RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT A MEETING OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, APRIL
17, 1865.
President Lincoln breathed his last on the morning of Saturday,
April 15th. Congress not being in session, there was a meeting
of Senators and Representatives then in Washington, April
17th, at noon, when Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, President _pro
tempore_ of the Senate, was called to the Chair, and Hon.
Schuyler Colfax was chosen Secretary. Senator Foot, of Vermont,
stated the object of the meeting. On motion of Mr. Sumner, a
Committee of five from each House was ordered to report at
four o’clock, P. M., on the action proper for the meeting.
The Chair appointed Mr. Sumner, Mr. Harris, of New York, Mr.
Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland, Mr. Ramsey, of Minnesota, and Mr.
Conness, of California, on the part of the Senate, also Mr.
Washburne, of Illinois, Mr. Smith, of Kentucky, Mr. Schenck, of
Ohio, Mr. Pike, of Maine, and Mr. Coffroth, of Pennsylvania,
on the part of the House of Representatives. On motion of Mr.
Schenck, the Chairman and Secretary of the meeting were added
to the Committee.
The Committee reported a list of pall-bearers for the funeral,
and also a Congressional Committee of one from each State to
accompany the remains of the late President to Illinois, which
were adopted by the meeting.
They also reported the following resolution, drawn by Mr.
Sumner, which was unanimously agreed to.
The members of the Senate and House of Representatives now assembled in
Washington, humbly confessing their dependence upon Almighty God, who
rules all that is done for human good, make haste, at this informal
meeting, to express the emotions with which they have been filled by
the appalling tragedy that has deprived the nation of its head and
covered the land with mourning, and, in further declaration of their
sentiments, resolve unanimously,--
1. That, in testimony of their veneration and affection for the
illustrious dead, who has been permitted, under Providence, to do so
much for his country and for Liberty, they will unite in the funeral
services, and by an appropriate committee will accompany his remains
to their place of burial in the State from which he was taken for the
national service.
2. That in the life of Abraham Lincoln, who, by the benignant favor
of republican institutions, rose from humble beginnings to the height
of power and fame, they recognize an example of purity, simplicity,
and virtue which should be a lesson to mankind; while in his death
they acknowledge a martyr whose memory will become more precious as
men learn to prize those principles of constitutional order, and those
rights, civil, political, and human, for which he was made a sacrifice.
3. That they invite the President of the United States, by solemn
proclamation, to recommend that the people of the United States should
assemble on a day appointed by him, in public testimony of their grief,
and to dwell on the good that has been done on earth by him we now
mourn.
4. That a copy of these resolutions be communicated to the President
of the United States, and also to the afflicted widow of the late
President, as an expression of sympathy in her great bereavement.
RIGHT AND DUTY OF COLORED FELLOW-CITIZENS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF
GOVERNMENT.