Mr. Seward to Mr. Wood.
Sir: Your despatch of March 21 (No. 55) has been received. You will learn with pleasure the unbroken series of successes with which the national arms have recently been favored, and will no doubt find that those successes produce some modification of public opinion in Europe concerning the probable [Page 779] end of the attempt of factious leaders to divide the nation and subvert the federal Union.
One main element of the insurrection has been the want of faith, on the part of loyal citizens, in the zeal, energy, and wisdom of the government and its sincere determination to suppress it. While all have professed faith in God, not many have always exercised that measure of faith in man which God requires in every case as a condition of the divine blessing upon human efforts. Many persons, because they were not always kept informed of the policy of the administration, have seemed to think that it had no policy and was pursuing no measures. So fast as policy and measures were disclosed, disputes, of course, arose about their wisdom and probable efficiency. Despondency, resulting from these doubts and disputes, has tended to demoralize the nation and to encourage its enemies. While we knew that exertions were being made here which surpassed anything ever seen in history, and upon which we were confidently resting our hopes for a speedy and safe conclusion of the campaign, it was not thought to be wise to place on record with apparent acquiescence apprehensions expressed by our representatives abroad which implied convictions of failure in duty on the part of the government, and even a want of courage and heroism on the part of the soldiers of the Union.
Now, when the crisis has probably passed, it is proper for me to state that there has been no moment when the administration has despaired of the republic or could, without regret, see despondency concerning it indulged by those who were representing it abroad.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Bradford R. Wood, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Copenhagen.