Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Some irregularity of the mails, my short absence from the capital, and the suspension of business on the New Year festival, have worked a temporary obstruction in the business of this department. You will, if needful, give this explanation for any seeming inattention to questions which have been raised here on the part of the British government since the date of my last customary communications. I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 17th of December, (No. 557.)
Your survey of the domestic politics of Great Britain is truly analytical while it appears to me to be equally accurate.
* * * * * * * * *
I have from the first been satisfied that all sympathies for the American insurgents which should be awakened in Great Britain would prove to be elements of ultimate domestic contention there, enduring and actively operating long after the normal state of things should be restored in the United States. We have not failed at any time to give evidence that we desired no such consequence of our civil war in Great Britain. It was not this government that appealed to European tribunals: it was dragged into that presence by the statesmen of Europe. The sooner it is dismissed the better for Europe as well as for America.
No important military advance has recently been made by our armies, and probably none is to be expected during the residue of the winter season. In fact, they are being recruited and reorganized. Happily these processes seem entirely easy and successful. The popular expectation of a restoration of the federal authority increases, while, as you may have noticed, despondency and [Page 63] distrust begin to reveal themselves among the insurgents. Not sufficient time has elapsed since the President’s proclamation of amnesty was promulgated to enable us to declare with confidence upon the question of its general acceptance. It is manifest, however, that either owing to the intrinsic merits of the system he has proposed, or the improved condition of public sentiment, this last proceeding is received with greater favor and regarded with more of hopefulness than his proclamation of the first of January last met with in an equal period after its publication. And yet we now see that the measures announced by that proclamation have proved practically a great and important success. Our case is perhaps truly stated as follows: faction has exhausted its real strength, while the power of the Union is not sensibly impaired. Weariness of the conflict is demoralizing the insurgents, while the friends of the Union having given up their impatience are continually strengthening its power. In this condition of things either the President’s suggestions will be adopted, or they will probably open the way to a satisfactory resolution of the national embarrassments.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.