The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-27 00:00:00

Mr. Adams, the American Minister, on the
War.

In pursuance of the proclamation of the President of the
United States, inviting his "fellow-citizens in every part of
the United States, and also those who are at sea and those
who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and ob-
serve the last Thursday of November as a day of thanks-
giving and prayer to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in
heaven," a number of Americans resident in London assem-
bled at an elegant banquet at St. James's Hall, under the
presidency of the Hon. It. J. Walker. The day was ob-
served as a holiday by the Americans in London and in all
parts of the country, and business was suspended at the lega-
tion and at the consulates. The banquet last night was at-
tended by his Excellency the American Minister, Mr.
Adams, and by the secretaries of the embassy, Mr. Wilson
and Mr. Moran.
The proceedings of the evening were commenced by a
brief address from the Hon. Be J. Walker, who called upon
Mr. Hunting to read the Thanksgiving Proclamation of
President Lincoln. This having been done, prayer was
offered up by Mr. Seller Martin, a negro, in whose adven-
tures as a runaway the public were a short time since much
interested. The company present then sang in unison a
hymn composed for the occasion.
At the banquet the chair was taken by the Hon. Mr.
Walker, who, after having delivered an address on the origin
and progress of the rebellion, and the prospects of its speedy
suppression, proposed "The Health of the President of the
United States''--a toast which was drank with great enthu-
siasm.
Mr. ADAMS, the American Minister, in acknowledging
the toast, said-1 thank you for the honour you have done
me be calling upon me to respond to the toast of the Presi-
dent of the United States. Of late years we have rather
got out of the habit of giving any great amount of lauda-
tion to the President of the United States. There may
have been causes for that, which you will all understand.
I will say with respect to our chief magistrate at present
that he has not had himself any such amount as would be
likely to turn his head. (A laugh.) Not one-half so much
indeed as you, sirs, have showered upon me this evening.
On the contrary, it has become the practice of our people
generally to lay upon the President the responsibility for
any mistake which is committed by anybody, and any
misfortune which happens at any time. There is hardly a
single act which he does against which there is not found
somebody or other to carp. Even with respect to his pro-
clamation asking us to have a thanksgiving day, I have
seen it sometime remarked that it was a most extraordinary
thing that at the time that seemed to be one of noth;ng but
calamity in the United States—when there was an immense
loss of life going on, and great destruction of property, and
painful distress in all classes, the idea that the President of
the United States should have taken such an occasion to
'call upon his fellow-ci:izens to give thanks to God seemed
to indicate either great moral obtuseness or a savage vin-
dictive feeling of joy at the distress of the people whom ho
was trying to subject. Now, it is upon this point that I
propose to offer a few remarks. lam perfectly willing to
concede that this is a time of great calamity. I believe
that the peat majority, indeed almost all, of our people in
America feel that it is a calamity which they would gladly
have avoided if they could, but they have been obliged to
view it as much of a necessary evil as if it had been an
earthquake or an inundation. (Cheers.) It was an afflic-
tion which they could not avoid. Under these citcum-
stancces, all that they could do was to apply themselves as
promptly as possible to the perfection of a remedy and a
restoration. This could only be done through perseverance
in the war. (Cheers.) But we are asked what is the precise
blessing for which we are at present to give God thanks ?
In order to get something like a correct idea of this matter,
it will bo necessary for me to recal to your mind, as briefly
as possible, the course of events since the time when the Pres-
ident came into office. I scarcely need say to you, what I be-
lieve is perfectly well known to every one, that that gentleman
came to his post with less of practical experience in govern.
ment than any individual had done since the foundation
of the Government. (Cheers.) He came into office at a time
of the greatest difficulty and danger which had occurred
since the foundation of the Government. (Cheers.) He,
as you will all recollect, found himself occupying a position
in which all the portions of the edifice of government seemed
crumbling around him. Why, it was exceedingly doubtful
even whether the President would be able to arrive at the
place where he would assume the performance of his duties.
It was only by a little contrivance that he succeeded in
defeating the plot which had been formed for the seizure of
his person, and so disabled the country from arriving at
the constitutional organisation of the executive Depart-
ment. (Cheers.) He came to 'Washington, and was quali-
fied President. But President of what? He looked
around him on all the branches of the departments of the
Executive Government, and everything seemed to be shak-
ing under him. He looked to the organisation of his own
immediate department, and he found that whatever he
touched it was unsound. So ingeniously had the poison of
rebellion been disseminated through all the ramifications of
the Government, that treachery was cropping out at all
points. (Cheers.) He had to begin by a thorough scru
tiny of men, from those occupying the uppermost seats
down to almost the lowest place. There was a necessity
for searching reform by which the lurking, not less than
the compact treason and treachery were to be eliminated
from the body politic. (Cheers.) That work has now
been done. (Cheers.) The Government in its affairs at
Washington is now safe, and is served faithfully. (Cheers.)
Is not this something to be thankful for ? (Cheers.) Is
not this something for which we have a right to echo the
President's appeal to us to meet together and to be thank-
ful on this occasion. (Cheers.) But this was not by any
means the worst point. The President looked Upon the
Foreign Department of his Government, and when
ho
cast his eyes abroad there was not to be found one single
individual in the foreign service of the Government that
sympathised with him in his feelings or his
Nay more, there was not in the serdualcul-
ties. vice of
the Government—with the exception of some cautious
individual who did not choose to commit himself—
scarcelyd dis
•
a person who was not practically
trust of the Government under which heisseMinating
was serving.
(Cheers.) Not a few of them produced a very considerable
effect in almost every country of Europe in creating that opi-
nion which became prevalent that the complete
of the old system was at hand and that a
newone subversion
in e
vi
table. 1 have a little anecdote in connection with this subject
to tell you. Very shortly after the election of Mr. Lincoln he
did me the honour to designate
ou me as the individual to come
out and represent the
h ry at this Court. I came out as
soon as I could.
I got country
inauguration ofytahsePres ere in about two months after the
president. On my arrival the first news
which met me
as the newspapers that three distinguished commissioners,
called them, had come out from the rebel
authorities,
and were at that time in London. I had the
pleasure of learning also that these commissioners bad con-
fidently announced among their friende, that before 1 should
reach London the Government and capital' of Washington
woula be in their hands; consequently, I should stand nho
chance of being received by the British Governinenti
representative of the United States.
That is simply a specimen of the mode
wnhcli°not without
of persons laboured throughout (Cheers anda
atrataclass
Fffect. And it has taken alt the tEimuer°f;:;a
a tolerable
to inspire the different concedes of Europo awith
at day to this
the Government
share of confidence in all men to
of the United States. (Cheers.) maintainNv l think we have got
so far that I begin to feel as ifo
Europe have seen reason to
cNouOld assure you, Mr. Pre.
sident, that the Governments
es.) An now, I say, after scarcely
the United States. (Ce hseeee a change of this kind has taken
Foreign Department is working once more
three years, when w
place, when the
(Cheers.) Is it not a fitting
faithfully and harmoniously—have we not, I say, got some-
?this restoration ? But let me
thing in this teoetbeantdharne
jkofiuclefoonr
occasion to meet
go a step further, When the President looked upon the
treasury Department he found that so ingeniously had the