Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward

No. 79.]

Sir: I know not how to express my grief for the loss of our great and good President Lincoln, and my indignation at the crime of which he is a victim.

I thank God that you are spared to us, and I trust that our country and the nations will still continue to reap the fruit of your patriotic labors and pacific sentiments. I enclose you copies of the correspondence between Prince Gortchacow and myself, and also of the letters of condolence from the diplomatic corps. The ambassadors of France and England called in person, and those who did not do so wrote letters full of admiration for the virtues of the late President, and horror at the crime of his assassination. His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine sent his aide-de-camp, General Greigg; her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Helen sent Baron Rosen, and his Imperial Highness the Prince d’Oldenburgh called in person, all to utter sentiments of sorrow and sympathy with the American government and people. A great many distinguished Russians also expressed their grief at our loss in words and [Page 378] through the press. Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Helen, who is well versed in the politics and history of our country, has invited me to call upon her informally on Saturday, with a view of giving us further evidence of her kind feelings for our nation and its progressive cause, of which she is an admirer.

These sentiments of esteem and sadness are gratifying to me, and such as lead me to the hope that the martyrdom of our noble friend will at home and abroad consecrate in the hearts of all men the principles of liberty and self-government for which Lincoln lived and died.

President Johnson enters upon the duties of his office under great difficulties. I like the words of humility and calm devotion which characterize the partial revelation of his views at his accession to office.

That which won for Mr. Lincoln most admiration in Europe was his moderation in expression and firmness in action.

The new President, we are told, proposes to retain the old cabinet, and we trust the old policy of peace with foreign nations, and magnanimity in all things at home, consistent with the destruction of slavery and the restoration of the Union.

The prayers of the good of all the world follow him in his responsible task.

I beg you will lay this paper before the President.

Hoping to hear of your and your son Frederick Seward’s speedy recovery, I remain your most obedient servant,

C. M. CLAY.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. G,

[Translation.]

Prince Gortchacow to Mr. Clay

Although the absence of his Majesty the Emperor makes it impossible for me to obtain and communicate to you the expression of the sentiments which my august master would have felt at the news of the foul crime to which the President of the United States has just fallen a victim, and which Mr. Seward has barely escaped, I did not wish to delay in testifying the lively and profound sympathy of the imperial cabinet for the federal government in this new trial which Providence had reserved for it. I have asked our minister at Washington to communicate it to the Vice-President, Mr. Johnson. Will your excellency transmit it to him, together with our sincere wishes that this abominable crime will not hinder the progress of the American nation toward the establishment of the Union and of peace, which are the pledges of its power and its prosperity.

Will your excellency be pleased to accept the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.

GORTCHACOW.

C. M. Clay, Esq., &c., &c.,&c.

Mr. Clay to Prince Gortchacow

No. 68.]

The American minister has the melancholy duty to inform Prince Gortchacow, vice-chancellor and minister of foreign affairs to his Imperial Majesty, &c., &c. (by telegram from C F. Adams, esq., American minister at London, received last night,) that Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, died on the 3-15th, day of April, instant, from a wound received from the hand of an assassin, whilst in his “loge” at the theatre. Secretary Wm. H. Seward was thought to have been mortally wounded, in his own house, the same night. By the Constitution of the United States the Vice-President, by the death of the President, becomes at once his successor. Vice-President Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, being in Washington, immediately entered upon the duties of his responsible trust. The undersigned will inform the Russian foreign department, at the earliest day, more authoritatively of Mr. A. Johnson’s succession to the presidency.

[Page 379]

The American minister will be pardoned for expressing his deep abhorrence of assassination, which, with rightly thinking men, no political or personal motive can ever justify, and his firm conviction that such an ill-timed blow never struck down a better patriot or a more noble, generous, and humane man than Abraham Lincoln.

The American minister avails himself of this note to say how deeply he sympathizes with their Imperial Majesties and the Russian people in the afflicting and irreparable loss of their late amiable and accomplished Prince, the Grand Duke Heretier; whilst he trusts he will be allowed to mingle his personal condolence with a nation’s grief for one whom he was proud to have known, to have respected for his high position, and yet more to have loved for his many virtues.

The minister of the United States has the honor to renew to Prince Gortchacow assurances of his most distinguished consideration.

C. M. CLAY.
B.
[Translation.]

The Minister of Sweden and Norway to Mr. Clay

Your Excellency: In hastening to acknowledge the sad communication by which your excellency has just informed me of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, President of the United States of America, I beg you to accept my most profound expressions of sympathy, and also, of horror for the foul deed which has deprived your country and your government of their worthy and illustrious chief.

I seize the present occasion to offer to your excellency repeated assurances of my high consideration.

WEDEL YARLSBERG, Minister of Sweden and Norway.

Mr. C. M. Clay, Minister of the United States of America.

C.

Sir Andrew Buchanan to Mr. Clay

Sir Andrew Buchanan, her Britannic Majesty’s ambassador, has had the honor to receive the note by which his excellency General C. M. Clay, the minister of the United States, has acquainted him with the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, the President of the United States, and with the attempt which was made at the same time to murder Mr. William H. Seward, the Secretary of State; and further informing him that, in consequence of the former of these distressing events, Mr. A. Johnson has succeeded to the presidency of the Union.

In thanking General Clay for this communication, Sir Andrew Buchanan begs leave to express his sympathy with his excellency and the people of the United States on the great national calamity which they have sustained, while he participates in the abhorrence of its authors, which their atrocious crime must excite throughout America and the civilized world.

Sir Andrew Buchanan avails himself of this opportunity to offer to General Clay the assurance of his high consideration.

E.

[Translation.]

The Minister of Italy to Mr. Clay

My Dear Colleague: I had desired to offer you, in person, my heartfelt sympathy, but on account of indisposition I am obliged to defer my visit.

In the meanwhile I know not how I can better interpret the sentiments of my government than in joining in the sorrow with which your country has been so cruelly stricken by the loss of her greatest citizen and most eminent statesman.

The blood of a martyr in so noble a cause will strengthen the American Union, whose power and prosperity have every good wish of Italy. In renewing to you, my colleague, my expressions of sorrowful sympathy, and in thanking you for your communication, I have the honor to tender you the assurance of my high consideration.

LAUNAY.
[Page 380]

F.

[Translation.]

The Minister of Belgium to Mr. Clay

The minister of Belgium has had the honor of receiving the note which his excellency the minister of the United States has had the kindness to address him, in order to inform him of the death of the President of the United States, A. Lincoln, who was assassinated in his box at the theatre, in Washington, on 3-15th instant, as well as of the dangerous wound which menaces the life of the Secretary of State, Mr. William H. Seward.

It is with an unmingled feeling of horror that the undersigned has heard of these cowardly and foul attacks, which will cause an outburst of sorrow, not only in America, but in Europe and the whole world, and he joins in the grief which cannot fail to be caused by the loss of an eminent statesman called by his fellow-citizens to direct the destinies of his country.

LORYHE D’ARDÒYE.