Rochdale,
March 9, 1863.
My Dear Mr. Motley:
I should have written to you sooner, but I have been a week away from town and
from home in consequence of the death of my father-in-law at Newcastle-on-Tyne,
and for a week past I have been unable to sit down to write, owing to a violent
cold, with cough and feverishness, which has made me incapable of any business
or exertion.
Your letter gave me much pleasure, and I know not that there
is anything in it on your great question that I do not agree with. I am glad to
find that you have observed the change of feeling which has taken place in this
country, and I hope it has not been without effect in the United States.
Coming down from the War of Independence and from the War of
1812, there has always been in this country a certain jealousy of yours. It has
been felt by the ruling class that your escape from George III, and our
aristocratic government has been followed by a success and a progress of which
England could offer no example. The argument could not be avoided, If Englishmen
west of the Atlantic can prosper without Crown, without Lords, without Church,
without a great territorial class with feudal privileges, and without all this
or these can become great and happy, how long will Englishmen in England
continue to think these things necessary for them? Any argument in favor of
freedom here, drawn from your example, was hateful to the ruling class; and
therefore it is not to be wondered at that a great disaster happening to your
country and to its Constitution should not be regarded as a great calamity by
certain influential classes here. Again, the rich, made rich by commerce, are
generally very corrupt: the fluctuations of politics suddenly influence their
fortunes, and they are more likely to take the wrong side than the right one.
Thus, in London, Liverpool, and Manchester, on the Stock Exchange and the
commercial exchanges, are found many friends of the South, from the stupid idea
that, if the North would not resist, peace would of necessity be restored.
But, apart from these classes, the mind of the nation is
sound, and universally among the working-classes there is not only a strong
hatred of slavery, but also a strong affection for the Union and for the
Republic. They know well how literally it has been the home of millions of
their class, and their feelings are entirely in its favor. The meetings lately
held have not generally been attended by speakers most likely to draw great
audiences, and yet no building has been large enough to contain those who have
assembled. The effect of these meetings is apparent in some of our newspapers,
and on the tone of Parliament. In the House of Commons there is not a whisper
about recognition or mediation in any form, and so far I see no sign of any
attempt to get up a discussion on the part of any friends of the South. I am
not certain just now that the most cunning and earnest friends of the South are
not of opinion that it is prudent to be quiet on another ground besides that of
a public disinclination to their cause: they think the South has more to hope
now from dissensions at the North than from European sympathy; and they believe
that nothing would so rapidly heal dissensions at the North as any prospect of
recognition or interference from France or England. I gather this from what I
heard a short time ago from a leading, perhaps the leading, secessionist in the
House of Commons.
So far as England is concerned, every idea of interference
in any way seems to be quite abandoned. A real neutrality is the universally
admitted creed and duty of this country, and I am convinced that there is a
wide-spread dissatisfaction with the tardy action of the government by which
the Alabama was allowed to get out to sea.
Two days before Parliament met I made a speech to a meeting
mainly of working-men in this town. The object of the meeting was to vote
thanks to the New York merchants and others for their contributions to our
distressed operatives. I spoke to show them how hostile the pretensions of the
South not only to negro freedom, but to all freedom, and, especially, to
explain to them the new theory that all difficulties between capital and labor
would be got rid of by making all labor into capital, that is, by putting my
workmen into the position of absolute ownership now occupied by my horses! The
people here understand all this. Cheap newspapers have done much for them of
late, and I have no fear of their going wrong.
But, seeing no danger here, what can be said for your own
people? The democratic leaders in some of the States seem depraved and corrupt
to a high degree. It seems incredible that now, after two years of war, there
should be anybody in the North in favor of slavery, and ready rather to peril
and to ruin the Union than to wound and destroy the great cause of all the
evil; yet so it is, and doubtless the government is weakened by this exhibition
of folly and treason. Military successes will cure all this — but can they be
secured? Time has allowed the South to consolidate its military power and to
meet your armies with apparently almost equal forces. To me it seems that too
much has been attempted, and that, therefore, much has failed. At this moment
much depends on Vicksburg; if the river be cleared out, then the conspiracy
will be cut into two, and the reputation of the administration will be raised.
If, again, Charleston be captured, the effect in Europe will be considerable,
and it will cause much disheartenment through the South. But if neither can be
done, I think the North will be sick of its government, if not of the war, and
it will be difficult to raise new forces and to continue the war. Another year
must, I think, break down the South, but something must be done and shown to
make it possible for Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward to conduct this contest through
another campaign.
I cannot believe in the notions of the New York “Times” as
to French intervention. The Mexican mess is surely enough for the appetite of
Louis Napoleon. Perhaps the story is got up to give more unity to the Northern
mind. I can trace it no further than this. Your cause is in your own hands. I
hope Heaven may give you strength and virtue to win it. All mankind look on,
for all mankind have a deep interest in the conflict. Thank you for all your
kind words to myself. I shall always be glad to have a letter from you.
Ever yours sincerely,
John Bright.
SOURCE: George William Curtis, editor, The
Correspondence of John Lothrop Motley in Two Volumes, Library Edition,
Volume 2, p. 318-22
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