Charles Francis Adams to William Evans, January 28, 1865

[Enclosures.]

1. Mr. Adams to London Emancipation Society, January 28, 1865.

2. Mr. Adams to International Workinginen’s Association, January 28, 1865.

Mr. Adams to Mr. Evans

Sir. I am directed by the President to express, through you, to the executive committee of the Emancipation Society of London, the assurance of his profound gratification on receiving an expression of their friendly sentiments towards him and his country. At the same time I am advised to explain that, lie does not feel himself ai liberty to assume the result of his re-election, to which they particularly refer, as a fact in advance of the constitutional process by which it is customarily ascertained and declared to the country in the Congress of the United States.

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

Mr. Adams to Mr. Cremer

Sir. I am directed to inform you that the address of the central council of your association, which was duly transmitted through this legation to the President of the United States, has been received by him.

So far as the sentiments expressed by it are personal, they are accepted by him with a sincere and anxious desire that he may be able to prove himself not unworthy of the confidence which has recently been extended to him by his fellow-citizens, and by so many of the friends of humanity and progress throughout the world.

The government of the United States has a clear consciousness that its policy neither is nor could be reactionary, but, at the same time, it adheres to the course which it adopted at the beginning, of abstaining everywhere from propagandism and unlawful intervention. It strives to do equal and exact justice to all States and to all men, and it relies upon the beneficial results of that effort for support at home and for respect and good will throughout the world.

Nations do not exist for themselves alone, but to promote the welfare and happiness of mankind by benevolent intercourse and example. It is in this relation that the United States regard their cause in the present conflict with slavery-maintaining insurgents as the cause of human nature; and they derive new encouragement to persevere from the testimony of the workingmen of Europe that the national attitude is favored with their enlightened approval and earnest sympathies.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,