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

National Union League of the 15th Ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, April 15, 1865

At a meeting of Council No. 1, National Union League Association, of the 15th ward of the city of Philadelphia, held April 15, 1865, the following preamble and resolutions were offered by J. Emerson Kent, M. D., seconded by General William F. Small, and unanimously adopted:

Whereas the traitorous assassination of the President of the United States, and of the Secretary of State, has overwhelmed the nation with consternation, and suddenly transformed its rejoicings over its successes into the deepest mourning and lamentation.

And whereas the assassination of his Excellency Abraham Lincoln, and of the Secretary of State, was timed for the evening of the day upon which the nation’s flag was re-raised upon Fort Sumter, and whereas this act of assassination is the crowning infamy of the rebellion: Therefore,

Resolved, That while we unite our lamentations with the mourning wail of the nation, we do at the same time pledge ourselves anew to the service and support of the government whose chief has thus in a moment been stricken down by the assassin.

Resolved, That in view of the murderous event which has deprived the nation of its Executive, we declare it to be our firm conviction that the hour for mercy to the rebels has passed away forever.

Resolved, That from this day the iron hand of relentless doom should take hold of treason, whether armed in the field or unarmed in our midst, and that a terrible retribution should be visited thereon in vindication of the dignity, the power, and the justice of the government.

Resolved, That further mercy towards the rebels is an injustice to the nation, a mockery of the heroes who have laid down their lives in their country’s defence, and an act of gross inhumanity towards the many thousands of our sons and brothers who are still starving in rebel prisons, the victims of the relentless cruelty of the authors of the rebellion, who are justly chargeable with the assassination of our martyred and nationally mourned President.

Resolved, That we deem the assassination of Abraham Lincoln the legitimate fruit of the secession sympathies of disloyal men in our midst, and we believe “the time has come” when all such base ingrates should be held to a strict accountability for their sentiments.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to his Excellency President Johnson, to the Secretaries of the several executive departments; and

Resolved, That we will wear an appropriate badge of mourning for such length of time as the authorities may direct.

• HENRY L. SMITH, President.
• ISAAC A. PEARSON, Vice-President.

Attest:

J. EMERSON KENT, M. D.,
Recording Secretary, 2100 Green street.

Hon. William Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State.