Links to the 150th Anniversary

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Letter to Ulysses S. Grant

U.S. Grant was scheduled to go to Ford's Theater on April 14 with Lincoln, but declined to go.

Isaac F. Quinby Rochester NY  to USG April 17
While the whole people are plunged in the deepest grief at the death of our wise and most excellent President there is mingled with it a feeling of thankfulness that you, for whom the same blow was intended, so providentially escaped. If our hopes of the recovery of Secretary Seward are also realized, the Nation will soon arouse itself from its almost stupor of grief, and forebodings of other calamities to follow in the train of this will give place to confidence in the ability of those at the head of our affairs to bring about the peace and National prosperity which seemed so well assured before this sad event. The people hope not less from you in the future than you have accomplished for them in the past, and I speak therefore not in the name of personal friendship alone, but in that the Nation, when I ask you to take all wise precautions to guard against the assassins who may be watching their opportunity to strike at your life. With the most earnest wishes that your life may be spared to your family and to the Nation...

The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant edited by John Y. Simon Vol 14


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