, spoke of the cause which had convened them, the virtues of the late President, the barbarity of his assassination, and his confidence in the future, under the administration of President Johnson. During [Page 521] the speech of the minister, his audience gave tokens of their sympathy and sorrow by their most fixed attention and emotion.
At the conclusion of his remarks, the meeting was organized by the election of the minister as chairman; and Thomas J. Pope, secretary of the United States legation, was appointed secretary. On motion, a committee was appointed by the chairman to report a series of resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. Messrs. Thos. R. Eldredge, Hobson, Church, Moore, Davis, and Sartori were the committee, who in a short time returned and reported the following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas the honored, respected, and magnanimous Chief Magistrate of Our nation, Abraham Lincoln, has been cruelly slain by the hand of a foul assassin; cut off in the fulness of his years, the maturity of his intellect, and the zenith of his usefulness and fame; slain in the presence of his family and friends, at a time when the nation, of which he was the constitutional head, was about to emerge from the horrors of a protracted and ruthless civil war, through a baptism of blood, to the glorious consummation of permanent reunion, and a new existence of universal liberty and justice; and whereas, under this last terrible stroke, this appalling tragedy and wicked deed of a hydra-headed treason, unparallelled either in the base ingratitude of the act, committed so close upon the generous policy announced by the noble-hearted President to the people of the south, or in the ominous consequences, fraught, as they may be, with the welfare of millions of our fellow-countrymen, it becomes the duty of every citizen of our republic abroad, as well as at home, to express their heartfelt sorrow for the untimely loss of our great and good President, Abraham Lincoln; their cordial sympathy with his afflicted family; their horror at the deed, and most profound detestation of the means by which it has been consummated: we, the citizens of the United States of America resident in Lima and vicinity, recognizing our loyalty to our beloved country, and, although at a distance from it, actuated by the same spirit of patriotism as our brethren at home, would place on record our firm and unshaken faith in its glorious destiny. Be it, therefore, Resolved, That we have heard with the deepest sorrow and indignation of the death of President Lincoln by the assassin’s hand; that at this time, when the eyes of the nation were turned to him for the display of great practical wisdom and executive ability, for magnanimity and forbearance, blended with a firm and unalterable adherence to the principles of free government and liberty, his death is a most grievous national calamity.
Resolved, That while we recognize and deeply lament the terrible nature of the calamity which has befallen our nation, still, placing our trust in that Supreme Being who has so signally blessed our people hitherto, we do not despair of the ultimate success of our cause, to the sustaining of which, under the policy of the late President, we give our earnest support and countenance.
Resolved, That we will ever cherish the memory of Abraham Lincoln as the honest, fearless, patriotic, and noble defender of that Constitution which was originally cemented under the auspices of the immortal Washington, as the bulwark of universal freedom and civil liberty.
Resolved, That we tender the expression of our most profound sympathies to the consort and family of our late revered President, with our condolence for their irreparable bereavement, trusting that strength may be given to them to bear up under their great affliction.
Resolved, That, as citizens of the United States, we are profoundly grateful for the general, cordial, and generous sympathy manifested towards our nation by the government and people of Peru, as well as by the representatives and residents of other nations in our great misfortune; that we extend to them all, individually and collectively, the assurance of our warmest acknowledgments for the honors paid and the respect shown to the memory of our late President.
Resolved, That to the press of Lima and Callao we offer our especial recognition [Page 522] of the able, eloquent, and cordial tributes of eulogy and sympathy on this event.
Resolved, That we offer to the honorable William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, and to F. W. Seward, esq., Assistant Secretary of State, our unfeigned and profound sympathy in the hour of their affliction, caused by the hands of an infamous assassin; that we rejoice at their providential escape from death, and hopes of recovery, and trust that they may long be spared to do eminent service in the cause of our country.
Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be forwarded to the President of the United States, to the family of our late President, and to the honorable Secretary of State, and that they be published in the Comercio of this city, and the Washington Chronicle.
Resolved, That the legation of the United States in this city be draped in mourning for the space of thirty days, and that a committee be appointed to carry the same into effect.
Messrs. Barnes, Pope, and Ells were appointed on this committee.
Mr. Robinson having addressed a few appropriate remarks to the meeting in reply to a vote of thanks which was given to him for his able conduct in the chair, the meeting was, on motion, adjourned.
- CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON,
Chairman. - THOMAS J. POPE,
Secretary.