PREFACE TO VOLUME V. HISTORIES of the late war, springing from various sources, viewed from different standpoints, and written in varied interests, already abound. The present volume, in its own way, gives what may be called the diplomatic view of the conflict. Without such a record the student of history would miss an important element. This volume, we need not say, covers a period of our country's history not second in importance to that which gave us the Constitution. And it may be added that Washington and Hamilton were not more necessary to the formation of the Union than were Lincoln and Seward to its preservation. In the preparation of this volume we have been encouraged in the belief that material of history was being gathered which would otherwise be inaccessible to the public. The contents of the volume require but few prefatory remarks. The MEMOIR makes but slight pretensions to a Biography. It aims simply to recite, in a brief way, the great events of the period of which Mr. Seward was so large a part. Their narration may seem a biography. THE DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE OF THE WAR, as published by Congress, filled more than twenty large volumes. Large editions of the later volumes were printed. It also reappeared in newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and books, and was eagerly read by millions of patriotic people. The effect was not unlike that produced on the public mind, at another crisis in our country's his tory, by the publication of Hamilton's letters in the "Federalist." Congress, it is hoped, following illustrious precedent, will at some early day publish an edition of the "Diplomatic Correspondence of 1861-9" for the use of coming generations. The DIARY, OR NOTES ON THE WAR, in this volume, is made from the Diplomatic Correspondence, being those portions of Mr. Seward's almost daily despatches to our Ministers abroad, designed to give them authentic annals of the progress of the war. The views given were usually those also of the Executive. The SELECTIONS FROM DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE embrace ninety-eight of Mr. Seward's despatches, selected with the desire of giving as fair and as full a view as possible of Mr. Seward's philosophy; as well as a history of the diplomatic relations of the country during the war. The Trent affair, the officious interference of France and England in the forms of recognition and mediation, the rebel cruisers, the Alabama claims, the invasion of Mexico by France, are among the subjects quite fully presented in the "Selections." Questions of international law are discussed. Under the head of OCCASIONAL SPEECHES and MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS the remainder of the volume partakes more of a domestic character. Mr. Seward's attention was not wholly devoted to foreign affairs. His public speeches made both before and after his retirement from office, are as interesting as they are pertinent. Many of them, in their familiar style, serve to show the cheerful tone and the great versatility of his mind. However impromptu some of them may appear, none of them will be found lacking in wise and patriotic counsel. DOCUMENTS and PAPERS, identified with our country's history, emanating from, or bearing the name of Mr. Seward, fill the concluding pages of the volume. THE EDITOR. CONTENTS OF VOLUME V. BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL: - - Mr. Seward, Secretary of State - Frederick W. Seward, Assistant — William Hunter, Second Assistant - Officers, Clerks and Subordinates of the Department of State-Minister and Consuls - Despondency of Ministers and Friends Abroad Mr. Seward Never Despairs- A Similar Feeling in 1776 - John Adams Large Number and Important - Naturalization— Russia - Rebel Emissaries Memorandum- leon Threatens to Interfere- An Unofficial Mission to Europe - Mr. Seward's Posi- tion in the Cabinet and in Politics-W. W. Seaton's Interview - Pro-Slavery In- fluences Eradicated-Emancipation in District of Columbia — The Trent Affair — Dangers Averted Mr. Seward's Wise Diplomacy-Treaty for Suppression of Slave Trade-Its Success - New Orleans Under General Butler, a Provisional Court of Justice Instituted - Emancipation Proclamation of September, 1862 — Amend- ments Suggested by Mr. Seward Adopted in Cabinet Proclamation of January 1, 1863-Resignation Offered Senatorial Caucus Presidential Election of 1864 Alabama Claims Instituted - Mediation Offered and Sought in Rebel Interest — Ex- ← tradition Slave Traders - Arguelles - The Assassination and Calamities of 1865 Tributes of the Nations - Remarkable Thanksgiving Proclamation -William M. Evarts-Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments-Reconstruction — Alaska — Immigration - The Monroe Doctrine — Mexico - France — Presiden- macy Vigor of our Government - Panic Manassas Effect in Europe Lesson-Captain Wilkes Boards a British Steamer - The Trent Affair — Diplo- - - - -- 1862 — Campaigns - The French in Mexico- Slaves Emancipated by our Armies - An Emancipating Crusade West-Burnside and Pope's Victories Treaty - Lord Lyons-Important Strokes in the West - Hostile Attitude of Eng- → -- land-Blockade Successful-Army Movements and Successes-Fremont, Banks, Recognition Threatened. - Alabama Claims Mooted, Nov., 1862-Armies Advan- cing, Slavery Retreating― Grant, Rosecrans, Curtis - Garibaldi — Proclamation of Freedom-1863 - Policy Unchangeable - Burnside and Hooker's Repulses — Sher- man at Vicksburg-Congress Diligent - Confidence Reviving - European Credul- ity-Neutrality Laws Persistently Violated by Great Britain Gettysburg — Vicksburg - Charleston - General Meade - Draft Riots - The Situation — Re- sumé- Negro Soldiers-Efforts to Induce British Government to Prevent Sailing of "Iron Rams"- Our Prospects, Contrasted with those of Europe - Will soon be no Slavery to Contend with — Absurdity of Building a State on Human Bondage — Mediation of England -Value of Slaves - A New Campaign — Navy Increasing — Farragut - Recognition — Emigration from the South to the Territories — Public Impatience - Amendment of Constitution - General Grant in Command - General Banks on the Mississippi - Mexico - The Wilderness - Chancellorsville -- General Butler-Eighth Day of very heavy Fighting-General Sherman in Georgia - General Sheridan - General Averill - Red River - Army of the Potomac - Severe Conflicts-General Sigel - General Hunter- General Canby - Assaults on Peters- burg-Congress - Destruction of the Alabama by the Kearsarge - Comments — Invasion of Maryland - General Wadsworth - The Capital Threatened - 6th and 19th Corps-Siege of Petersburg and Richmond - Rebel Emissaries on the Canada border-Election of 1864 - Atlanta General Logan - Mr. Seward Visits Gen- - - --- - - - eral Grant Malvern Hill -- General Hancock Shenandoah Valley - Public Credit Good-Loans Freely Taken - The Atlantic - - - - - trigues - Army Successes Downfall of Slavery Manifest - Savannah — Admiral - Secretary Black's View of the Late Election - Mr. Seward's Instructions to Bu- - - Efforts of Rebel Agents in Europe - Mr. Sanford's Selection as Minister to Brus- - - - - - - - - - - - --- - -- of the War - Mr. Marsh - Italy - The Union a Necessity - Mr. Fogg - Switzer- -- - - French Views Monarchy in Mexico - Maximilian - Our Views Mr. Drouyn |
