French West Indian Colonists
An address from French West Indian colonists in Paris to citizen John Bigelow, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at Paris.
[Translation.]
Citizen: Only a few days ago the glorious news of the final triumph of emancipation reached us, and we, children of the Franco-American colonies, devoted to your cause, were in the midst of our rejoicing when the terrible news of President Lincoln’s death came to trouble our mirth.
Abraham Lincoln, the illustrious President of the great republic, the benefactor of humanity, is no more. He has fallen a victim of his devotion to liberty, pierced by a slaveholder’s dagger.
If we rejoice with you in your victories, we must also mourn with you the immense loss to the republic and to humanity. Rut we fear not for the cause of the Union and the universal abolition of slavery. An odious crime has been committed in vain; it has failed in its aim. Abraham Lincoln died a martyr to liberty, with a halo of glory purer than any that ever crowned a statesman, and his works shall live after him.
The providential mission of the United States fortunately does not depend upon the life of a single man, and the liberty begun by Abraham Lincoln, we are sure, will produce worthy successors of him who was brave in war, magnanimous in victory, and who will ever live to be the first in the hearts of the whole world.
We have the honor to be your very humble and devoted servants,
- A. MICHELY, Guyana.
- E. GUERIN, Guadeloupe.
- E. LACOUNIE, Martinique.
And 17 others, from Guyana and the French Antilles.