Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-02-09


"Good"' he said. 1--WE intended, when
we wrote out those instructions last
night, to send them by one of our at
taches, but / had rather send them by
you. 1t is lucky all around that Mr.
ColfaX brought you over this morning.
] want to say to you both our saliva
tion depends on our diplomats in
Europe. Il they make mistake now,
we ore gone sure. No earthly power
can save us. | have instructed Mr.,
Seward TO say to Mr.. Adams, also to
Mr.. Dayton, that they must not only
protest against but prevent the recog-
milton of the COnfedcracy at any
hazard. ! would as soon have England
and France issue q proclamation Of
war against us. and done with it. Then
at least we should know how we stood.
If the English and French give rs a
reason for such recognition our in
effective blockade, our ministers
must say to them we will either
make it effective or raise it; that we
will protect foreign commerce if it
takes every penny of our resources.
We only want to protect ourselves
against the privateers who will soon
swarm over the ocean under their
letters of marque. Our navy yard and
ships at Norfolk have been destroyed.
This cripples us, but only for the mo-
ment.
"The main point is this, that we wish
to receive through the regular chan
nels of diplomacy assurances not only
that the COnfcderacy will not be recog
niZed, but that England and France
will sustain this administration in the
enforcement of the laws. You 90 not
merely as a messenger of the state de-
partment-yOu are my personal envoy,
commissioned to give to those gentle
men, as best you can, my ideas of how
important it is that they shall act
promptly and with decision.
Il will put Mr.. ColfaX in communi-
cation with Judge Douglas. You must
come back to London from Paris, loaf
around there and pick up all the in
formation you think in any way re-
liable. That you will report to Judge
Douglas, and he in turn will report it
to me, through the medium of Mr..
COlfaX. This, l think, Will be better
and much safer than to have it come
through ordinary channels.
"But this is immaterial. The thing
is, get information, get all the informa-
ton you can, and let me have it as
quickly and as safely as possible. AS to
money, shall have your account
transferred to the executive emergency
fund and shall myself act as voucher
Your present mission ends upon June
80. You can either come back then
and report to me in person or stay
over there, if you find you can be of use.
Either way, we will make it all right
with you. Indeed" turning to Mr.. Col
fax, "ColfaX, we must look after this
young man if he is as faithful to us as
know he has been to Judge Douglas"
Then he said goodby-a last good
by, little as | then thought it to be-
| meant to come back in three months
at most. On my arrival in London |
drove directly to our embassy. Minister
Adams was in. lie glanced at the
envelope l had brought and gave me
a cordial greeting, then broke the
seals and read the instructions, after
which he looked up, saying, ''Do you
know the contents?" Il do not"
said, but the president kindly gave
me his views regarding certain mat
ters which | am at liberty to repeat
to you" With that preface l told him
as exactly as l could, and very earnest
ly, all that Mr.. Lincoln had said. He
listened most attentively, and evidently
felt that l spoke truthfully. When |
had finished he said: "While l receive
you simply as a bearer of dispatches
which require no answer through you,
either sealed orverbal, | take pleasure in
recognizing you as personal friend Of
the president, and on your return from
Paris l wish you would call on me; then
l may have something to say" On my
arrival at Paris | found Minister Dayton
was absent, so | was compelled to give
my packet into the hands of the under
secretary of legation and keep my
verbal instructions for Il more convcn-
lent season. On my return to London
i'll news awaited me. Judge Douglas
was dead, and with hiIN all ambition
on my part for either military OF
political career.