Mr. Fogg to Mr. Hunter
Sir: I have the honor to forward herewith to the State Department, by the hand of Henry A. Smythe, esquire, of New York, appointed bearer of despatches to Washington, two bound volumes, containing over 300 original addresses of congratulation, sympathy, and condolence, from the various cantonal governments, municipalities, communes, associations, schools, and leading citizens of Switzerland, expressive of the universal joy occasioned by the triumphant [Page 222] suppression of the rebellion in the United States; the destruction of slavery, and the re-establishment of the American Union, and of the quite as universal sorrow over the assassination of the late President Lincoln, the events of whose life, and the moment and manner of whose death, will enshrine him in the Pantheon of history as the most illustrious character of modern times.
The volumes contain official addresses from the governments of twenty-one cantons, (all save one, Fribourg,) something more than 20,000 original autographs, comprising all the members of the federal council, members of the cantonal government, magistrates, clergymen, and military officers.
In truth, they comprise the aggregate and congregate voice of all Switzerland, whose heart, hopes, and prayers, have been with our government in all the long, and bloody, and sometimes apparently doubtful struggle, through which we have passed.
As these various addresses have been sent or brought to me by delegations or committees I have been obliged to make many brief speeches and write many letters, returning thanks .in behalf of the government and people of the United States for a sympathy as sincere and deep as it was universal.
Trusting that these addresses and memorials will be sacredly preserved in the archives of the State Department as evidence of the solidarity of sentiments and aspirations between the people of Switzerland and those of the United States,
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States of America.
(For the accompaniments see Appendix, separate volume.)