Mr. Seward to Mr. Motley.
Sir:Your despatch of December 1, No. 41, has been received, and your careful and temperate survey of the political field in Europe is appreciated.
At home the question first in practical importance is the renewal of our army, rendered necessary by an early expiration of the first enlistments. The process of renewal is successful.
The second question is that of reorganization in the insurrectionary States. Not time enough has elapsed to enable us to judge whether the plan suggested by the President will be generally adopted. It meets, however, less opposition than the policy in regard to slaves announced in the annual message of 1862–’63, and there is reason to hope that if it shall not prove acceptable, it will open the way to some other plan that will be at once feasible and satisfactory to the country. Major General Butler reports that 8,000 citizens of Virginia, within the military district under his command, have already taken the oath of allegiance proposed in the President’s recent proclamation.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
J. Lothrop Motley, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Vienna.