The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-07-30
Lord Lyons on Horatio Seymour

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The English Blue Book contains a let
ter written by Lord Lyons, the English
minister to this country shortly after the
New York election in 1862 when Hora-
ito Seymour was elected Governor OF that
State. 1t gives an account Of certain
interviews had with him By leading Dem
ocrats on the OCCASION Of q visit by him
to New York. The English Government
was then anxiously awaiting a pretext to
acknowledge the independence Of jeff
Davis Government. The letter of Lord
Lyons is to inform the English Govern
ment of the situation in this country and
enable it to proceed intelligently. He
said that the leading Democrats who
sought interviews with him were exulting
in the Growing success achieved by
them in the State in the election of Mr.
Seymour as Governor, but within day
or two they were seriously disheartened
at the dismissal of General Mcclellan
He then speaks as follows Of the real pur-
poses of these men, chief representatives
in the nation was Horatio Seymour;
'Seyeral Of the leaders of the Demo
cratic party sought interview with me,
both before and after the arrival of the
intelligence of General McClellans diss-
missal The subject uppermost in their
minds, while they were speaking to me
was NATURALLY that of foreign mediation
between North and South, Many of
them seemed to think that this mediati n
must come at last; but they appeared
to be very much afraid Of its coming to
soon. It was evident that they appre-
hended that premature proposal OF for
eIgn intervention would afford the Radi-
cal party means Of reriUiag the riolent
tcar, spirit and Of thus defeating the
peaceful plans of the Conservatives
They appeared to regard the present
moment as peculiarly untavorable for such
an offer, and indeed, to hold that it would
be essential to the success of any propos-
al from abroad that it should be deferred
until the control Of the Executive Gov
eminent should be in the hands of the
Conservative party.
Il gave no opinion on the subject. [
did not say wether OF no myselfthought
foreign intervention probable or advisa
bic; but listened with attention to the
accounts given me Of the plans and hopes
OF the Conservative party. At the bot
tom 1 thought l preceiUed a desire to put
an end to the aCar, eUe1e at the riSA, Of i0stag
the Southern ,StdteS dttogGther; but it
was plain that it was notthought prudent
to avow this desire. Indeed some hints
Of it, dropped before the elections, were
so i'll received that strong declaration in
the contrary sense was deemed necessary
by the Democratic leaders,
Lord Lyons, Of course, SURPRISES
names. He only tells his Government
that several of the LEAD rs of the
Democratic party sought interyie,
with him. They came to advise with him
as to the best method for England to
intervene with effect. They wanted her
intervention successful Their converse
ton was such as to satisfy Lord Lyons
they were willing to see the Union dlvi
ded. Who were these men? Evidently
they were not obscure men. Lord Lyons
in an official communication to his Gov
eminent not made public till long after
wards, would not call obscure nlena as leaders
Of the Democratic party If Horatio
Seymour was not one of those who con
ferred with him as to the best method of
making Intervention by England success
full, it is clear that some OF his confien-
tial political friends were engaged in that
disgraceful and reasonable affair.