Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The effect of Tuesday night’s debate was very severe on Mr. Roebuck. His extraordinary attempts to influence the action of the house by the use of the authority of the Emperor of the French, as well as his presuming to make himself the medium of an appeal to Parliament against the conduct of the ministry, have had the consequences which might naturally be expected by any one acquainted with the English character. Thus it happened that Mr. Roebuck, though addressing an assembly a great proportion of whom sympathized with him in his object, demolished his cause, whilst, on the other hand, Mr. Bright, even whilst running counter to the predisposition of most of his hearers, succeeded in extorting a general tribute of admiration of his eloquent and convincing reply.
But though the fate of Mr. Roebuck’s motion was sealed by the course of [Page 350] the debate of that evening, it is not to be inferred that there is not a steady increase of the disposition in high quarters to take some action or other in favor of the rebels. This is much stimulated by the assiduous labors of the rebel emissaries to produce a belief in the existence of a great diversion of opinion among us, as to the propriety of continuing the war. It is argued that some action on this side would now have an effect to diminish all hopes of success in restoration, and to a corresponding extent to make the advocates of peace, who would gladly welcome such assistance, to preponderate. The only effective answer to such a course of reasoning, applied to minds predisposed to conviction, is success in the war. And that is, I am sorry to say, as yet denied us. Precisely at this moment comes the intelligence of aggressive movements of the rebel army, which bear the look of power not met by corresponding ability to resist them. It is true that the first aspect of the news was not viewed with favor, because it was thought to be likely to revive the war spirit and reunite opinion. The growing hope is, however, that a stroke may be effected which will be so decisive as to render some operation on this side more natural and effective presently than it can be just now.
The debate was last evening adjourned over to a week from Monday, evidently for the purpose of awaiting events. But it seems now to be the general opinion that the government will not give facilities to a renewal of it at so late a period of the session, unless the circumstances should have essentially become changed in the interval. The conflicting testimony in regard to the Emperor’s course is made even more inexplicable by the declaration last night of Mr. Layard.
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I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c.