Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatch of the 18th of November, No. 813, has been received. It presents the reflections which occurred to you while awaiting the unknown result of the late national election. These reflections are wise and just. The government did not begin the war, but waited after it was begun for a clear and unmistakable position of self-defence. Moreover, the government, in deference to the Constitution, declined to give to this defensive war the character of an aggressive one for the removal of slavery, although it well knew that slavery was the real cause of the rebellion. The government, pursuing this policy, has constantly made the maintenance of the Union the principal object of its military operations. Nevertheless, the course of events has been such as to justify the assumption that, in point of fact, the war is a principal force in a popular revolution against African slavery. At the beginning of the contest the people, even in the loyal States, were by no means united, much less were they unanimous in regarding that political revolution as necessary, wise, or lawful. Hitherto, therefore, our principal danger was that of counter-revolution, to be prosecuted in the interest of slavery as a recognized constituent of our national system.” A counter-revolution was plotted, and preparations to some extent were secretly made to put it in execution. We have not only discovered the conspirators, but we have also seized arms and munitions which they have gathered. The late election brought the plot to the knowledge of the people, and their decision has rendered its execution impossible. Without the aid of counter-revolution [Page 369] the rebellion must fail. We may therefore conclude that the country has safely passed the turning-point in the revolutionary movement against slavery, and that henceforth we shall see the Union rapidly recovering its moral strength and vigor.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.