“Earl Russell has fallen into several grave errors in the
course of his remarks. He has utterly misconceived the
whole temper of Mr. Sumner’s speech, when he says that ‘it
weighs the difficulties of the English Government in an
unequal balance,’ and that it is ‘an epitome of almost all
that has been contained by the press of America’ on the
subject of the ill-feeling against Great Britain and her
neutrality, so generally prevalent among us. The feeling
evoked by the belligerent articles of the New York _Herald_
is one of far different character from that produced by Mr.
Sumner’s remarks. Lord Russell charges him with injustice
to the English people. Had he read the speech to which he
professes to reply with more care, there would have been
found no ground to sustain such a charge.”
In France the speech of Mr. Sumner was published in an abridged
form, under the following title:--
“Les Relations Extérieures des États-Unis. Préface et
Traduction abrégée par A. Malespine [of the _Opinion
Nationale_]. Paris, 1863.” 31 pp. 8vo.
The eminent historian, Henri Martin, writing in the _Siècle_ on
American affairs, alluded to the speech.
“We will not close these considerations without
recommending to the readers of the _Siècle_ the eloquent
appeal addressed to public opinion by one of the greatest
citizens of the United States, Charles Sumner, Chairman
of the Committee of Foreign Relations in the American
Senate. The French translation of this discourse on the
_Foreign Relations of the United States_ has just appeared.
He treats here the question of foreign intervention in
fact and in right, demonstrates in a victorious manner,
according to our opinion, that the South had not the
title to be admitted as a belligerent, and considers
it impossible that France and England can recognize a
political society founded on Slavery. We think to-day the
cause gained. Neither the sons of ’89 nor the country of
Wilberforce will have this stain on their history.”
These various testimonies at home and abroad, where criticism
is not wanting, show that Mr. Sumner did not speak in vain.
Evidently he obtained a hearing for the national cause.