Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-01
Visit of the TTTisian Embassy 40 the
President

President.
At noon on Monday, in accordance with the pre-
liminary arrangements, the Tunisian Ambassador
and suite escorted to the Executive mansion by
the Secretary of State, accompanied by DIR. Perry,
United States Consul ut Tunis and MIR. Cox. of the
State Department large number OF persons had
gathered at the outer door to witness their entrance
They were at once conducted to what is known as
the blue room, owing to the furniture being of that
color The embassy in full dress, ard displayed
on their breasts marks or badges of honor, while our
Consul wore the uniform prescribed for that class Of
officers: Standing near one of the large mirrors was
CheYaer Antoine Cont, the Secretary and intCrpre-
ter, and next to him Consul Perry. On the sofa near
the latter were seated General Otman HaShcm, the
Ambassador, and Secretary Seward. while Colonel
RanllcrO GaltO, Ald-de-camp to General HaShem,
stood on the right of the interesting group. The f
teen or more Spectators present, including several
Iadles, occupied seats ON the opposite side OF the
room .
While waiting for the arrival Of the President de-
Sultory conversation carried on by the disin-
suiShed parties The question havn. been asked
how this room cOrrCSpOnded with the palace at Tuns
the Iunisan Secretary replied in French, through
Consul Perry that it was not the which did the
honor but the person concemed-that was the great
matter Of fimportancc.
tereSted IN the Post Office operations which brought
out clearly the idea of thinking bayonc.s in the
soldiers: IN many Of the things they had seen, it
seemcd to them something was wanting but nOtwith-
standing this, they were very much pleased They
had expressed their asonishment that the capital of
the country was OF inferior size to other cities Their
impression had been that it necessarily concentrated
the elegance and chness of the entire country but
of this they undeceiycd when they were remind
O the TACT tna tins Is not commercial city, but the
political metropolis.
Secretary Seward remarked that Washington is
a large now rs any other city of the country was
at the time the seat of the National Government
was selected and he some interesting facts con-
nected with the erection of the Presidents house.
Consul Perry stated there four principal pal
aces in Tunis, adding there are small palaces in all
important places where the Governors reside and at
these the Bey is entertained when he pays his visits
Secretary Seward, in the course of the conversation
mentioned that the President always resides at the
Government located. Colonel Perry said the
visitors had been much interested in the machinery
they had seen. and especially with the mechanical
cOntrivanceS by which one could do much work as
one hundred, seven hundred. or even one thousand
men.
Consul Perry by request of the Tunisian Secretary
inquired whether everything in the room was Of
American manufacture to which Secretary Seward
replied that he believed 50, with the exception, per
haps. of the carpet and some of the ornaments Con-
sui Perry, smiling, said the question fault of
his own 1t was supeTlnduced by the fact that his
American PRIDE always stood out so prominently.
This led the T'misian Secretary TO PROFOUND the in
quiTy. lie further remarked, in response to Mr..
Seward that there was no Systematic exploration of
Carthage new carried on. The Arabs wandered over
the scene, and would pci; up small stones and take
The desuitory conversation was here terminated
by the entrance of President johnson. All III the
room Immediately to their feet. The President
advanced to the group and bowed, which Salutation
was in like manner returned, when his EXcellCncy,
General Otman IiaShem read from paper, written
in Arabic, an address of which the following is
translation.
EcceUncy Ills Iiighness the Bey of Tunis, my
august Sovereign, presents to your EXcelcncy his
warmest greetings and the respectful homage which
is due to your exalted position. lie has sent to
appear in your presence for the purpose of express
ing to your Exceency and TO your people the great
pleasure which he experienced on the cessation Of
your calamtouS war, and on the restoration of peace
and tranquility in your great country. Ny august
Sovereign has also instructed to present to your
EXcelency expressions of coincidence for the tragic
end of the ilustriGus man, Abraham Lincoln whose
Inuth national
afflicted his HighnCsS. We ardcntly hope and pray
that with this event mag end the mslortunes of the
In view of the friendship which unites the two
countries. his Highness the Bey sends to- your kX-
ceency hls portrait as a go"eeRir OF his friendship,
tive people his IlighneSs has lively interest and
warm desire. feel myself fattered and exceeding
ly fortunate that the choice of his lighness has a
len upon one to accomplish this important and hon
Orable mission whose success should regard as one
of the most noble results of my life take pleasure
in stating this occasion, in the presence Of your
EXcellency, that since my arrival in this country |
have everywhere received the most cordial and flat
terng greetings and the liyelieSt expressions of sym
pathy for my country for WHICH am duly grateful.
To which the President replied
GcRcroi This Inauguration of national courtesies
between the old continent of Africa and the new
continent of America seems to to be suggestive,
and we trust that 1t is auspciOus. | am glad that
Iunls has sent us an envoy and am especially pleased
to be that minister. You are flyoraby known to US
as u soldier and as scholar, and above Gll, as a
Gt
human slavery You will be able to report to his
lighness, the Bey that the American nation are try
ing humaniary experiment. 1t is nothing less than
this-whether people can save liberty, and at the
same time govern themselves? The events. pleasing
and painful TO which you have referred in your
speech and to which your Government has referred so
kindly in your letters of coincidence, incidents
of this great trial
We have accepted them as such, and while we
thank God that he has saved us from the calamitos
which were threatened to Us by great crimes,
of the earth to interpret those crimes and their con-
sequences so justly. We humbly trust that cur sue
viii be bcnetcent, not only at home but through
out the world because it will give that al
Providence TO produce benefcent effects yet that
1enevolence and peace are even better agencies to
promote the progress of civilization. The pOrtraiure
of the Bey which he has sent us, besides being inte-
resting to the likeness of Il national friend is
valuable to wonder of art. 1t is received
with satisfaction. and Congress will be appriSed of
the gift. The Executive Government will endeayor
to make your SOiOurn agreeable, and ii will at all
times be pleased TO know the wishes of your Govern
ment.
The letter sent by the Bey Of Tuns was then pre-
sented, and the distinguished visitors were Severay
introduced to the President, who said that while
here, in their individual capacity every facility
pleasant and interesting. This was outside of the
usual cOurtesies and he expressed the hope that all
the relations between the United States and the Bar
barry States may be conducted in an am:cahIc and
satisfactory manner. These remarks were interpreted
in French by Consul Perry
Secretary Seward then handed copy of the Pres
ident's speech to General Hashem.
The audience here terminated, the TunisianS and
the President and the Secretary of State shaking
hands in parting.
Everybody present seemed much interested and
gratited with the interview.
The Tunis Embassy will tomorrow visit the forti-
fcatlons and salute will be fired in their honor
At night they will receive the officers of the army
and navy at their hotel