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 Brockville, Canada West

Brockville, Canada West, undated

At a public meeting on Tuesday evening, called by the mayor, at the request of a large number of the citizens of this town, for the purpose of expressing their feelings of condolence in regard to the assassination of the late President of the United States, the mayor was called to the chair, and Mr. D. Wylie appointed secretary.

The Rev. Mr. Poole opened the meeting with prayer; after which the following resolutions were passed:

Moved by the Rev. J. V. Smith, A. M., seconded by D. Wylie, esq., and Resolved, That we, the inhabitants of Brockville, in public meeting regularly assembled, hereby express unfeigned sorrow at the death, by assassination, of Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States, and our deep abhorrence of the crime committed, a crime at which humanity shudders. We also offer our sympathy with the citizens of that nation in the great loss which they have thereby sustained; and we further express our sincere condolence with the sorrowing widow and family, in the heart-rending bereavement, with which, in the inscrutable providence of God, they have been afflicted.

Moved by J. McMullen, esq., seconded by the Rev. Mr. Poole—

That it being highly desirable that the citizens of Brockville should express by some public act, or acts, their profound sympathy with the people of the United States, in the great affliction which the allwise providence of God has permitted them to be subjected to, be it, therefore,

Resolved by this meeting, That all places of business in the town of Brock-ville shall be closed on tomorrow (Wednesday) from 12 to 2 o’clock, that being the period for the late lamented President Lincoln’s public funeral services, that the bells of the town be tolled, all flags raised at half-mast, and every other mark of sympathy and respect shown as may be practicable.

Moved by Lieutenant Colonel Edmonston, seconded by J. McMullen, esq., and Resolved, That this meeting cannot permit itself to separate without expressing a hope that the melancholy death of the late President will not complicate the public affairs of the United States, that peace will soon happily be restored, and that the good understanding which now subsists between the governments of the United States and of Great Britain will remain undisturbed for all time to come.

Moved by R. W. Kelly, esq., seconded by Wellington Landon, esq., and Resolved, That the chairman of this meeting forward a copy of the above resolutions to the Secretary of State, at Washington; and also give direction that they be published in each of the local journals of Brockville.

Moved by Rev. Mr. Poole, seconded by W. H. Wilson, esq., and Resolved, That the chairman do now leave the chair, and that Dr. Edmondston do take the same.

A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman and secretary, when the meeting broke up.

• A. B. DANA,
  Mayor, Chairman.
• D. WYLIE,
  Secretary.

Dated at Brockville, Canada West, this 19th day of April, 1865.