Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part IV, Appendix to Diplomatic Correspondence of 1865, The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Late President of the United States of America and the Attempted Assassination of William H. Seward, Secretary of State, and Frederick W. Seward, Assistant Secretary, On the evening of the 14th of April, 1865: Expressions of Condolence and Sympathy Inspired by These Events

Ministers of the Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, April 18, 1865.

Resolutions passed at a meeting held by the Baptist ministers of Philadelphia.

At a meeting of the Baptist ministers of Philadelphia and vicinity, held this day, in reference to that unparalleled crime, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, on the evening of April 14, 1865, it was unanimously

Resolved, That the tremendous blow which has fallen on the nation, fills our hearts with grief and dismay. A crime, for which our language has no name, and which startles every citizen by its magnitude and atrocity, has been committed, tending to loosen the bonds of society and abolish all individual safety.

Resolved, That while we feel our hearts stricken with profound sorrow, we rest in confident assurance that God doeth all things well, and will still have our beloved country in His holy keeping, and so order the issue of this appalling calamity, that unborn generations will see His goodness even in the terrible event, which He for wise but inscrutable purposes has suffered to befall our nation.

Resolved, That we recognise in this atrocious deed the ripened fruit of the vile spirit of the rebellion, and hereby express our hope that the government will see to it, that the full measure of a righteous retribution be meted out to the instigators and accomplices of this deed of blood.

Resolved, That we tender to the family of our late President our profound sympathy in their deep affliction, prayerfully commending them to the God of grace and all comfort.

Resolved, That we tender our sympathies to William H. Seward, Secretary of State, whose life has been so marvellously preserved from the strokes of the assassin, and earnestly pray that he may be fully restored to his country, which he has served with such pre-eminent ability.

Resolved, That we will sustain with our utmost influence and prayers our new President, Andrew Johnson, so unexpectedly called to discharge the duties of his high office in the solemn crisis which is now upon us.

• Rev. S. J. ORESWELL, D. D., Chairman.
• Rev. J. NEWTON BROWN, D. D.,
• Rev. HOWARD MALCOLM, D. D.,
• Rev. JOSEPH H. KENNARD, D. D.,
• Rev. JOHN H. CASTLE,
• Rev. J. E. CHESHIRE,
  Committee on Resolutions.
• Rev. JAMES COOPER, Secretary.