Andrew Johnson, the Vice-President, has assumed the functions of President, and has authorized you to act as Secretary of State. The undersigned, in expressing his sincere regret for the unfortunate events that have taken place, and which he has hastened to communicate to his government, makes himself the interpreter of his countrymen, and assures you that the sad event will be deplored in the United States of Colombia, as well on account of the fraternal interest they feel for this nation, as their sympathy in the humane policy of the lamented President, which is cherished in our country, and inspires our institutions, based on justice and liberty. The undersigned is pleased to learn from the daily papers that the honorable Mr. Seward and his son are recovering from the atrocious attempt to take their lives, and that their wounds will have no serious consequences. The antecedents of the eminent citizen who is called to preside as Chief Magistrate of this country are the best guarantee the undersigned can offer his government that the new administration will continue its frank, cordial, and friendly policy towards the United States of Colombia. The undersigned congratulates you on your appointment as Acting Secretary of State, and embraces the occasion to repeat the assurances of his most distinguished consideration. Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. E. SALGAR. Mr. Burton to Mr. Seward. No. 181.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR Intelligence of the assassination of President LINCOLN, and the attempt to murder the Secretary of State, reached this city on the 23d of May last. The news created a general and profound sensation of horror and indignation. His Excellency President Murillo sent immediately to his secretary of foreign relations to express the deep grief experienced by the Colombian government and people at this frightful and melancholy event, requesting me to convey the same to the President of the United States, with his sincere sympathy and condolence. The spontaneous manifestations of sympathy offered by the diplomatic and consular bodies in this capital, and by the citizens, were of the most touching nature. I set apart the 21st of June as a day of mourning for our great misfortune, which was responded to in an impressive manner, as will be learned from the accompanying papers. On consulting the foreign secretary as to the most appropriate day for this purpose, wishing to avoid any conflict with the numerous it days dedicated to religious ceremonies, his Excellency the President tendered me a public audience to announce the death of our lamented President, which I accepted out of respect to his earnest desire to pay the most expressive honors to our late Chief Magistrate. After making the announcement I repaired to the office for foreign affairs, and announced to the secretary the attempt on Mr. Secretary Seward and his son. He expressed his deep sympathy for them in their misfortune and sufferings, and the consequent misfortune to my country, and requested me to make the same known to them, with his sincere hope that they would be restored to health, and to the great cause of which he regarded Secretary Seward as the worthy representative. In consequence of our affliction I did not intend to open the legation to the usual ceremonial rejoicings on our national anniversary. I learned, however, on the evening of the 3d of July, that the Colombian government, foreign representatives and citizens, had arranged to pay their respects in a solemn manner, and I received them accordingly. The occasion was one of melancholy satisfaction. At six o'clock p. m. the whole military of the city passed in mourning in front of the legation, and through the evening the presidential bands, numbering sixty musicians, saluted it with solemn dirges. In common with our afflicted people I mourn our sad bereavement. In common with them I render devout thanks to God for the delivery of the Secretary of State, his sons, and faithful attendants. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: As directed by your No. 126, I, on yesterday, in public audience, delivered to his Excellency the Citizen President of Colombia the message of gratitude for the condolence and sympathy tendered by the Colombian government and people on the bereavement sustained by the death of the lamented ABRAHAM LINCOLN, late President of the United States, with which I had been intrusted. As other bodies in the republic had followed the example of the constituent convention of Bolivar, I ventured to extend the message to the whole country. His excellency the secretary of foreign relations communicated it in a note to each body. The annexed papers will explain how I have attempted to fulfil your instructions. I was received on the occasion by the military in full dress, and by bands. of music. The attendance at the audience, as well as the whole proceedings, was highly flattering. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. ALLAN A. BURTON. NOVEMBER 1, 1865.-P. S. Having previously announced the attempt on the lives of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of State, I had the pleasure, by a note to the Foreign Office, to announce their recovery. My correspondence being suspended with that department a day or so after, on account of my health, as explained in my No. 195, I have, consequently, not received the secretary's acknowledgment. These papers will be sent to the department hereafter. ALLAN A. BURTON. [Translation.] UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA-SOVEREIGN STATE OF CUNDINAMARCA-EXECUTIVE POWER. The President of the State to the Hon. Allan A. Burton, minister resident of the BOGOTA, June 20, 1865. The undersigned hastens to answer the note which the honorable Mr. Minister of the United States of America has done him the honor to address him, under date of yesterday, announcing officially the death of the never-to-beenough-lamented Mr. LINCOLN, late President of that republic. The honorable Mr. Minister knows the high considerations which the undersigned entertains for the United States of America and its government, and the veneration he has always attached to the name and merits of the deceased, Mr. LINCOLN, and it is therefore useless to express to the minister the sincere grief and deep pain with which he has received this unhappy intelligence; and it is certain that the State of Cundinamarca will be sadly impressed by this melancholy event, and in evidence of which the State flag will be displayed in mourning from the government house on to-morrow. The undersigned gives to the honorable Mr. Burton, individually, the most feeling and cordial condolence, and has the honor to improve this opportunity to reiterate to him the expression of his high esteem and distinguished consid eration. 會 RAFAEL MENDOZA. HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S LEGATION, Bogota, June 20, 1865. SIR: I have this moment had the honor to receive your excellency's note of this day's date, by which you announce to me the melancholy intelligence of the death of the President of the United States of America, in the city of Washington, on the morning of the 15th of April last. In stating your belief that this sad announcement would awaken within me feelings of sincere sympathy, your excellency has truly interpreted my sentiments. No one, indeed, could have heard with more profound grief, with greater horror and indignation than I, the intelligence of the fearful calamity by which the United States has been deprived of its illustrious Chief Magistrate. It is, therefore, with a mournful satisfaction that I avail myself of the opportunity thus afforded me to give utterance to these feelings, and at the same time to convey to your excellency the expression of my heartfelt condolence. I need not add that, in compliance with your request, and as a tribute of respect to the memory of the illustrious dead, I shall cause the British flag to be displayed to-morrow from this legation. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your excellency's most obedient, humble servant, His Excellency Mr. ALLAN A. BURTON, CHARLES O'LEARY. Minister Resident of the United States of America, &c., &c. Minister of France to Mr. Burton. [Translation.] BOGOTA, June 20, 1865. The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor, has received the note of to-day by which his excellency Mr. Allan A. Burton, minister of the United States of America, has made known to him the death of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the Union. The undersigned has learned with feelings of the most profound regret of this sorrowful event, which happened under circumstances rendering it, if possible, still more afflicting. The minister of the Emperor loses no time in praying his excellency Mr. Allan A. Burton, minister of the United States of America, to freely accept the sincere expression of the pain the legation of his Majesty the Emperor has experienced, and to assure him that he will perform the duty of uniting with the representatives of the United States of America in hoisting the flag of the empire at half-mast through to-morrow. The undersigned takes this sad occasion to renew to his excellency the assurances of his high consideration and esteem. BARON GOURY DU ROSLAN. His Excellency Mr. ALLAN A. BURTON, Minister of the United States of America, &c., &c. [Translation.] CONSULATE OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE NETHERLANDS Bogota, June 21, 1865. SIR: I have had the honor to receive your excellency's note under date of yesterday, informing me of the death of his Excellency President ABRAHAM LINCOLN, and desiring me to display on this day the flag of my country as a mark of honor to the illustrious dead.. Your excellency well knows how strong the mutual and friendly feeling is which exists between our native countries, and I believe I can assure your excellency that the death of his Excellency President ABRAHAM LINCOLN has awakened the deepest sympathy in the hearts of all Netherlanders. According to your excellency's request the flag of my country is displayed. Hoping that the never-to-be-sufficiently-lamented death of the chief of your excellency's government may be no obstacle to the speedy restoration of the United States to their former prosperity, I desire your excellency to accept the sentiments of my perfect esteem and consideration. His Excellency Mr. ALLAN A. BURTON, VAN ARCKEN. Minister Resident of the United States of North America. [Translation.] BOGOTA, June 20, 1865. It has been with the deepest pain that the undersigned has received the official note addressed him to-day by the honorable Allan A. Burton, minister resident of the United States of America, announcing the death of the enlightened citizen ABRAHAM LINCOLN, late President of the Union, and signifying the hope that the flag of Venezuela may be raised at half-mast on to-morrow on this consulate, as a sign of grief for that calamity, and in honor to the memory of the deceased. For days past the undersigned has lamented, as a great misfortune to republican America, the tragic and unexpected death of President LINCOLN; |