Page images
PDF
EPUB

sustain the business of the country in its present prosperous commerce Europe will have the benefit of the grain and the gold. How much it is to be regretted that all our arguments and persuasions have failed to induce the maritime states of that continent to discourage and so to repress an insurrection that not only temporarily prevents the exportation of cotton, but madly forbids the planting of that staple, and sooner or later disengages both planter and laborer from all cultivation whatever. The escape of fugitive slaves from the plantations upon the Peninsula between York and James rivers during the recent battles was very large, and that one loss, perhaps, counterbalances all the advantages, if any, which the insurgents have gained.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

[blocks in formation]

SIR: Your despatch of June 26 (No. 179) has been received. You inform me that Mr. Dudley, our consul at Liverpool, has brought to your notice a new and flagrant violation of neutrality which is being attempted in some British port, and that you have remonstrated against it with the British government, and also have called Captain Craven to Southampton to defeat the enterprise. You, however, do not inform me of the name of the vessel; her particular character or purpose, or any of the circumstances of the case. I have communicated the imperfect information thus received to the Navy Department, in the hope that it may be able to render it useful. This transaction will furnish you a suitable occasion for informing Earl Russell that since the Oreto and other gunboats are being received by the insurgents from Europe to renew demonstrations on our national commerce, Congress is about to authorize the issue of letters of marque and reprisal, and that if we find it necessary to suppress that piracy, we shall bring privateers into service for that purpose, and, of course, for that purpose only. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., §c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

CIRCULAR.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, July 14, 1862.

SIR: I send you a copy of an important bill which the President this day submits to Congress, together with a copy of his message recommending the same. We trust that Congress may adopt the bill at once. But however that may be, there is no reasonable doubt that the policy involved cannot be long in winning the favor of the country, and in assuring the stability of the Union.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., sc., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

[Same to all the ministers of the United States in Europe.]

Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

Herewith is the draft of a bill to compensate any State which may abolish slavery within its limits, the passage of which, substantially as presented, I respectfully and earnestly recommend.

JULY 14, 1862.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever the President of the United Štates shall be satisfied that any State shall have lawfully abolished slavery within and throughout such State, either immediately or gradually, it shall be the duty of the President, assisted by the Secretary of the Treasury, to prepare and deliver to such State an amount of six per cent. interest-bearing bonds of the United States, equal to the aggregate value, at $ per head, of all the slaves within such State, as reported by the census of the year 1860; the whole amount for any one State to be delivered at once if the abolishment be immediate, or in equal annual instalments if it be gradual; interest to begin, running on each bond, at the time of its delivery, and not before.

[ocr errors]

And be it further enacted, That if any State, having so received any such bonds, shall at any time afterwards by law reintroduce or tolerate slavery within its limits, contrary to the act of abolishment upon which such bonds shall have been received, said bonds so received by said State shall at once be null and void, in whosesoever hands they may be, and such State shall refund to the United States all interest which may have been paid on such bonds.

No 186.]

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, July 17, 1862.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the reception of despatches from the department numbered from 277 to 284, both inclusive, with the single exception of No. 281, which has not come to hand.

The despatch No. 284, dated the 30th of June, was of service to me, as explaining the reasons of the movements of General McClellan, which would otherwise have been enveloped in mystery. But the speed of the telegraph now so far outstrips the progress of written communications that I had already received intelligence of the events down to the 7th instant, which more completely absorbed my attention. The conclusion which I draw from the whole is, that General McClellan has been thrown back in his work for an indefinite period, and that at the latest date he remained on the defensive rather than in the attitude of an assailant.

It is my duty to state that this impression is by no means the common one here. Generally regarded as decisive of the whole struggle, the news has had the effect, which you doubtless will have conjectured beforehand, of stimulating a manifestation of the feeling which has only been sup pressed under the course of our preceding successes. I think last week I wrote to you mentioning the rumor that some demonstration might be made in Parliament on Friday night, and promising to send you a report of it should it take place. So slight seemed the promise of success at that instant that it turned out that Mr. Lindsay, the father of the original propo

sition upon which debate was to take place, had neglected to put it on the paper, and hence there was no subject to discuss. To remedy this defect, Lord Vane Tempest gave notice of a new motion, which contemplated nothing less than direct intervention in our quarrel by peaceable means or otherwise. Although this gentleman is the son-in-law of the Duke of Newcastle, his position in the House of Commons is not such as to give rise to much anxiety for his demonstration. Such was the state of things on Saturday and Sunday. But the later news of the present week has very considerably changed it.

Yesterday Mr. Lindsay took courage, and announced the resumption of his purpose. He first modified his motion so as to embrace both the points of recognition and intervention, incorporating into it even the significant word "otherwise," borrowed from that of Lord Tempest. To-day I learn that he has seen the effect of that course, and has so changed his language as to embrace only the idea of mediation in conjunction with other powers, and that of pledging Parliament to sustain the ministry in any policy they might think proper to pursue. I do not quote the phraseology, because it may yet undergo alterations, and you will be sure to see it in its final shape, as it will come up for discussion to-morrow night. It is now understood that Mr. Lindsay proposes to press his question to a division, and it is thought that a sufficient number of members favor it to sustain the intention. I do not think it is countenanced by the ministry or by the more influential members of the opposition. But it is a good deal nursed by the rank and file of the latter, and by a portion of the ministerialists. With these explanations you will be able to form your judgment of the prospect before us. For the rest I shall take measures to be well informed of the precise temper of the House through some person present at the debate, and shall endeavor to send you a report of it by the steamer of Saturday. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 187.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, July 17, 1862.

SIR: The Tuscarora is still at Southampton. She has been detained by the necessity for some slight repairs. Notes have passed between Lord Russell and myself on the subject, copies of which are hereto subjoined. The consul at Liverpool has made representations to the collector of the customs respecting the vessel not yet named, but undoubtedly fitting out at Liverpool to prey upon our commerce, according to the suggestions made by Lord Russell in his note in reply to my remonstrance. Unfortunately the consul did not affix to this paper the legal form of evidence, which led to its rejection. In the meanwhile I have advised him to supply the omission, and I learn that he has done so.

I have likewise, in concert with Mr. Morse, the consul at this place, taken measures to obtain advices as to the expediency of proceeding against this vessel in another form, agreeably to a suggestion dropped to me some time ago by Lord Russell in conversation. As yet I have not learned the issue of the consultation. The deposition to be taken by Mr. Dudley may

be as necessary in this case as in the other. I have requested duplicates to be forwarded to me at once.

Lastly, I have supplied to Captain Craven all the information I can obtain respecting the objects and destination of this vessel, and have advised him to take such measures as may, in his opinion, be effective to intercept her on her way out. He will probably leave Southampton in a day or two. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

¡Enclosures.]

1. Lord Russell to Mr. Adams, July 12, 1862. 2. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, July 15, 1862.

:

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.

FOREIGN OFFICE, July 12, 1862.

SIR I have the honor to bring to your notice that the United States screw steamer-of-war Tuscarora has within the last few days arrived at Southampton, and that, in answer to inquiries addressed to her commander, the authorities at that port have been informed that she is in need of repairs, which will occupy at least a fortnight.

Under these circumstances, I have the honor to suggest that the proper course would be that you should apply formally for that indulgence in favor of the Tuscarora.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

RUSSELL.

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, July 15, 1862.

MY LORD: I pray your lordship's pardon if, by reason of my want of acquaintance with the proper mode of proceeding, I have failed to take the necessary steps to solicit for Captain Craven, of the United States steamer the Tuscarora, permission to make some repairs required by the continued service of this vessel since her departure from the United States. In the conversation held with Captain Craven touching the matter I did not understand him to have learned that the application should come from me.

I presume that the repairs proposed are not of a nature to require much detention. I trust, therefore, that her Majesty's government will be pleased to grant the privilege to the Tuscarora so far as it may be necessary to place that vessel in good order for service at sea.

Renewing to your lordship the assurance of my highest consideration, I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Right Hon. EARL RUSSELL, &c., §c., &c.

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 188.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, July 17, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit a copy of my note to Lord Russell in relation to the course taken by the harbor-master of Hong Kong towards the United States vessel the Saginaw. Copies of the papers enclosed, with your despatch (No. 275) of the 23d of June, relating to that subject, accompanied my note.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, July 14, 1862.

MY LORD: I am directed to lay before your lordship copies of despatches transmitted to me, touching the action of the harbor-master at Hong Kong, in relation to the United States steamer Saginaw. There certainly does seem to be a difference between the treatment experienced by this vessel and that applied to the Sumter in Gibraltar.

But, apart from this, it is needless to suggest to your lordship that the presence of some vessel-of-war in the China seas is almost indispensable to the protection of the interests of American commerce in that quarter, or that a denial of any of the ordinary rights of maritime powers operates with peculiar hardship upon them in this instance. On the other hand, it does not appear that any British interest could be seriously affected by the admission of such vessels to the enjoyment of them. Thus far experience may be said to have shown it to advance the interests of all the western powers. Under these circumstances I have been instructed simply to submit the facts to the consideration of her Majesty's government.

Praying your lordship to accept the assurances of my highest consideration, I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Right Hon. EARL RUSSELL, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 189.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, July 17, 1862.

That there has been more or less of communication between the great powers on the subject of the present state of America I do not doubt. As yet it has not probably run into any distinct form of action, but rather portends consultation to bring it to that. The interests of the different parties being clearly diverse, it is difficult to foresee what may be the issue of such counsels. The probabilities rather indicate the possible adoption of some overtures for mediation in a professedly friendly spirit, but rather imposing the more burdensome responsibility on the stronger side in case of its refusal to

« PreviousContinue »