The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-07
LINCOLNS DIPLOMACY.
How He Defeated the Scheme for a Franco
British Alliance i'm Aid of Secession.


H. V. B., in Cincinnati Commercial-5azetts.
Few men in Washington have q choicer.
collection of "reminiscences than General
Pleasanton, the distinguished cayalryman-
He served in the Florida war, and was
Harney's right-hand man at the time of the
Northwestern boundary dispute, and to-
him more than to any one officer is due the
adoption of that course which resulted in
securing San Juan to our government. His
campaigning has covered every section of
the continent where the flag of the Union
has ever fiOated over soldiers. His foreign
travel brought him In contact with men of
position, and the stories he relates are full
of interest
A few evenings since he repeated state
ment of remarkable interest In regard to
President Lincoln, which was given him IN
London, soon after the war, by leading
member of Parliament, with whom he had
close relations. The story formed deeply
interesting and most important history In
the noted case of Mason and Slidell. Ac-
cording to General Pleasonton's informant,
when the facts of the seizure of these con-
federates by Captain Wilkes became known
in England, Lord Palmerston was intrig-
uing with France to bring about a joint in
tervention against the North. He
ity afforded by the excitement over
the first news of the seizure to further his
crisis. The French authorities were enter
ing into Palmerston's scheme. Mr.. Lincoln,
who was kept fully informed of the prog
ress of events, became very much con-
cerned. Suddenly the English Premier and
those about him were astonished to know
that the Queen had received some sort of a
communication from President Lincoln.
which had not passed through their hands.
The story of General Pleasanton's inform
ant was this; Mr.. Lincoln, after grave
thought over the possible storm which Pal
merston's schemes might bring. determined
to ignore the slow and uncertain diplomatic
methods and du write personal Letter S
did, addressing her in very earnest terms,
as q ruler. wife and mother, and speaking
of himself as President, husband and
father, both deeply interested in the well
fare of their people, and both able to UNI
derstand and doubtless anxious to avert
the horrors of war between nations as
closely allied as England and America.
He then went on to speak briefly of the
that the taking of Mason and siideli from
an English ship should have put in peril
the relations of the two nations. He
closed by assuring the Queen that what
ever disposition of the case she might, in
the light of his letter, regard as Just and
honorable, he would see that it was
promptly accepted.
These were the substantial points of the
letter as they, were given, to General
Pleasanton by this member of Parliament.
who held near relations TO the Queens In
innate cOunselors.
According to the same authority, Queen
Victoria, upon receiving the letter, which
Mr.. Lincoln had sent over by the hand of n
special friend, submitted it to Prince Al
bert, who entered fully into the spirit of il
and advised the Queen to give it the fullest
and most friendly consideration. Prince
Albert further advised that Lord Palmer
ston, whose secret hostility TO the North
was well understood at the court, should
be sent for and informed in the most de-
cided terms that dispatch of friendly tone
must be sent to Washington. While the re-,
lease of Mason and Sliden and their two
companions was to be insisted upon,
it was to be done in such terms
as would not disturb peaceful relations.
Prince Albert, who was well aware OF
Palmerston's designs. suggested further
that he should be required TO submit his
dispatch to the Queen for inspection. This
was done. and as foreseen by the Prince,
here were several passages which did not
strictly conform to the general directions
he had received. At length satisfactory
draft was submitted, when Lord Palmer
ston was pointedly ordered to see that no
word of it was changed, and that it should
be dispatched at once.
The English gentleman who related these
facts insisted TO General Pleasonton that
this personal letter of President Lincoln
alone averted such action on the part of
Great Britain, acting in conclusion with
France, as would certainly have led To
active Intervention of both these powers in
favor of the South