Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatch of the 8th instant, number 1164, has been received. At the present moment discussion between the United States and Great Britain of the international questions which arose during the war of the insurrection here, has little practical effect. The changing condition of States will bring those questions again prominently into view at no very distant period. Then it will be all-important that the record of the country shall be found complete and satisfactory.
Your correction of the attorney general’s late misstatement in debate will then be appreciated at its just value. I will take care that it shall, in the mean time, be correctly published here.
The suggestion has been often made among us that it would be wise to adopt the British practice of bringing members of the cabinet into Congress. I confess that when I recollect how unfortunate for the real interests, equally of the United States and of Great Britain, were certain speeches which were made in Parliament during the war (as it now seems, without any necessity) by Earl Russell, by Mr. Gladstone, and by the attorney general, I think that it is doubtful whether our Constitution could be improved in that respect.
Neither has Great Britain a wound, or the scar of a wound, which during that trying period was inflicted by any words unnecessarily spoken by the President of the United States, nor have the United States a wound, or the scar of a wound, which was made by any words unnecessarily spoken by the Queen. The result of this reflection seems to be, that when governments speak to or of each other, it is important that their words should be duly considered, and not passionately or impulsively uttered.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.