[Extract.]
Mr. Morris to Mr.
Hunter
No. 114.]
Legation of the United States of
America,
Constantinople,
May 11, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of despatch No. 87, and the circular containing the official
announcement of the assassination of President Lincoln. In a previous
despatch I referred at large to the universal feeling of horror and
indignation which such a monstrous crime had produced among all classes
of the population of this capital. No human event, it seems to me, could
inspire a deeper and more widespread sense of sorrow and abhorrence than
such a crime against such a man. President Lincoln’s course of action,
during his four years’ term of office, had been so honorable to himself
and so useful to his country, that he had won even the respect of the
enemies of the noble cause he championed. He lived long enough to refute
the calumnies of his foreign assailants, and to confound the wicked
schemes of domestic traitors. His steady perseverance in the course of
right, his unshaken faith in ultimate success, and the stern loyalty he
exhibited to the Constitution, astonished the European world, and
enforced its admiration of one of the grandest exhibitions of moral
courage and of the conscientious discharge of duty to be found in
ancient or modern history. He has descended to the tomb with an
untarnished fame, and honored alike by the kings and people of Europe,
and the citizens of republican America.
Since my last despatch a deputation has called on me on the part of the
[Page 291] American church and
nationality to express their condolence, and their hopes that slavery,
the cause of all our woes, will be forever eradicated in the United
States. This delegation consisted of three of the highest ecclesiastical
dignitaries of the American church.
Enclosed will be found copies of despatches to the United States consuls
at Bey rout and Smyrna, to which I respectfully call attention, Their
main object is to disabuse the public mind of any erroneous impressions
as to the character and qualifications of President Johnson. I am
pleased to say that the elevated and rare traits of character which
distinguished President Johnson, and his eminent capacity for the high
trusts devolved upon him, are now beginning to be appreciated, and the
European public are conscious that the destinies of the United States
are guided by a firm and vigorous mind, which cannot be intimidated by
any array of difficulties, and which is equal to any emergency. Energy,
force of will, inflexible patriotism, and high moral courage, are the
characteristics now ascribed to President Johnson, and they are
producing a most salutary feeling of respect and regard for the nation
over which he presides. Among Americans unlimited confidence is
entertained in President Johnson, and the assurance is cherished that
his administration will be a fitting sequel to that of his illustrious
predecessor.
I respectfully suggest the propriety of giving publicity, through the
press,to the addresses of felicitation and of sympathy made to me on the
part of theHelenic Greeks of Constantinople. That of sympathy is full of
eloquentfeeling, and does such honor to the generous people for whom it
speaks, that Iventure to express the opinion that it ought be spread
before the American republic.* * * * *
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State.
(For enclosure see Appendix, separate volume.)
Address of felicitation of the Hellenic Greeks
of Constantinople to Hon. E. Joy Morns, United’ States minister,
April 27, on the victories which secured
the overthrow of the pro-slavery rebellion and established the
American Union.
[Translation.]
Constantinople,
April 27, 1865.
Honored representative of the American people and
government under the Presidency of the great citizen
Lincoln:
The descendants of Plato have assembled before the residence of the
respected representative of the glorious American republic to
congratulate him on the victories which have saved his country.
When a hydra-headed rebellion was menacing the existence of the
Union, with painful anxiety we watched the progress of the struggle,
and our prayers were offered up to God for a brave people contending
for national existence against domestic treason and foreign
intrigues.
Fearful as was the conflict, our hopes of ultimate triumph for the
cause of Union and liberty were based upon our confidence in the
intelligence and patriotism of the descendants of Washington, and in
the wisdom and heroic firmness of President Lincoln, who, at this
critical period, directed the destinies of the nation.
We were not mistaken. The cause of humanity triumphed, because the
American people appreciated the great issues at stake, and with a
sacrifice of blood and treasure unparalleled in history, on the
fields of battle saved their menaced institutions of free government
from destruction. Noble example of patriotic devotion, worthy of
honor wherever public virtue is esteemed and love of freedom is
cherished!
The last American struggle must be inscribed with golden letters in
the annals of history, for it was a battle for the dearest rights of
man. All mankind participate in the benefits of [Page 292] the victory achieved, and from all
parts of the world the thanks of sympathizing millions ar tendered
to the American people for the constancy and valor through which the
cause of right was finally crowned with success.
Accept, honored sir, the heartfelt congratulations of the Greeks of
Constantinople, and may God inspire other nations to a similar
exhibition of heroic virtue when their liberty and independence are
assaulted.
Translation, from the original French, of the
reply of Mr. E. Joy Morris, United States minister, to the above
address of felicitation of the Hellenic Greeks of
Constantinople.
With mingled emotions of joy and grief I receive this imposing
manifestation of the Hellenics of Constantinople towards my country
and its illustrious chief, the late President Lincoln. I rejoice
that the character and actions of that great man are so justly
appreciated and so affectionately revered by the intelligent
community you represent. It is another proof of the fidelity of the
Greek people to the glorious traditions of their history, that the
same love of liberty which distinguished them in antiquity yet
exists, and that everywhere, where there is a struggle between the
spirit of liberty and despotism, their suffrages are on the side of
those who are the champions of the natural rights of man.
It is from your ancestors, Hellenic Greeks, that we have inherited
our passion for liberty. The history of Leonidas, with his three
hundred Spartans, perishing willing victims for the safety of their
country at Thermopylæ; that of Miltiades and Themistocles upon the
plain of Marathon and the Gulf of Salamis, repelling the invaders of
Greece, not by the force of numbers, but by the force of an
invincible courage, is taught in our schools as a lesson of sublime
patriotism.
Honor to a people who, after the lapse of twenty-five centuries, yet
preserve in their hearts that sacred fire which rendered their
ancient heroes immortal!
The terrible conflict which is about terminating in the United States
was a struggle between the two opposite principles of liberty and
slavery. To promote the interests of the latter, an attempt was made
to destroy the American Union and to erect on its ruins a government
the corner-stone of which was to be human slavery. By the favor of
God, the man most capable of meeting such a crisis in this emergency
was at the head of the nation. He was a man pure in his morals, of
irreproachable integrity, and one who loved his race and country
with equal affection. In defending the Constitution, he knew that he
was defending an instrument of government in the preservation of
which all mankind had a common interest with us. He comprehended in
all its proportions the great part which God had given him to
perform, and, before Heaven and earth, he proved that he was equal
to the task imposed on him.
At the moment when the shouts of victory were rising from all the
fields of battle, when the flag of liberty was again being raised on
the towers and forts from which it had been sacrilegiously torn down
four years ago, the President fell beneath the arm of an assassin.
Fearful crime to kill such a man! Supreme folly, to choose such a
moment for so infamous a deed. He had accomplished his mission; he
had saved his country and had gained a place in the temple of glory
where he will always be honored as one of the benefactors of
humanity. The assassins of liberty and of its champions merit and
receive in history an eternal execration.
The Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, who had so ably seconded the
efforts of the President, and who, by his great capacity, had so
wisely represented the nation abroad in his diplomatic writings, was
also destined to be a victim. We implore an all-merciful God that
his life may be spared, that he may contribute by his sagacious
intellect to the consolidation of the republic which is now rising
so majestically, unchanged inform and unharmed in strength, from so
many fields of battle.
In the name of the American people, I thank you, Hellenics, for this
enthusiastic demonstration of regard for my country and its savior,
and for your wishes that the republic of the United States of
America may continue to exist in the future, as in the past, the
boulevard of modern liberty and the pioneer of human progress.
Adieu, Hellenics, and may the Greek and American flags which float
united above our heads be a symbol of that fraternity of heart that
exists between two people who have the same sympathies and the same
aspirations.
Mr. Morris to Mr. Johnson
United States Legation,
Constantinople,
May 10, 1865.
Sir: You have no doubt already received
information of the assassination of President Lincoln, and of the
attempt on the life of Secretary Seward, through the telegraph and
the State Department. These dreadful deeds have aroused a feeling of
horror and indignation throughout all Europe, and have betrayed to
the world the fiendish passions engendered by the institution of
slavery. It seems in the order of human events that no great
humanitarian revolution can be accomplished without the sacrifice of
some illustrious victim. Men offer [Page 293] up their lives on the scaffold for the benefit
of their race, and others risk life and fortune, and all that
endears them to existence, to further the cause of human rights.
Great social and political evils cannot be uprooted without
commotions that shake the world by their violence.
Certainly there never occupied the post of a ruler of a country a man
who had less bitterness in his heart towards his fellow-men than
President Lincoln, or one who was more genial in his nature, more
tolerant to his enemies, and more just in his political conduct. The
only offence he committed was that of being loyal to his country
when others were false to her; of saving the republic when menaced
by destruction. God, in his mercy, permitted him to live till he had
baffled the schemes of the conspirators and had established the
Union in its original integrity. His glory the dagger of the
assassin cannot take away. It will live immortal in history and
endear his name to the remotest generations of American freemen.
Had not the plans of the conspirators failed for want of unity of
action, we should have had to mourn the deaths of the Vice-President
and all the members of the cabinet. Their diabolical malignity aimed
at paralyzing the government by a temporary anarchy of rule, thus
hoping to create a widespread disorder and confusion.
President Johnson I believe you know. I knew him from six years since
in Congress, when he was a member, and I know him to be a man of the
utmost firmness of character and force of will, and to be possessed
of a moral courage that renders him equal to any emergency. Amidst
bad examples around him and the temptations incident to southern
life, he has always been distinguished for exemplary habits of life.
If there has been any deviation from these habits it is exceptional
and not characteristic of the man, and no doubt induced by
accidental causes. I have unlimited confidence in him from my own
personal knowledge and observation, and I beg that you will refer to
me when speaking to your colleagues of his capacity and character.
How long I may continue to serve the government under him I know
not, and shall take no steps to interfere with the free exercise of
the judgment of the President in relation to the incumbent of this
post; but as an American citizen I deem it my duty to aid in
dispelling serious misapprehensions as to his character and
capacity. He will be traduced and calumniated, as his predecessor
was, because he is the President of a republic in the overthrow of
which every enemy of human liberty has an interest, and every hour
of whose existence gives the lie to the necessity of despotism and
arbitrary power as instruments of government.
I rejoice to be able to inform you that the Secretary of State and
his son are in a fair way of recovery, and that their assailant has
been arrested with several of his accomplices.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. A. Johnson, Esq., United States Consul, Beyrout.
