Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatch of June 12 (No. 172) has been received * * *
I have also communicated to the Secretary of the Navy the valuable facts which it presents concerning the effect in Europe of the success of the blockading squadron in capturing vessels engaged in supplying the insurgents with contraband material of war, and also your important suggestions upon that subject.
Since I last discussed the military situation no event palpably affecting it has occurred. Our military and naval forces at Charleston were kept at figures only necessary to aid in maintaining the blockade while conflict has been challenged at some important strategic points. We learn that our generals, perhaps too impulsive, have, without instructions, made an attack and have been repulsed at Charleston. While the affair may serve to encourage the languishing hopes of the insurgents, it no more than Jackson’s late raid in the Shenandoah valley affects the actual progress of the war. The operations against Richmond continue to go on to the satisfaction of the military department.
Through many difficulties the work of pacification and revival of commerce at New Orleans and at Memphis is successfully advancing. The destruction of cotton by the insurgents seems to have come to a pause, and considerable shipments of that staple are coming from Memphis and Nashville. The Secretary of the Treasury is advised that large quantities of sugar are coming from New Orleans.
With the President’s permission, I have interposed between Major General Butler and several foreign consuls to save possible complaints and prevent unnecessary complications from arising there at a juncture so important, and even so critical. These matters have been harmoniously arranged, as far as possible, here, with the representatives of those concerned, so as to relieve yourself and other ministers in Europe.
I have carefully considered the information you give us concerning speculations and schemes entertained in London and Paris about what is there called mediation by one or more powers on that continent in our affairs.
Moreover, I have not neglected to collate this information with the remarks made by British ministers and statesmen, and by the influential partisan British press, although I am not accustomed to draw such remarks into this correspondence.
I notice with pleasure that Earl Russell spoke reassuringly to you in a late conversation to the effect that no change of counsels had been adopted, [Page 121] and certainly the statements made by himself and Lord Palmerston in Parliament are sufficiently decisive on that subject. Moreover, notwithstanding all sinister rumors, the President is satisfied that the French government has at present no design or purpose of changing its attitude for one that would give any new embarrassment to the United States.
For the rest I may say that if anything could be contrived to warm to an intenser heat the fires of the national patriotism beyond the events occurring in our own country every day, it would be these perpetual demonstrations of wishes in Europe for the dissolution of the American Union.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.