Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 817.]
Legation of the United States,
London, November 18, 1864.
Sir: I have received from Lord Wharncliffe, the
chairman of the British association organized to give aid and comfort to
the rebel cause, a note, a copy of which is transmitted herewith. I
append a copy of my reply.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Untitled]
Wortley Hall,
Sheffield,
November 12, 1864.
Your Excellency: A bazaar has been held in
St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, to provide a fund for the relief of
southern prisoners of war; it has produced a clear sum of about
£17,000. In preference to any attempt to reach the intended object
by circuitous means, a committee of English gentlemen has been
formed to address you on the subject.
As chairman of this committee, I venture to ask your excellency to
request the permission of your government that an accredited agent
may be sent out to visit the military prisons within the northern
States, and minister to the comfort of those for whom this fund is
intended, under such supervision as your government may direct.
[Page 355]
Permit me to state that no political end is aimed at by this
movement. It has received support from many Who were opposed to the
political action of the south. Nor is it intended to impute that the
confederate prisoners are denied such attentions as the ordinary
rules enjoin. But these rules are narrow and stern. Winter is at
hand, and the clothing which may satisfy the rules of war will not
protect the natives of a warm climate from the severe cold of the
north.
Sir, the issue of this great contest will not be determined by
individual suffering, be it greater or less, and you, whose family
name is interwoven with American history, cannot view with
indifference the sufferings of American citizens, whatever their
state or their opinions.
On more than one occasion, aid has been proffered by the people of
one country to special classes under great affliction in another.
May it not be permitted to us to follow these examples, especially
when those we desire to solace are beyond the reach of their
immediate kinsmen. I trust that these precedents and the voice of
humanity may plead with your excellency, and induce you to prefer to
the government of the United States the request which I have the
honor to submit.
I am, sir, your obedient, humble servant,
His Excellency Hon. C. F. Adams,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Adams to Lord Wharncliffe.
Legation of the United
States,
London, November 18, 1864.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge
the reception of your letter of the 12th instant, asking me to
submit to the consideration of my government a request of certain
English gentlemen, made through your lordship, to send out an
accredited agent to visit the military prisoners held by the United
States, and afford them such aid, additional to that extended by the
ordinary rules of war, as may be provided by the fund which has been
raised here for the purpose.
I am very sure that it has never been the desire of my government to
treat with unnecessary or vindictive severity any of the misguided
individuals, parties in this deplorable rebellion, who have fallen
into their hands in the regular course of war. I should greatly
rejoice were the effects of your sympathy extended to the
ministering to the mental ailment, not less than the bodily
sufferings of these unfortunate persons, thus contributing to put an
end to a struggle which otherwise is too likely to be only
procrastinated by your labors.
Be this as it may, I shall be happy to promote any humane endeavors
to alleviate the horrors of this strife, and in that sense shall
very cheerfully comply with you lordship’s desire, so far as to
transmit, by the earliest opportunity, to my government, a copy of
the application which has been addressed to me.
I beg your lordship to receive the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
Lord Wharncliffe,
&c., &c., &c.
