326 



CONGRESS, U. S. 



After a further debate the resolutions were 

 adopted. Yeas, 92 ; nays, 44. 



In the Senate, on the 3d of March, the fol- 

 lowing resolutions, offered by Mr. Sumner, of 

 Massachusetts, came up for consideration : 



Whereas, it appears from the diplomatic corres- 

 pondence submitted to Congress, that a proposition, 

 friendly in form, looking to pacification through for- 

 eign mediation, has been made to the United States by 

 the Emperor of the French, and promptly declined by 

 the President ; and whereas the idea of mediation or 

 intervention in some shape may be regarded by for- 

 eign Governments as practicable, and such Govern- 

 ments, through this misunderstanding, may be led to 

 proceedings tending to embarrass the friendly relations 

 which now exist between them and the United States ; 

 and whereas, in order to remove for the future nil 

 chance of misunderstanding on this subject, and to se- 

 cure for the United States the full enjoyment of that 

 freedom from foreign interference, which is one of 

 the highest rights of independent States, it seems fit 

 that Congress should declare its convictions thereon : 

 Therefore, 



Resolved (the House of Representatives concurring), 

 That while, in times past, the United States have 

 sought and accepted the friendly mediation or arbi- 

 tration of foreign powers for the pacific adjustment of 

 international questions, where the United States were 

 the party of the one part and some other sovereign 

 power the party of the other part ; and while they are 

 not disposed to misconstrue the natural and humane 

 desire of foreign powers to aid in arresting domestic 

 troubles, which, widening in their influence, have af- 

 flicted other countries; especially in view of the cir- 

 cumstance, deeply regretted by the American people, 

 that the blow aimed T>y the rebellion at the national 

 life has fallen heavily upon the laboring population of 

 Europe : yet, notwithstanding these things, Congress 

 cannot hesitate to regard every proposition of foreign 

 interference in the present contest as so far unreason- 

 able and inadmissible, that its only explanation will be 

 found in a misunderstanding of the true state of the 

 question, and of the real character of the war in which 

 the republic is engaged. 



.Resolved, That the United States are now grappling 

 with an unprovoked and wicked rebellion, which is 

 seeking the destruction of the republic that it may 

 build a new power, whose corner stone, according to 

 the confession of its chiefs, shall be slavery ; that for 

 the suppression of this rebellion, and thus to save the 

 republic and prevent the establishment of such a pow- 

 er, the National Government is now employing armies 

 and fleets, in full faith that through these efforts all 

 the purposes of conspirators and rebels will be crush- 

 ed ; that while engaged in this struggle, on which so 

 much depends, any proposition from a foreign power, 

 whatever form it may take, having for its object the 

 arrest of these efforts, is, just in proportion to its in- 

 fluence, an encouragement to the rebellion and to its 

 declared pretensions, and, on this account, is calculat- 

 ed to prolong and embitter the conflict, to cause in- 

 creasea expenditure of blood and treasure, and to post- 

 pone the much-desired day of peace ; that, with these 

 convictions, and not doubting that every such proposi- 

 tion, although made with good intent, is injurious to 

 the nationalinterests, Congress will be obliged to look 

 upon any further attempt in the same direction as an 

 unfriendly act, which it earnestly deprecates, to the 

 end that nothing may occur abroad to strengthen the 

 rebellion or to weaken those relations of good will with 

 foreign powers which the United States are happy to 

 cultivate. 



Resolved, That the rebellion from its beginning, and 

 far back even in the conspiracy which preceded its 

 outbreak, was encouraged by the hope of support from 

 foreign powers : that its chiefs frequently boasted that 

 the people of Europe were so far dependent upon re- 

 gular supplies of the great Southern staple, that sooner 



or later their Governments would be constrained to take 

 side with the rebellion in some effective form, even to 

 the extent of forcible intervention, if the milder form 

 did not prevail ; that the rebellion is now sustained by 

 this hope, which every proposition of foreign interfe- 

 rence quickens anew, and fhat without this life-giving 

 support it must soon yield to the just and paternal 

 authority of the National Government ; that, consider- 

 ing these things, which are aggravated by the motive 

 of the resistance thus encouraged, the United States 

 regret that foreign powers have not frankly told the 

 chiefs of the rebellion that the work in which they are 

 engaged is hateful, and that a new Government, such 

 as they seek to found, with slavery as its acknowledged 

 corner stone, and with no other declared object of sep- 

 arate existence, is so far shocking to civilization and 

 the moral sense of mankind, that it must not expect 

 welcome or recognition in the commonwealth of na- 

 tions. 



Resolved, That the United States, confident in the 

 justice of their cause, which is the cause also of good 

 government and of human rights everywhere among 

 men ; anxious for the speedy restoration of peace, 

 which shall secure tranquillity at home, and remove all 

 occasion of complaint abroad ; and awaiting with well- 

 assured trust the final suppression of the rebellion, 

 through which all these things, rescued from present 

 danger, will be secured for ever, and the republic, one 

 and indivisible, triumphant over its enemies, will con- 

 tinue to stand an example to mankind, hereby an- 

 nounce, as their unalterable purpose, that the war will 

 be vigorously prosecuted, according to the humane 

 principles of Christian states, until the rebellion shall 

 be overcome; and they reverently invoke upon their 

 cause the blessing of Almighty God. 



JResolved, That the President be requested to trans- 

 mit a copy of these resolutions, through the Secretary 

 of State, to the ministers of the United States in for- 

 eign countries, that the declaration and protest herein 

 set forth may be communicated by them to the Gov- 

 ernments to which they are accredited. 



They were adopted, without debate, by the 

 following vote : 



TEAS Messrs. Anthony. Arnold, Chandler, Clark, 

 Collamer, Davis, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, 

 Foster, Grimes, Harding, Harlan, Harris, Henderson, 

 Hicks, Howard, Howe, King, Lane of Indiana, Morrill, 

 Nesmith, Pomeroy, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, 

 Wade, Willey, Wilmot, and Wilson of Massachusetts 

 31. 



NATS Messrs. Carlile, Latham, Powell, Saulsbury, 

 and Wall 5. 



The resolutions were adopted by the follow- 

 ing vote in the House : 



YEAS Messrs. Aldrich, Alley, Arnold, Ashley, Bab- 

 bitt, Bailey, Baxter, Bingham, Jacob B. Blair, Samuel 

 S. Blair, Blake, Bridges, William G. Brown, Bufliuton, 

 Campbell, Casey, Chamberlain, Clark, Clements, Col- 

 fax, Frederick A. Conkling, Roscoe Conkling, Con- 

 way, Covode, Cutler, Dawes, Dunn, Edgerton, Eliot, 

 Ely, Fenton, Samuel C. Fessenden, Thomas A. D. Fes- 

 senden. Fisher, Flanders, Frnnchot, Frank, Goocb, 

 Goodwin, Granger, Gurlev, Haight, Hale, Harrison, 

 Horton, Hutchins, Julian, Kelley, Francis W. Kellogg, 

 William Kellogg, Leary, Lehman, Loomis, Law, Mo 

 Indoe, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Marston, May- 

 nard, Mitchell, Moorhead, Anson P. Morrill, Justin S. 

 Morrill, Nixon, Olin, Patton, Timothy G. Phelps, Pike, 

 Pomeroy, Porter, Alexander H. Rice, John H. Rice, 

 Edward H. Rollins, Sargeant, Sedgwick, Shacks, Shef- 

 field, Shellabarger, Sloan, Smith, Spaulding, Stevens, 

 Stratton, Benjamin F. Thomas, Francis Thomas, Train, 

 Trimble, Trowbridge, Van Valkenburgh, Van Wyck, 

 Verree, Walker, Wallace, Washburne, Webster, 

 Wheeler, Albert S. White, Wilson, Windom, Worces- 

 ter, and Wright 103. 



NAYS Messrs. William Allen, Ancona, Calvert, 

 Crittenden, Uunlap, Grider, Johnson, Kerrigan, Knapp, 

 Lazear, Mallory, May, Noble, Norton, Nugen, Pendle- 



