Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) to Don Pedro Diez Canseco
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01085 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Letter signed Date: 13 May 1863 Pagination: 3 p. 33 x 21 cm Order a Copy
Countersigned by Secretary of State Seward. Letter of condolence to Vice President of Peru Canseco upon the death of the President of Peru Don Miguel San Roman. Canseco succeeded Roman, was shortly overthrown, and eventually regained power through a series of revolutions.
Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. VI 1862 - 1863,
p. 212 - 213.
Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States of America,
To His Excellency, Señor, Don Pedro Diez Canseco,
Second Vice President of the Republic of Peru, charged with Executive Power.-
Sir:
I have been deeply touched by the announcement, contained in the letter which you addressed me under date of the eleventh ultimo, of the decease of the Most Excellent President of the Republic of Peru, the Grand Marshall, Don Miguel San Roman.
Regarding the interests of the Spanish American Republics with no common concern, [2] I have not failed to observe the incidents of the brief administration of the Grand Marshall, Senor San Roman, with admiration and respect, and to anticipate for the Republic a most prosperous and brilliant future in the development of his wise and sagacious policy.
I offer to your Excellency and to the Peruvian Nation my sincere sympathy and condolence in this painful event.
As your Excellency has entered upon the duties of the Presidency, ad interim, under Constitutional Sanction, prescribing to yourself such a course as must invite the approval and cooperation of other Powers, I cannot but believe that the Supreme Ruler of the Universe will guide the counsels of Your Excellency to a happy issue.[3]
And so commending you to His Safe and Holy Keeping,
I remain, your Excellency's good Friend,
Abraham Lincoln
By the President,
William H. Seward
Secretary of State.
Washington, May 13th 1863.
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