Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 241.]
Legation of the United States,
Paris,
January 12, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit a translation
of a correspondence which has recently passed between the honorary
presidents of the Comite Francaise de l’Abolition d’Esclavage and
myself, in reference to your recent proclamation announcing the
termination of slavery in the United States.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D.C.
[Page 273]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Guizot
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a
proclamation issued by order of the President of the United States,
on the 18th of December last, which raises to the rank and
privileges of free-men all persons at that date held in bondage
within the territory of the United States. So great and sudden a
change in the social condition of so large a number of human beings
was never experienced before, I believe, as the immediate result of
human legislation.
I hasten to bring this important event to the notice of your society,
and to congratulate its members that the first year of its existence
should have been signalized by an event so full of encouragement to
the champions of universal emancipation.
I pray you to accept, sir, the assurance of my most distinguished
consideration.
[Translation.]
Mr. Guizot to Mr. Bigelow
Val Richer,
January 7, 1866.
Sir: I received the letter you did me the
honor to address to me the 4th instant, communicating a copy of a
proclamation published the 18th of
December last by order of the President of the United States, in
virtue of which the rank and rights of freemen are conferred upon
all who, at that time, were slaves within the territory of the
United States.
In the feeling of profound joy with which this communication inspires
me, I am compelled to congratulate the people of the United States
and its government upon having been the chosen instrument of God to
make the holy cause of the higher law of humanity to triumph.
Whatever may be the difficulties and the trials which this measure
may yet impose upon your country, the accompilshment of such a work
is the greatest glory which a generation of men in their passage
over the earth can achieve, and the greatest blessing it can leave
to the generation to come. We are permitted to hope that the example
given by Christian nations will become the public law of the
world.
You are right in supposing that the society to which I have the honor
to belong will surely congratulate itself that the first year of its
existence has been signalized by an event at once so grand and so
salutary.
Accept, sir, the assurance of my entire consideration and of my most
distinguished sentiments.
Mr Bigelow, &c.,
&c., &c. Paris.
[Translation.]
Mr. Broglie to Mr.
Bigelow,
Mr. Ministre: I have received the letter by
which you have done me the honor to communicate to me the act of the
Congress of the United States proclaiming the suppression of slavery
throughout the whole extent of the confederation.
I beg that you will accept my cordial thanks for this favor. It is
with profound satisfaction that I have learned the final success of
a cause which interests in so high a degree all the friends of
humanity, and to which I have been happy to dedicate the greater
part of the labors of my public life.
Be kind enough, Mr. Ministre, to accept the assurance of my high
consideration.
Mr. Bigelow, Minister
of the United States, &c., Paris.