The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-10-31

At noon to-day, in accordance With prekn.
mary arrangements, the Tunisian Emba1nt.
doris and suite were escorted to the Execu.
tive Mansion by the Secretary OF State, &C.
companied by Mr.. Perry, q. s. Consul at Tu-
mis-, and Mr.. Cox, of the State Department.
\ large number Of persons had gathered at
the outer door to witness the, entrance. They
we're at onee cnnducted into tho blue room.
The ambassadors were in full dress, and dis
played on their breasts marks and badges Of
honor, while our Consul wore the consular
uniform. Standing near one of the large mir
rors was Chipuler Antoine Cont, the Secre-
tary and interpreter: next to him Consul Per-
ry; on the sofa, near the latter, were seated
Gen. Almas Hospeu, the Ambassador, and
Secretary Seward With Col Paro Gaita. Gen.
Haspen stood on the right Of the group, the
fifteen or more spectators occupied seats on
the opposite side. While waiting on the
President q desultory conversation was car
ried on by the distinguished parties.
On the entrance of the President the fol-
lowing paper was read:
YorR ExcErIExcY: His Highness. the Bey
of Tunis my august sovereign, presents your
excellency his most kind greetings and the
respectful homage which is due to your ex-
alted position. He has sent me to appear in
your presence for the purpose Of expressing
to your exceleney and to your people the
great pleasure which he experienced on the
cessation Of your caiAmitous war, and on the
restoration of peace and tranquility in your
great country.
Ny august sovereign has also instructed me
to present to your excellency expressions of
coincidence for the tragic end of the iliustrious
man, Abraham Lincoln, whose death justly
excited national regret. and exceedingly al
I'D h, h,ul 4
pray that with this event may end the m;sfor-
tunes of the United States
In view Of the friendship which unites the
two countries, his highness the Bey sends
your excellency his portrait as an evidence OF
this friendship, for the augmentation OF which
between our respective people his highness
has lively interest and warm desire.
feel myself 6attered and exceedingly fortunate
that the choice Of his highness has fallen on
| me to accomplish this important and honora-
bic mission whose success | should regard a.
one OF the noblest results Of my life. take
pleasure IN stating on this occasion. in pres
| ence OF your excellency. that since nv arrival
| in this country | have everywhere received
most cordial and naftering greetings and the
hveliest expressions of sompathy for my com
try, for which | am duly gratified.
The President replied as follows:
| GENERAL: This Inauguration of national
courtesies between the old continent Of At
r1ca and the new continent Of America seems
TO us to be suggestive, and we trus; that il is
auspIeions. / am glad that Tunis has sent
such an envoy, and am especially pleased
that you have been chosen by bis highness
the Bey, to be that minister You are favor.
ably known to us as soldier. as a scholar
and above all, are a statesman devoted to the
extrieation Of slavery. You will be able ts
| report TO his highness the Bey. that we arr
| trying humane experiment Ii Is nothing
less than thus: whether a people can save
liberty and at the same time govern itself
The events pleasing and painful which yot
have referred 20 in your speech, and to which
your government has referred SO kindly il
your letters of credence were incidents o
this great trial. We have gone through then
as such. and while we thank God that he has
saved us from the calamitics which were
threatened US by great crimes, We thank Hin
for having inclined the nations of the earth
TO interpret these crimes and these conse.
/ quences SO Justiy.
We humbly trust that our success viii bt
benehcent not only at home but throughoui
the world. because it will give assurance that
although war and conquest was SO decided
| by providence. as TO produce benefcent ef.
/
even better agencies to promote the progress
of civilization. The portrait of the Bey
which will be very interesting to us as thu
| likeness of a national friend as valuable tc
us as o work Of art, ii is received with salts
faction. and Congress will be apprisel O
the gift. The Executive Government viii
endeavor to make your soiourn agreeable, q.
ii viii at all times be pleased to know the
wishes OF your government.
| The letter sent by the Bey of Tunis via.
then presented and the distinguished visitor,
were severally introduced to the President
who said that while here in their individ
ual capacity every facility would be
presented TO them to make their solonrr
pleasant and interesting. This was outside
the usual courtesies, and he expressed the
hope that the relations between the United
States and the Barbary States may be con
Quoted in an agreeable and satisfactory man
manner.
These remarks were interpreted in French
by Consul Perry, and Secretary Seward ther
handed a copy of the Presidents speech te
Gen. Haspen. The audience here termina
ted, the Tunsians and President and Secreta-
ry of State shaking hands atparting. Every
body present seemed much interested anc
gratifed with the interview.