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

Sissa Mechanics’ Society

[Translation.]

Sissa, (near Parma,) May 8, 1865.

Mr. President: The sad news that came with lightning speed from the New World, announcing the vile assassination of the illustrious Abraham Lincoln by the treacherous hand of a hired murderer, has spread over the whole earth, and brought sorrow to the hearts of all lovers of liberty. Yes, the champion of true liberty, the glory of a free people, is no more: but his name and: memory will shed a new refulgent light over the benighted world, and may arouse the spirit of progress in the darkness of Europe. Yes, the father of humanity is fallen; but the joyous smile of the emancipated slave, now a man and brother, will resurrect his spirit in a better world. The members of this society mourn the death of this worthy successor of Washington, and heartily execrate the perpetrators of the crime that took him from this world.

To express their sorrow in a proper manner the members of the Mechanics’ Society of Sissa have unanimously resolved to drape their banner in black for six months, as a sign of mourning for the loss of a man so dear to the republicans of the United States of America.

Accept our sympathy and friendship as brothers; for we are hoping the day is not far distant when we will be free, and can call you really brothers of one family—a smiling, free, and happy people.

Receive our fraternal greeting.

GIACOMO SGORBATI,

President.

His Excellency Andrew Johnson,
President of the “United States of America.