Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-03


don Meeting Of OfJanuary 29th.
The last mail from Europe brought the
following reply on behalf Of President
Lincoln to an address which was adopted
at meeting held in London, on January
29tb, received by the chairman of the
Emancipation Society through Minister
Adams:
To the Citizens of London vhO 1Osrs convened
in Exeter Hall on the29th Of January last;
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHINGToN,
April 25th, 1868.
The proceedings Of meeting Of British
subjects, citizens Of London, in Exeter Hall,
on the 29th Of January last, which were
transmitted to the undersigned, have, In
compliance with Teque tc0ntalned there
in, been laid before the President Of the
United States.
1t would have been most gratifying to
the President If the insurrection which IS
existing in the United States could have
been confined within such bounds as to
prevent it from disturbing the prosperity
or otherwise engaging the attention Of
friendly nations. Fully convinced that
auv State which suffers itself to become
dependent on the aid or even the sympathy
of a foreign Power, is equally unable and
unfit to live, the President has been espe-
| oislly careful to refrain from making any
appeal to friendly States, and even from
seeming to attempt to influence their
opinions upon the merits Of the present
conflict further than has appeared to be
necessary to avert ill-considered and
| wrongful intervention. At the same time
the President has neither questioned the
right of other nations and communities to
form and express their opinions concern
ing the results Of the questions raised by
the insurrection and the policy which the
Government has adopted in suppresslng H.
nor has he complained Of the manner IN
which that right has been exercised. On
the contrary, he believes that the ultimate
and impartial judgment Of mankind upon
all such questions is entitled to universal
respect and acquiescence.
Circumstances which neither this Go
yernment nor that of Great Britain created
or could control have rendered it unavoid
able that the cause, character, tendency
and objects of the insurrection should o.
discussed in that country with scarcely
less freedom and earnestness than IN oul
own. The results Of that discussion, If i
shall continue to be conducted in just anc
impartial spirit, may be taken as fore
shadowing in some degree the ultimate
Judgment Of mankind. 1t is, therefore
with sincere satisfaction that the Presiden
learns from the proceedings now under
consideration that large, respectable ant
intelligent portion Of the British people
have an unprompted investigation arrived
at the conclusion that the existing rebel
lion violates the principles ofpolitical jus
tice, and that they protest against it as {
wrong to the human race because 1t seek
to displaee q Government which is baseC
on the rights Of man, to make room for th'
establishment of another which is to res
upon human bondage as its cornerstone.
The President would not do justice to hi
habitual sentiments if he were to omit t,
express also the satisfaction with which b
has found that, in all cases, those who ar
most Just in their sentiments toward tn
United States, are also the most earnest II
their desire for the preservation Of inter
national peace and friendship. The cir
cumstsnce supplies to this Government
new motive for adhering to its determines
policy of peace, justice and Friendship
toward all nations, and especially TOWARD
Great Britain. have the honor to be
your very obedient servant,
(signed), WILLIAM H. SEWARD.