Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
Department of State,
Washington,
April 25, 1863.
To the citizens of London who were
convened in Exeter Hall on the 29th of January last :
The proceedings of a meeting of British subjects, citizens of London,
in Exeter Hall, on the 29th of January last, which were transmitted
to the undersigned, have, in compliance with a request contained
therein, been laid before the President of the United States.
It would have been most gratifying to the President if the
insurrection which is existing in the United States could have been
confined within such bounds as to prevent it from disturbing the
prosperity, or otherwise engaging the attention, of friendly
nations. Fully convinced that any state which suffers itself to
become dependent on the aid, or even the sympathy, of a foreign
power, is equally unable and unfit to live, the President has been
especially careful to refrain from making any appeal to friendly
states, and even from seeming to attempt to influence their opinions
upon the merits of the present conflict further than has appeared to
be necessary to avert ill-considered and wrongful intervention. At
the same time, the President has neither questioned the right of
other nations. and communities to form and express their opinions
concerning the merits of the questions raised by the insurrection,
and the policy which the government has adopted in suppressing it,
nor has he complained of the manner in which that right has been
exercised. On the contrary, he believes that the ultimate and
impartial judgment of mankind upon all such questions is entitled to
universal respect and acquiescence.
Circumstances which neither this government nor that of Great Britain
created or could control, have rendered it unavoidable that the
causes, character, tendency, and objects of the insurrection should
be discussed in that country with scarcely less freedom and
earnestness than in our own. The results of that discussion, if it
shall continue to be conducted in a just and impartial spirit, may
be taken as foreshadowing, in some degree, the ultimate judgment of
man kind. It is, therefore, with sincere satisfaction, that the
President learns from the proceedings now under consideration that a
large, respectable, and intelligent portion of the British people
have, on unprompted investigation, arrived at the conclusion that
the existing rebellion violates the principles of political justice,
and that they protest against it as a wrong to the human race,
because it seeks
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to
displace a government which is based on the rights of man, to make
room for the establishment of another which is to rest upon human
bondage as. its cornerstone.
The President would do injustice to his habitual sentiments if he
were to omit to express also the satisfaction with which he has
perceived that, in all cases, those who are most just in their
sentiments towards the United States are also the most earnest in
their desire for the preservation of international peace and
friendship. This circumstance supplies to this government a new
motive for adhering to its determined policy of peace, justice, and
friendship towards all nations, and especially towards Great
Britain.
I have the honor to be your very obedient servant,
