‘ [403] this Republic to require of the government of France, that her armed forces be withdrawn from the territories of Mexico,’ and on the 3d of February, when the Resolutions came up for consideration, Mr. McDOUGALL made an elaborate speech, in which he doubtless expressed the prevailing sentiment of the Senate, and of the country, so far as the intervention of France and our sympathy with Mexico were concerned. But it was in violation of all prudential considerations, under the circumstances. In the affairs of nations, sometimes those things that are right in themselves, are altogether wrong, all things considered. Mr. McDOUGALL did not make this distinction. But statesmanship could not afford to overlook it. In speaking on this subject, Mr. Lincoln expressed the same words that he did to me when the Trent matter came up, which were exactly these, as he afterwards wrote them to me himself: ‘At that time, we were not prepared to shoulder fresh troubles, having all we could carry, of our own.’ So thought Mr. Sumner, who, in reply to Senator McDougall, said:
Mr. President,—At the present moment there is one touchstone to which I am disposed to bring every question, especially in our foreign relations; and this touchstone is its influence on the suppression of the Rebellion. A measure may in itself be just or expedient; but if it would be a present burden, if it would add to our embarrassments and troubles, and especially if it would aggravate our military condition, then, whatever may be its merits, I am against it. To the suppression of the Rebellion the country offers life and treasure without stint, and it expects that these energies shall not be sacrificed or impaired by the assumption of any added responsibilities. If I bring these Resolutions to this touchstone, they fail. They may be right or wrong in fact or principle, but their influence at this moment, if adopted, must be most prejudicial to the cause of the Union. Assuming the tone of friendship to Mexico, they practically give to the
