Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-18
A Response from Our State Depart
ment.

The following is the letter from Secre-
tary Seward to Mr.. Adams, in response to
the expressions of sympathy and condo
lence called forth in England by the assas-
s~ination of Mr.. Lincoln and the attempted
assassination of the writer of the letter:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, November 4.
SIR: During the seasons of spring and
summer, which have now passed, you
transmitted to this Department the mani
fold expressions which were made by the
government, public authorities, civic, &C.
clesiastical and educational corporations
and associations, as well as by public as
semblies of citizens and by individual cit
liens of the realm, of their feelings of
sympathy and coincidence withthe govern
ment and people of the United States in
the calamity which they have suffered in
the lamented death of the late President
Abraham Lincoln. The same proceedings
spoke in one voice the language of indig-
nant reprobation against the perfidious po-
litical crime Of assassination, by which the
emincntly useful and honorable career of
the late Chief Magistrate was so abruptly
brought to a fearful, yet for him most tri-
umphant end.
Owing TO some peculiar casualties, the
efficiency Of this department was impaired
at the time these dispatches were received.
They obtained only a simple and formal
acknowledgement from the presiding Sec
rotary, and no instructions were given
you concerning the recognition of the
papers alluded to, by this government. 1.
have now to inform you that all of the
communications thus received were, with
out any delay, submitted to the President
of the United States, and were read by him
with emotions of profound sensibility and
gratitude. 1t was his expectation that the
parties from which these generous and
sympathetic utterances had come would
be duly and properly assured of their con-
s~olatory influence, not only upon himself,
but upon the whole American people. 1t
is deeply regretted by this government
that this expectation of the President was
found impracticable.
Our government, simply constructed
with adaptation to the transaction of ne
cessary affairs in the ordinary course of
administration, found itself, in the condi-
ton of this department which then existed
inadequate to the immediate acknowl-
edgment of such various and vast obliga-
tions suddenly and unexpectedly incurred.
The regret, however, is in some measure
mitigated by the fact that these express
sions Of British sympathy and good will
were only a part of similar manifestations
of the same feelings which occurred in
every part OF the world. Nevertheless,
the President earnestly desires that recog-
milton shall eYen now be made of the sym
pathies and condolences which were thus
poured in upon US with a %profusion that
did honor to human nature.
You will attempt to execute this pur-
pose so far as Great Britain is concerned,
BY giving to Earl Russell a copy of this
dispatch, and by pronulgating it in Eng
land, either with or without accompanying
references to the addresses, resolutions, let
tiers and other testimonials, to which 1 have
referred, as shall be found practicable.
IAm, Sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM Il. SEWARD.
CuARTFs FRANCIS ADAMS. ESQ. &c.