Page images
PDF
EPUB

DENMARK.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Wood.

No. 23.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 22, 1862.

SIR: Your despatch of the 31st of December (No. 42) has been received. I trust that the hostile spirit manifested towards us in Great Britain will have subsided before this despatch shall reach its destination.

The recent successes of our arms in Virginia, in Missouri, in South Carolina, in Kentucky, and in North Carolina, operating together with the patriotic action of Congress in regard to finances, have inspired the whole country with a strong confidence in the speedy success of the cause in which we are engaged. The insurrection has manifestly culminated, and the pressure of the Union armies upon it on every side is becoming irresistible. obedient servant,

I am,

sir, your

BRADFORD R. Woon, Esq., &c., &c., Copenhagen.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD

No. 24.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Wood.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 10, 1862.

SIR: Your despatch of January 7 (No. 43) has been received and read with the interest which it was calculated to excite.

The improved condition of affairs at home will probably, in due time, modify the adverse opinions existing abroad.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

BRADFORD R. WOOD, Esq., &c., &c., Copenhagen.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Wood.

No. 26.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 24, 1862.

SIR: Your despatch of February 3 (No. 47) has just been received. The sadness and despondency with which you, on that so recent day, surveyed our condition and traced its supposed hopelessness to assumed errors of the administration in directing the conduct of the conflict come up now in strange contrast with the observances which the government and

the whole people are making in honor of the memory of the father of our country, endeared to us now more than ever by the indications that that country is, through the policy which is thus questioned, emerging safely from its sea of troubles, foreign as well as domestic, with reassurances of an immortal existence.

Will you avail yourself of this auspicious change to represent to the government of Denmark, in a courteous manner, that we look to its liberal administration with much confidence for an early revision of the decrees which so unwisely recognized our now failing insurgents as a formidable belligerent power, and thus produced embarrassments of commerce injurious to both countries, and especially prejudicial to the United States, the first and fastest friend of commercial freedom in the world.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

BRADFORD R. WOOD, Esq., &c., &c., Copenhagen.

1

Mr. Seward to Mr. Wood.

No. 29.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, April 8, 1862.

SIR: Your despatch of March 18 (No. 54) has been received. We are not discontented that the Danish government do not incline to enter into a treaty just now modifying belligerent rights in maritime war. We have made overtures in good faith to the great maritime powers. They have declined to entertain them, except on conditions which we cannot concede. Events are not unlikely to affect the relations existing between those powers, and they will probably in due time find it their interest to renew the debate with us. It would be unavailing for any great purpose to negotiate with the lesser powers, and our motives in doing so would perhaps be misapprehended by the greater states. I have noticed, with much interest, the recent debates on the general subject in the British Parliament, and I regret that Mr. Cobden's ill health prevented the world from receiving the great argument which was expected from him.

All things cannot be done at once. We have occupation enough arising out of our civil war. Let us recover our unity and with it our prestige, and then we shall be able to reappear as reformers among the nations.

[blocks in formation]

SIR: Your despatch of March 21 (No. 55) has been received. You will learn with pleasure the unbroken series of successes with which the national arms have recently been favored, and will no doubt find that those successes produce some modification of public opinion in Europe concerning the prob

able end of the attempt of factious leaders to divide the nation and subvert the federal Union.

One main element of the insurrection has been the want of faith, on the part of loyal citizens, in the zeal, energy, and wisdom of the government and its sincere determination to suppress it. While all have professed faith in God, not many have always exercised that measure of faith in man which God requires in every case as a condition of the divine blessing upon human efforts. Many persons, because they were not always kept informed of the policy of the administration, have seemed to think that it had no policy and was pursuing no measures. So fast as policy and measures were disclosed, disputes, of course, arose about their wisdom and probable efficiency. Despondency, resulting from these doubts and disputes, has tended to demoralize the nation and to encourage its enemies. While we knew that exertions were being made here which surpassed anything ever seen in history, and upon which we were confidently resting our hopes for a speedy and safe conclusion of the campaign, it was not thought to be wise to place on record with apparent acquiescence apprehensions expressed by our representatives abroad which implied convictions of failure in duty on the part of the government, and even a want of courage and heroism on the part of the soldiers of the Union.

Now, when the crisis has probably passed, it is proper for me to state that there has been no moment when the administration has despaired of the republic or could, without regret, see despondency concerning it indulged by those who were representing it abroad.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

BRADFORD R. WOOD, Esq., &r, &c., &c., Copenhagen.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Wood.

No. 40.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 25, 1862. SIR: Your despatch of September 9 (No. 76) has been received. If I understand it, you are laboring under apprehension that the British government will soon recognize the insurrectionary government. It is very certain that the United States have recently been favored with very few demonstrations of kindness and good will from Great Britain. Yet it gives me pleasure to assure you that our advices from that country do not justify immediate concern in regard to public matters in that quarter.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

BRADFORD R. WOOD, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Wood to Mr. Seward.

[Extract.]

No. 82.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Copenhagen, November 4, 1862.

SIR: A. Dudley Mann, the confederate commissioner, and whom I have known for years, was here last week. He was accompanied by his son, Grayson Mann, to act as interpreter if necessary. Mr. Hall, the foreign minister, refused to see him on the usual ministerial conference day, or to see him at all in his representative capacity, but received a call from him the next day as a private cítizen. Mann stated, in substance, that the confederates were unconquerable, and would achieve their independence. Hall replied, "that he had a different impression." Mann rejoined, "that time would soon show the truth of his assertion, and he hoped that the government of Denmark would not be the last to acknowledge their independence." To which Mr. Hall said "that though Denmark might not be the last to do this, she certainly would not be the first."

Mann represented here that we were on our last legs, and for the truth of his assertion referred to the price of gold with us, while he said it was so much less with the confederates.

Doctor Leas, our late consul at Stockholm, writes me from Hamburg, on the day of his sailing for the United States, that the secessionists had held a conclave in that city to act on the northern powers. From this I infer that, with the approbation of the French Emperor, a simultaneous movement is being made with all the powers of this continent for acknowledging the independence of the Confederate States.

I have the honor to remain your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, &c.

BRADFORD R. WOOD,
Minister Resident &c.

!

SWEDEN.

Mr. Haldeman to Mr. Seward.

[Extract]

No. 11.]

UNITED STATES LEGATION, Stockholm, December 10, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that American affairs absorb all other questions, and are the chief subject of discussion both in diplomatic and commercial circles. The arrest of the southern commissioners created great excitement in this quiet city. Count Manderstrom, minister of foreign affairs, kindly sent me the telegram as received by him, with a note expressing strong doubts of its truth. The information we have received has come through an English medium. All are waiting to hear what action will be taken by the cabinet at Washington. The arrest is generally condemned as a violation of the law of nations, and considered a "casus belli" unless disavowed. The strong and decided articles in the French press denouncing the act of Captain Wilkes as illegal have influenced public opinion to a great extent.

The account of the flattering reception of Count Piper by the President and Secretary of State has been received with great satisfaction by this government. The address of welcome by the President was published by the entire press in Sweden and Norway.

[blocks in formation]

*

*

J. S. HALDEMAN.

*

Mr. Haldeman to Mr. Seward.

[Extract]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Stockholm, January 10, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that we have received by telegram intelligence of the peaceable settlement of our difficulty with England. The news has been received with great satisfaction. I have been congratulated by several legations. The press of Sweden is free; the American side of the question was taken by one of the most influential papers, and discussed with great vigor and ability.

I remain your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington.

J. S. HALDEMAN.

« PreviousContinue »