The following is an extract from and English letter written,
says the New York Evening Post, by a most intelligent observer:
“Since the surrender of Mason and Slidell our position in
Europe is much better than it has been at any time before since the
rebellion. A strong reaction has set in
against the South and in our favor I am greatly mistaken if those gentlemen don’t
find a cheerless welcome in Europe. Mr.
Seward’s dispatches are widely and strongly commended, as well as the
magnanimity and sagacity of the Government.
That fact is, all Europe was frightened almost to death by the
apprehension that we meant to resist, for which they every day had increasing
evidence of our ability, if we were reckless enough of consequences about which
they had not much doubt. When they found
the men were delivered up, and in such a spirit, their gratitude was proportioned
to their selfishness and the feeling towards the South was changed in a
corresponding degree. The northern cause
now stands a great deal better in Europe than it did before the seizure. It was feared we were going to give England a
triumph as the champion of the rights of neutral commerce. When it was ascertained that we had caught
her in a trap, and, while vindicating our traditional policy, had brought her
mouth to the bucket, every one gave our Government the credit for having
achieved a masterly triumph. It will now
be very difficult to awaken any hostile feeling towards the North in Europe, if
it in any way can promote the interests of the Secession States. England has paid about £4,000,000 for a false
alarm, to say nothing of the depreciation in the sale of stocks, a good many
times as much more, and the Government may cry “Wolf!” now as often as they
please, they will not be headed.”
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2
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