Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 87.]
Legation of the United States,
Paris,
May 3, 1865.
Sir: His excellency the minister of. foreign
affairs was kind enough, on Saturday last, the 29th of April, to read,
and at the same time to hand me, a copy of a communication which he had
made, by order of the Emperor, to the French minister at Washington in
reference to our recent national bereavement. His excellency also
informed me that it would be communicated to both of the legislative
branches of the government on the Monday following. It would have been
communicated on the day it was shown to me if the corps legislatif had
been in session.
As I had been notified, his excellency Mr. Vuitry, minister president of
the council of state, at the opening of the senate yesterday, and by
order of the Emperor, read the despatch to which I have referred, and
added that he hoped the members of the senate would unite in the
sentiments which the Emperor had charged him to testify to them.
The president of the Senate, M. Troplong, replying in the name of the
assembly to the commissioner of the government, declared that the.
senate shared entirely the views of the Emperor; that it had been struck
with the same sorrow and even indignation when it heard of the attempt
made upon the person of a citizen borne to the supreme power by the free
choice of his country; that this sorrow could only be increased by the
recollection of the noble sentiments of moderation and of conciliation
manifested in the recent proclamation of President Lincoln.
The President Troplong then proposed, and the senate unanimously voted,
its adhesion to the sentiments of the despatch to the French minister at
Washington in the usual form.
The same communication was simultaneously submitted to the corps
legislatif by his excellency Monsieur Rouher, minister of state, with a
few impressive remarks. The Vice-President Schneider, interpreting the
feelings of the assembly, expressed its horror at the crime which had
been thus brought to their notice, and announced that the corps
legislatif shared completely the sentiments of the government.
An account of the proceedings, as reported in the Moniteur this morning,
will be found in the annexed enclosures Nos. 1 and 2.
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.,&c.,&c.
[Page 286]
[Enclosure No. 1.]
[Translated from the Moniteur of May 2, 1865.]
Communication from the
government,
The President. M. the minister resident of
the council of state has the floor for the purpose of presenting a
communication from the government. (The house becomes
attentive.)
His excelleney M. Fechtry, minister
resident of the council of state. Gentlemen of the Senate: In
pursuance of the orders of the Emperor, I have the honor to
communicate to the senate the despatch addressed on the 28th of
April last by M. the minister of foreign affairs to M. the charge
d’affaires of France at Washington, on the occasion of the death of
President Lincoln.
This despatch reads as follows:
Paris,
April 28, 1885.
Sir: The news of the crime of which M. le
President Lincoln has fallen a victim has caused a profound
sentiment of indignation in the imperial government.
His Majesty immediately charged one of his aides-de-camp to call upon
the minister of the United States, to request him to transmit the
expression of this sentiment to M. Johnson, now invested with the
presidency. I myself desired, by the despatch which I addressed you
under date of yesterday, to acquaint you without delay of the
painful emotion which we have experienced, and it becomes my duty
to-day, in conformity with the views of the Emperor to render a
merited homage to the great citizen whose loss the United States now
deplores.
Elevated to the Chief Magistracy of the republic by the suffrage of
his country, M. Abraham Lincoln exhibited in the exercise of the
power placed in his hands the most substantial qualities. In him
firmness of character was allied with elevation of principle, and
his vigorous soul never wavered before the redoubtable trials
reserved for his government.
At the moment when an atrocious crime removed him from the mission
which he fulfilled with a religious sentiment of duty, he was
convinced that the triumph of his policy was definitively assured.
His recent proclamations, are stamped with the sentiments of
moderation with which he was inspired in resolutely proceeding to
the task of reorganizing the Union and consolidating peace. The
supreme satisfaction of accomplishing this work has not been granted
him; but in reviewing these testimonies of his exalted wisdom, as
well as the examples of good sense, of courage, and of patriotism,
which he has given, history will not hesitate to place him in the
rank of citizens who have the most honored their country.
By order of the Emperor I transmit this despatch to M. the minister
of state, who is charged
communicate it to the senate and the corps legislatif France will
unanimously associate itself with the sentiments of his Majesty.
Receive, &c,
DROUYN DE LHUYS.
M. de Geoffroy, Chargé d’Affaires of France at
Washington.
I do not think, gentlemen of the senate, that this communication
needs any commentary. It explains itself. I trust the senate will
share the feelings of which the despatch which I have had the honor
of reading contains the ready expression. In uniting together to
brand with reprobation a horrible crime, the
Emperor, the great bodies of the state, and France in its totality,
will give to the republic of the United States a fresh testimony of
their sincere sympathy. [Loud approbation.]
The President. Gentlemen, in acknowledging
the communication just made by M. the minister, I beg the senate
will permit me to express in its name a sentiment which, in its
unanimity and energy, is equally felt by all. The senate felt a deep
emotion at the news of the crime committed against the illustrious
head of an allied nation. Mr. Lincoln, placed, since 1861, at the
head of the American nation, had passed through the most afflicting
trials that could befall a government founded on liberty. It was at
the moment when victory presented itself, not as a signal of
conquest, but as the means of reconciliation, that a crime still
obscure in its causes destroyed the existence of that citizen placed
so high by the choice of his countrymen. Mr. Lincoln fell at the
moment when he thought he was on the point of arriving at the term
of the misfortunes by which his country was afflicted, and when he
indulged in the hope of seeing it soon reconstituted and
flourishing. The senate, which has always deplored the civil war,
detests still more that implacable hatred which is its fruit, and
which disgraces politics by assassination. There can, therefore, be
but one voice in this body, to join in the ideas expressed by order
of the Emperor, in the name of a generous policy, and of humanity.
[Approbation.]
I propose to the senate to decree that a copy of the minutes of
the present sitting be officially
transmitted to the minister of state. [Long and prolonged
approbation.]
[Page 287]
[Enclosure. No. 2.]
[Translated from the Moniteur of May 2, 1865.]
CORPS LEGISLATIF—SITTING OF MONDAY, MAY 1.
President Schneider. M. the minister of
state has the floor to transmit a communication from the government.
[The assembly becomes very attentive and silent.].
His excellency M. Rouher, minister of
state. Gentlemen: An odious crime has plunged in mourning a people
composed of our allies and friends. The news of that odious act has
produced throughout the civilized world a sentiment of indignation
and horror. [Assent.]
Mr. Abraham Lincoln had displayed, in the afflicting struggle which
convulses his country, that calm firmness and that invincible energy
which belong to strong minds, and are a necessary condition for the
accomplishment of great duties. [Repeated assent.] After the victory
he had shown himself generous, moderate, and conciliatory. [Hear,
hear.] He was anxious to at once terminate the civil war, and
restore to America, by means of peace, her splendor and prosperity.
[Hear, hear.]
The first chastisement that Providence inflicts on crime is to render
it powerless to retard the march of good. [Repeated assent.] The
deep emotion and elevated sympathies which are being displayed in
Europe will be received by the American people as a consolation and
an encouragement. The work of appeasement commenced by a great
citizen will be completed by the national will. [Hear, hear.] The
Emperor’s government has sent to Washington the expression of a
legitimate homage to the memory of an illustrious statesman, torn
from the government of the States by an execrable assassination.
By his Majesty’s order I have the honor to communicate to the
legislative body the despatch addressed by the minister of foreign
affairs to our representative at Washington. It is thus worded:
(For the despatch see enclosure No. 1. The reading was frequently
interrupted by expressions of approbation and by applause.)
This despatch, gentlemen, does not call for any comment. The Emperor,
the public bodies, and France, from one end to the other, are
unanimous in their sentiments of reprobation for a detestable crime,
in their homage to a great political character, victim of the most
criminal passions, and in their ardent wishes for the
reestablishment of harmony and concord among the great and patriotic
American nation. [Unanimous assent.]
President Schneider. Gentlemen, I wish to
be the interpreter of your thoughts in publicly expressing the grief
and indignation which we have all felt on learning the news of the
bloody death of President Lincoln. That execrable crime has revolted
all that is noble in the heart of France. Now here has more profound
or more universal emotion been felt than in our country. We
therefore heartily join in the sentiments and sympathies which have
been manifested by the government. [Yes, yes.]
Having been called to the direction of public affairs at an
ever-memorable crisis, Mr. Abraham Lincoln has always proved himself
fully equal to his difficult mission. After having shown his
immovable firmness in the struggle, he seemed, by the wisdom of his
language and of his views, destined to bring about a fruitful and
durable reconciliation between the sons of America. [Hear, hear.]
His last acts worthily crown the life of an honest man and a good
citizen. Let us hope that his spirit and his sentiments may survive
him, and inspire the American people with pacific and generous
resolutions. [Approbation.]
France has deplored the bloody struggles which have afflicted
humanity and civilization. She ardently desires the re-establishment
of peace in the midst of that great nation, her ally and her friend.
[Hear, hear.]
May our prayers be heard, and may Providence put an end to these
painful trials. [Unanimous approbation.]
The legislative body acknowledges the receipt of the communication
just made to it by the government, and demands that an extract of
the minutes of the sitting shall be officially addressed to the
minister of state. [General marks of assent.]
