The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-31
The TuMIsIAN EMBASSY.
Interesting Interview Between Presi-
dent johnson and secretary seward
and the Distinguished Visitors.
Address Of General Hashem to the
President.
THE REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT.
DC &c. &c.


At noon day, In accordance with the preliminary
arrangements, the Tunisian ambassadors and suite
escorted to the Executive Mansion by the Secretary Of
State accompanied by Mr. Perry, United States Consul a
Tunis, and Mr.. Cox, Of the State Department
large number Of persons had gathered at tho
door to witness the entrance They at once con
Quoted into the Blue Room. The Ambassadors were in
full Dress and displayed on their breasts marks
and badges OF honor, while our Consul wore the
consular uniform. Standing Of the large
mirrors was Chevalier Antoine Cont, the sscrs-
tary and interpreter, and next to him Consul Perry.
On the sofa. the latter. we're seated General
Gilman Hashe the ambassador and Secretary Seward,
while Colonel RamIro Cato aide de camp TO General
Hashem stood on right Of the group The fifteen
more spectators present. including several ladies'
pied seats on the opposite side.
While waiting for the President dcsutory
ton was carried on by the distinguished parties
The question having been asked. how this room
responded with the palace at Tunis, the Tunisan
tary replied in French, through Consul Perry that it
the that did the honor but the person
cerned that the great matter of consequence"
Consul Perry said that the visitors much inter
csted In the Post Office operations which brought out
clearly the idea Of thinking bayonets in the great
number Of soldiers letters distributed. In many of the
things they had seen seemed to them that something
wanting; but Notwithstanding this they very
much pleased They had expressed their surprise that
the capital Of the country inferior in size TO other
cities Their impression had been that it necessarily
concentrated the elegance and richness OF the entire
country. But Of this they undeceived when
they reminded Of the fact that this is not
mercal city, but the political metropolis Secretary
Seward remarked that Washington ia large
now as any other city Of the country was
at the time the national seat Of government
selected and gave some interesting facts connected
with the erection of the Presidents house. Consul
Perry stated there four principal palaces Tuns
adding that there small palaces in all important
places where governors reside and at these the Bey is
entertained when he pays his visits Secretary Seward
in the OF the conversation mentioned tina. the
President always resides at the capital and that hero
all the departments OF the government located
Consul Perry said the visitors had been very much in
teresed in the machinery they had seen and especially
in the mechanical contrivances by which could
do as much a hundred or a thousand men Con-
sui Perry by request Of the Tunsian secretary inquired
whether every thing In the room Of American manu-
facture which Secretary Seward replied he believed
So with the exception perhaps OF the carpet and
some Of the ornaments. Consul Perry, sming.
said the question was fault OF his own,
as superlnduced by the fact that his American
Tunsan secretary make the inquiry. He further
marked response Mr. Seward, that there sys
tematic exploration Of Carthage now carried on The
Arabs wandered the and would pick up small
stones and take them away.
The esuory conversation here interrupted by the
entrance Of President johnson. All in the room imme
diately to their feet The President advanced IN
the group and bowed which salutaon in like man
ner returned when his Excelcncy General Otman Hash
read from paper, written in Arabic an address, OF
which the following Is a translation tEr
ExcEILEScY: His Highness the Bey OF Tunis my
gust sovereign presents TO your Exccency mis- warmest
greetings and the respectful homage which s due to
presence for the purpose Of expressing TO your Excel
ency and TO your people the great pleasure which he ex
erienced ON the cessation Of your war ana ON
Ny august sovereign has also instructed TO
present to your E1celency expressions OF con-
man, Abraham Lincoln, whose death justly ex-
cited national grief and exceedingly affected his
event may end the misfortunes Of the United Satcs
In Wow OF the friendship which unites the two countries
portrait as ,osre.r q his friendship for the swgmsn
taton Of which, between our respective people his High
ness has lively interest and warm desire lee nv
Of his Highness has fallen upon me TO accomplish this
important and honorable mission whose success should
regard OF the nobles results OF my life. take
pleasure In stating this occasion, In the presence OF
your Exceency that since my arrival in this country
ing greetings and the lvelies expressions or sympathy
| for my country, for which am duly grateful TgT
The President replied: n arMeU .8Ise
GESgRAL:-This inauguration Of national courtcses b.
tween the old continent Of Africa and the new continent
OF America TO 70 be suggestive, and We trust
that suspicious am glad that Tuns has seat ms
an envoy and am especially pleased that you
chosen his Hghness the Bey 10 be that minister You
are fayoaby known TO US as soldier aud as scnol.s
Of slavery. You viii be able to report 10 his High
| ness the Bcy that the American. nation ars
uanttur tan pisU.A 10 ~ htUu
| less than this: Whether a people can save
liberty and the time govern itself.
The events pleasing aud painful TO which you have
iened your speech. and to which your governments
has referred kindly in your letters Of credence wcro
and while we thank God that He has saved US
from the calamtcs which threatened US ~ great
crimes thank Him for having inclined the nations OF
the earth interpret these crimes and their consc-
quences 20 Justly We humbly trust that success
viii be bnecent, not only at home but throughout the
war and conquest are directed by Providence to
| produce benehcent effects yet that bencvolencs
rress Of cviIzation The PORTRAIT Of the Bey which he
has ds besides being interesting 70 ms as the like
ART Il Is received with satisfaction, and Congress will
apprsed Of the gift The Executive government will
endesvor 10 make your soouin agreeable rs wl At all
times be pleased 10 know the wishes Of your govern
ment
The letter sent by the Bey Of Tunis was then pre-
scnted and the distinguished visitors sevcrally in
roduced the President who said that while here In
their individual capacity, every facility voud be pro-
sented them to make their sojourn pleasant and in
cretng This outside OF the usual cenreses and hs
expressed the hope that all the relations between
United states and the Barbary States may be conducted
in cable and satisfactory These remarks
interpreted in French by Consul Perry and secre-
| ,ary Seward then handed copy u the Presidents
| speech 10 General Hashcm. The audience hero ermi-
mated the Tunissns and the Pesden, Secretary Of
state shaking hands at parting. Everybody present.
seemed much interested and gasinex with the inter.
| view
The Tunis embassy will tomorrow visa the fora' n
tons aud salute will he fred their sonor At each Of
the forihcations visited Al night they will receive the
officers Of the army and navy at ibsir hotel.