William H. Seward to Horatio J. Perry, February 22, 1862

Mr. Seward to Mr. Perry.

Sir: Your confidential despatch of January 19 (No. 25) was duly received.

A nation that suffers itself to be divided by factions arrayed against each other in civil war can expect only intrusive intermeddling at first, and sooner or later intervention and conquest by foreign powers. There is no friendship of one nation towards another that can survive the sacrifice of that nation’s self-respect and self-sustaining power.

Let us be thankful that we have gained the time which was necessary to combine so large a people as ours, spread over so vast a continent, and bring them to the necessary conviction of the dangers from which the country is to be saved. Since your despatch was written a series of successes of the Union arms has been opened, which is regarded as auspicious of a speedy end of the insurrection. We have therefore dismissed, at least for the present, our apprehensions of foreign danger. Felicitating you upon this pleasing condition of affairs,

I remain, sir, your obedient servant,