Mr. Fogg to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Your circular of January 3, transmitting the President’s proclamation declaring slavery no longer to exist in the insurrectionary States and districts of the United States, is received.
Permit me, without discussing the military efficiency of the measure, to express the opinion that this act, which emancipates “about three and one-half millions of slaves,” does and will “commend itself to the enlightened judgment and moral approbation” of every friend of our republic and of liberal institutions in Europe. A more extensive approbation than this, I suppose, neither yourself nor the President expected. It could not have been intended to please rebels nor despots, at home and abroad.
As you have too many reasons to know, the enemies of our Union are not [Page 1309] confined to America. They have their coteries at all the leading European courts, and bask in the active sympathy of some of the leading governments. These governments and the spirits which control them will not approbate the present act, nor any act of justice which the President and the government of the United States may perform. Desiring our national humiliation and the overthrow of our republican institutions, they will abate none of their hostility by reason either of our military or moral victories. What they dare do against us and for the rebellion, they will do unplacated alike by our wisdom or our faults.
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One additional word, on the probabilities or dangers of foreign forcible intervention in American affairs, and I close a communication already long. I see no reason to fear such intervention. In the greater portion of Eruope there is a growing just appreciation of the issues involved in our struggle, and less and less popular sympathy with the rebellion. I think this is true even in England. I am sure it is upon the continent. In Switzerland I know of no public press or public man whose sympathies are not now with the federal government. It is everywhere understood to be a struggle between freedom and despotism. To almost as universal an extent, the same thing is true of Germany. It is only in illiberal and reactionary court circles, odorous with the flavor of past, or dreams of future, despotisms, that the rebellion has its sympathizers and friends.
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With sincere regard, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States of America.