Inhabitants of Blackburn
Borough of Blackburn, in the county of Lancaster.
At a public meeting of the inhabitants of this borough, held in the Town Hall, on Tuesday, the 2d day of May, 1865, the following address was adopted:
To Mrs. Lincoln, and family; Mr. Seward, and family; and the American people generally: We, the inhabitants of Blackburn, in public meeting assembled, desire to convey the deep sympathy we feel for the unfortunate position in which you were placed, through the assassination of President Lincoln, and the attack on the life of Mr. Seward.
We deeply lament the existence of the civil war which has for four years devastated your country, and stopped your progress in the paths of peace, but in our regret we recognize the future greatness and prosperity of your nation. In all your troubles and afflictions, whether as governors, families or people, we have sympathized.
It has been wisely said, that the exigency of a nation demands an able leader and that God, in his providence, always sends the man for the time.
We believe that Abraham Lincoln was the man raised up for the special work, and lament his horrible death by the hand of the assassin.
We read with pleasure, that in the cabinet council, on the night the assassination took place, the flush of victory in the fall of Richmond, and the surrender of General Lee, did not inspire your lamented President with revengeful feelings, but that his last words were for the reconstruction of the Union on conciliatory principles, in which mercy for his opponents was the leading feature.
To the American people we send loving words, and trust that these great afflictions will work out an abundant harvest of liberty, whereby free institutions may be consolidated, and labor, by whomsoever performed, dignified.
Mayor and Chairman of the Meeting.