Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: The Africa came so late that I had only time, before the then next mail day, to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 102, in a paper which was devoted to subjects different from those you have discussed.
I am gratified with the information that, in your opinion, the mind of the government, as well as that of the British nation, is now somewhat disabused of the very unjust idea that this government entertains sentiments of hostility towards them.
I transmit herewith a copy of an unofficial letter I have sent to Lord Lyons, together with a copy of a letter that, amid the intensest heat of the late excitement, I had occasion to address to his excellency the governor of the State of Maine. This correspondence may perhaps be properly used for the purpose of more effectually removing impressions so unjust to us and dangerous to the peace of the two nations.
Some correspondents and many journals write to us that the Parliament and the Chambers are to be pressed into discussions designed to induce Great Britain and France to recognize the insurgents and intervene to raise our blockade. I have already made some suggestions to you with a view to counteract those dangerous designs. I am not aware that I can now profitably do more in that direction.
I turn, therefore, to another subject. Let us suppose that the European states had been content to leave the insurrection unnoticed until now. Does any one believe that in that case a single European vessel engaged in lawful trade would have ever been molested by the insurgents, who have not been able to possess, occupy, and keep open, one solitary port on the whole coast of this continent.
[Page 21]Does any one believe that, in the case supposed, a single piratical insurgent vessel would have been found demanding entrance into an European port with trophies, spoils, or captives taken from American merchantmen sunk or burned in European waters? Does not every one see that, in that case, the unseemly scenes recently enacted in the ports of Cadiz and Southampton could never have occurred? Toward what end have these and all other such unhappy occurrences led but the prolongation of a strife now only less injurious to European interests than to our own, while it is demoralizing political society in all nations ?
Now, when passion and alarm are subsiding in Europe, may there not be found in the government and in the Parliament of Great Britain statesmen who will see that the true path to peace is in retracing the steps which only lead through disastrous conflict upon the soil of this continent between this truly popular and long-established government and those who would subject it all to the power of slavery rather than conform their political institutions to the spirit of the age ?
You are not expected to present these suggestions formally to the British government, but, being just in themselves, you will use them, in your discretion, to promote the great interests of both countries.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
P. S.—I also enclose to you herewith a printed copy of the proceedings of the legislature of Maine on the subject of the passage of British troops through that State.