Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward, February 12, 1863

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

Sir: The non-arrival of the regular weekly steamer, the China, has left me without the usual advices from the department.

Deeming it proper that the answer of the President received with your despatch (No. 452) of the 15th of January should be transmitted to the chairman of the Manchester meeting with at least as much form as accompanied the reception of their address, I sent my assistant secretary, Mr. Moran, to Manchester on Tuesday last with instructions to place the letter in the hands of Mr. Heywood. That gentleman expressed himself much gratified. The letter is printed in most of the newspapers of this morning.

I now have the honor to transmit similar addresses or resolutions received from the officers of meetings held at Leeds, in Yorkshire; at Galashiels, near Edinburgh; at Bath, in Somerset; at Bromley; and at South London, or Southwark. The newspaper reports also accompany some of them, as they convey an idea of the spirit manifested in these assemblies. One character is found to pervade them all.

* * * * * * * *

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

[Enclosures.]

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Edward Baines, esq., M. P., in the chair.

Resolution 1. That this meeting expresses its horror of negro slavery, more especially of the form of negro slavery existing in the Confederate States; that it sees with strongest disapprobation the opinions expressed by ministers of our Christian churches in the southern States as to the divine origin and scriptural sanction of this detestable system; and that it believes the founding of a nation on such a basis would be a calamity to the world.

Resolution 2. That this meeting earnestly desires and hopes that the present calamitous war in America, begun by the southern States to perpetuate and extend slavery, may be overruled by Divine Providence to its overthrow, and to the raising of four millions of oppressed negroes from the condition of chattels and beasts of burden to that of free and responsible men. It recognizes with pleasure the growth of anti-slavery feeling in the northern States; and that President Lincoln’s policy in such measures as the exclusion of slavery from the Territories, its abolition in the District of Columbia, and the constitutional scheme of voluntary emancipation in the loyal slave States, not less than his proclamation of liberty to the slaves in seceding States, has tended powerfully and practically towards the entire abolition of slavery in North America.

Resolution 3. That this meeting highly approves of the conduct of the government in abstaining from recognizing the Confederate States or interference between the contending parties in the lamentable contest now going on in the United States of America, and expresses its earnest trust that the same policy may still be persevered in.

Resolution 4. That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to Mr. Adams, the American ambassador in London, and that he be requested to transmit the same to his government.

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At a public meeting of the inhabitants of South London, held in the lecture hall of Taylor’s repository, Southwark, on Tuesday, February 3, 1863, W. J. Haynes, esq., presiding, and at a large open air meeting, held simultaneously with the above by those persons who could not be accommodated in the hall, Mr. J. Sanell presiding, the following resolutions were enthusiastically and unanimously adopted:

It was moved by the Rev. Wm. Barker, seconded by George Thompson, esq., supported by the Rev. Mr. Hawkins, and—

“Resolved, That this meeting heartily unites in the general joy and thanksgiving which has been called forth by the proclamation issued by the President of the United States on the 1st January, 1863, by which more than three millions of slaves in the United States were declared thenceforward and forever free; and is of opinion that the promulgation of that decree, founded not less on justice and the inalienable rights of slaves than on considerations of military necessity, entitles Mr. Lincoln to the sympathy, encouragement, and moral support of the friends of freedom throughout the world.”

It was moved by the Rev. J. H. Rylance, seconded by Mr. W. S. Northouse, and—

“Resolved, That the chairman be desired to forward a copy of the foregoing resolution to his excellency C. F. Adams, the American minister, with the request that he would forward it to the President of the United States.”

Forwarded to his excellency the American minister February 10, 1863.

W. J. HAYNES, Chairman.

At a numerously attended meeting of the citizens of Bath, held at the Guildhall on the evening of Monday, 2d February, 1863, Jerome Murch, esq., in the chair, the following resolutions were carried by overwhelming majorities.

RESOLUTION 1.

Moved by the Rev. R. Brindley, seconded by Handel Cossham, esq.:

“That this meeting, in deploring the present unspeakable calamities of America, desire never to forget that the war originated in the determination of the southern States to extend and perpetuate slavery; that regarding this institution with the greatest possible abhorrence as contrary to the principles of Christianity, and as the source of the most fearful evils, it is our duty to sympathize in the efforts made by the President and government of the United States for its entire abolition; and while we lament most sincerely the fearful sacrifices involved in the struggle between people so long and so closely connected, we would give our most fervent wishes to all who aim at the complete and final extinction of slavery; we would mourn with them in their trials and rejoice in their successes, believing that such are the sentiments most worthy of the people of England.”

RESOLUTION 2.

Moved by the Rev. W. Mattran, seconded by Mr. Alderman Hancock:

“That this meeting earnestly desire that the people of this country may continue in the closest amity by ties of kindred, friendship, and commerce, with the people of the United States, and trust that the wisdom of the mother country may aid in removing all causes of misunderstanding and alienation between the two peoples; and we take this opportunity of expressing our deep gratitude to the citizens of the free States for their thoughtful generosity, amidst their own pressing claims, in contributing towards alleviating the distress now so prevalent among a large portion of our laboring population.”

RESOLUTION 3.

Moved by Mr. R. P. Edwards, seconded by the Rev. D. Wassell:

“That this meeting desire that copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the President through his excellency the American ambassador at London.”

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First. “That this meeting recognizing the common brotherhood of mankind, and the sacred and inalienable right of every human being to personal freedom and equal protection, records its detestation of negro slavery in America, and of the attempt of the rebellious southern slaveholders to organize, on the great American continent, a nation having slavery as its basis.”

Second. “That this meeting, composed mainly of working men of Galashiels, desires to record its profound sympathy with the efforts of President Lincoln and his colleagues to maintain the American Union in its integrity, and also the high sense of the justice of his proclamation of emancipation and other measures tending to give freedom to the slave and restore peace to the American nation.”

Third. “That the foregoing resolutions be signed by the chairman, and forwarded to the American ambassador in London, desiring him to send them to his excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America.”