Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward Secretary of State, Washington, D. C, January 13, 1865

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward

Sir: I have the honor to transmit an address to the President, from the committee of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society, which has been sent to me by their secretary.

I do not in any of these cases Tenture to assume any authority to judge of the propriety of the sentiments expressed, provided I am convinced that the spirit is friendly and the action taken in good faith.

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

Mr. Chamerorzow to President Lincoln

Sir: I am instructed by the committee of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society to forward to you an address on the occasion of your re-election to the presidency, passed on the 2d December last by the committee at their general monthly meeting, and unanimously adopted and confirmed at their next general monthly meeting held on the 6th current.

I am, sir, yours most respectfully,

Address.

To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:

SIR: The committee of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society beg to congratulate you upon your re-election to the high and responsible office of President of the United States. Were this result of the recent national vote simply an ordinary political event, indicating mere party preponderance, the committee would consider themselves precluded from thus referring to it; but inasmuch as in relation to the abolition of slavery, as enunciated by the Baltimore convention, and accepted by yourself, it is the emphatic indorsement by the people at large of a principle and of a policy, the triumph of which is also a triumph of justice and humanity, they consider they may with propriety address you on this auspicious occasion.

The committee have never ceased to deplore the dreadful calamity of the civil war, so demoralizing in its influences, which has rendered so many American homes desolate and plunged the nation into mourning, and would sincerely rejoice at the speedy termination of this fratricidal and most lamentable contest. They ardently desire that a way may soon be opened for the restoration of peace upon the firm basis of freedom and complete equality to all, irrespective of color or of race, over whom you have again, in the order of Providence, been called to rule.

The committee have deeply sympathized with you in the exceedingly difficult position in which you have been placed during the past four years, in dealing with the perplexing question of slavery, for the maintenance, consolidation, and extension of which wicked and hateful institution the south rebelled and rushed headlong into civil war.

The committee rejoice at the various measures which have been proposed and at the several enactments which have been carried by the administration under your presidency, having for their object the extinction of slavery throughout the whole of the States of the American Union, and sincerely trust that your re-election may encourage the Senate and the Congress to prosecute to a happy consummation the noble work so well commenced.

While, however, the committee acknowledge with extreme satisfaction the progress which has already been made towards the emancipation of the slaves, they feel much anxiety respecting the future status of the freedmen. With assured adequate majorities in the legislature, it is to be hoped that equal rights and privileges, such as are enjoyed by other citizens of the United States, may at once be accorded to the emancipated. An additional incentive to self-exertion would thus be given to the free colored population; the fear of the substitution of future serfdom for one of actual slavery could then no longer excite the distrust of the freed, and the institution of slavery itself would receive an additional and, probably, its exterminating blow. It is obvious that any ambiguity respecting the future social and political position of the freed as a class must be calculated to discourage them from exertion, to impede their progress, prolong the degradation of their race, and thereby the duration of slavery in other lands.

The committee trust that they are not mistaken in the conjecture that the unanimous acceptance by so large a majority of the people of the anti-slavery policy laid down at the Baltimore convention foreshadows the adoption of legislation in accordance with these views. They would respectfully submit that to emancipate a class from physical slavery, yet to deny it any of the rights and privileges enjoyed by other citizens, is to create a caste; to foster and stimulate prejudice against color; is a practical assertion of the inferiority of the emancipated race, and is calculated greatly to strengthen the policy of those who are fighting for the maintenance of slavery, while it may appear to leave the federal government open to the imputation of insincerity.

In offering you this address of congratulation on the occasion of your re-election, the committee believe they are also giving expression to the sentiments of the great majority of their fellow-countrymen. They devoutly hope that the national troubles may soon terminate, and that He, “through whom kings reign and princes decree justice,” may sustain you in the discharge of your great and arduous duties, and guide your counsels to found, in righteousness, an enduring peace.

On behalf of the committee: