[From the original,
Department of State.]
Washington City, D. C.
April 15, 1865.
Andrew Johnson,
Vice-President of the United
States.
SIR: Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was
shot by an assassin last evening at Ford's Theater, in this city, and died at
the hour of twenty-two minutes after 7 o'clock.
About the same time at which the President was shot an
assassin entered the sick chamber of the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of
State, and stabbed him in several places — in the throat, neck, and face —
severely if not mortally wounding him. Other members of the Secretary's family
were dangerously wounded by the assassin while making his escape. By the death
of President Lincoln the office of President has devolved, under the
Constitution, upon you. The emergency of the Government demands that you should
immediately qualify, according to the requirements of the Constitution, and
enter upon the duties of President of the United States. If you will please make
known your pleasure, such arrangements as you deem proper will be made.
Your obedient
servants,
Hugh Mcculloch,
Secretary of the
Treasury.
W. DENNISON,
Postmaster-General.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
J. P. USHER,
Secretary of the
Interior.
GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of Navy.
JAMES SPEED,
A ttorney-General.
SOURCE: James D. Richardson, Editor, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897: Volume
6: 1861-1869, p. 284-5
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