Lincoln's Diplomacy

[Don1946]

(01-22-2014 11:58 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(01-22-2014 11:10 AM)Don1946 Wrote:  Seward feared an emancipation edict would prompt European intervention and CSA independence. Lincoln thought it would bring the foreign public on the Union's side and make it impossible for any European nation to side with those fighting to preserve slavery.

But Lincoln was absolutely right in this case, wasn't he? The issuing of the Emancipation Declaration indeed changed the Europeans' point of view on the war, Britain's first of all (but the French, German, and Italian as well), and they indeed sided with the Union as soon as they believed the war was about ending slavery. Before they hadn't really understood the reason for war at all, also due to lack of reliable information and insight.

At first it appeared that Seward was right. The closest Britain ever came to intervention, to end the war on the basis of separation, was in September-October 1862. Rumors of the proclamation encouraged Earl Russell, the foreign minister, to go forward.
Gladstone made a speech days after news of the proclamation arrived announcing that the South had "made a nation" and it was time Britain recognized it.
What threw a monkey wrench into the British plans was the failure of France to join in, but also the refusal of Russia and other countries. France was distracted by Garibaldi's march on Rome. The French were protecting Rome and when Garibaldi was wounded and imprisoned it set off a wave of demonstrations across Europe and a shake up in Napoleon III's cabinet. From prison Garibaldi issued his "letter to the English nation" that called upon Britain to stand by its "daughter" America in its struggle against slavery.
It was not until the next year that the British public really came out strong for the Union, after the proclamation went into effect. Hundreds of meetings took place.
In France such political gatherings were banned but public sentiment began to turn in support of the Union.
In short, Seward was right at first, but Shurz was ultimately. Lincoln bet on the right idea and took the side of emancipation vs the cynical expectation that Europe would follow its material interests without heeding public opinion and the moral issue of slavery.