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

Inhabitants of Acireale

Acireale, May 10, 1865.

[Translation.]

To the people of the United States of America, from the citizens of Acireale, Sicily:

Your President, Abraham Lincoln, has fallen the victim of an assassin’s arm* may his blood weigh in the balance for the regeneration of your States. We a committee, desire to transmit to your proud and brave people a word that may avail to express the intense grief experienced here on the announcement of the death of so great a man. We assure you that throughout the nation, as if it were one individual, the human heart could not restrain its grief, and staggered beneath the weight of so great a calamity.

Abraham Lincoln was not yours only—he was also ours, because he was a brother whose great mind and fearless conscience guided a people to-union, and courageously uprooted slavery.

Brothers, the trial is not ended; the country calls for fresh martyrs—the last contest—and on the news of your victory we will rejoice with you, as we now grieve with you.

The committee;

• PAOLO GRAEJA DIGA,
• GIUSEPPE GRAZIE,
• AVE MARIANE COSTANZO,
• F. ROSSI MUSMEIZ,
• DR. FRANCESCO LEOTTO,
• DR. GIUSEPPE VIGO LEONARDI,
• TYNAVIO BARBAGALTO,
• GIUSEPPE COSTARELLI,
• SALVATORE CASTARINA.