Mr. Morris to Mr.
Hunter
No. 112.]
Legation of the United States of
America,
Constantinople,
May 3, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit enclosed
copies of a correspondence between his Highness Ali Pacha and myself,
relative to the late melancholy events at Washington.
Since the answer was written to the letter from the Porte, we have
received
[Page 289]
the sad news of the
death of Mr. Seward. This intelligence has caused a most painful
impression through all circles, and particularly those of the government
and diplomatic corps. He had won the admiration and esteem of all who
are conversant with our politics, by his eminent ability as a diplomatic
writer and by the rare skill and judgment with which he directed our
foreign policy, in the most critical period of American history. His
name and fame will be inseparably associated with the great events in
which he was so conspicuous an actor.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State,
[Translation.]
Ali Pacha to Mr. Morris
Sublime Porte, Department of
Foreign Affairs,
May 1, 1865.
Sir: The Sultan, my august sovereign, has
learned with profound affliction the mournful news of the cruel
death of President Lincoln, and of the wounding of the Secretary of
State; and I have been commanded to convey to you an expression of
the regrets of his imperial Majesty.
I need not state to you, sir, how much the imperial government, in
its character of sincere friend of the United States, is interested
in their prosperity, and how great has been the sorrow which this
event has occasioned.
Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my high consideration.
Mr. Morris,
Minister Resident United States of
America,
[Translation.]
Mr. Morris to Ali Pacha
Legation of the United States of
America,
Constantinople,
May 2, 1865.
Highness: I have had the honor to receive
the letter which your Highness, by order of your august sovereign,
addressed me on the 1st of May, in expression of profound grief of
his imperial Majesty on learning the sad news of the cruel death of
President Lincoln and the wounding of the Secretary of State.
I beg your Highness to be so good as to convey to his imperial
Majesty my respectful thanks for this manifestation of his regrets
on an occasion which has so deeply afflicted the hearts of a whole
nation. This event is the more to be regretted as it came at a
moment when a desolating civil war of four years’ duration,
involving alike the best interests of humanity and the American
people, had been brought to a successful termination by the energy,
wisdom, and firmness of purpose of President Lincoln, with the
efficient co-operation of that accomplished statesman, Mr. Seward,
and his colleagues in the cabinet, and by the valor and skill of our
citizen soldiers and their commanders. It was hoped that these two
distinguished men would have been permitted by Divine Providence to
live to perfect in peace the re-establishment of that Union in
defence of which so much blood had been poured out on the field of
battle. In His inscrutable wisdom He has otherwise ordained.
I would also thank the imperial government for its sympathy in favor
of the United States. During my residence at this court I have had
frequent occasion to bear testimony to the American government of
the earnest sympathy of the Ottoman government with the United
States in the war for national existence in which it found itself
engaged, and of the ardent desire of his Majesty the Sultan that it
should terminate in the re-establishment of the Union in complete
integrity, and on a firm and impregnable basis. In the hour of
national calamity we have found in the Ottoman government a true and
zealous friend. This new expression of its friendship only confirms
its past acts, and will tend to strengthen yet more the good
relations existing between the two countries.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your Highness the
assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
