I have told him that I have postponed my motion in courtesy to him--that the sympathy of nine-tenths of the members of the House was in favour of immediate recognition, and that even if the Government was not prepared to accept my motion, a majority of votes might have been obtained in its favour--that a majority of votes _would_ be obtained within the next fortnight, and I expressed the most earnest hope that the Government would move (as the country, and France, are most anxious for them to do so) and thus prevent the necessity of any private member undertaking a duty which belonged to the Executive.
"I further told his Lordship that recognition was a _right_ which no one would deny us the form of exercising, that the fear of war if we exercised it was a delusion.

That the majority of the leading men in the Northern States would thank us for exercising it, and that even Seward himself might be glad to see it exercised so as to give him an excuse for getting out of the terrible war into which he had dragged his people.

I further said, that if the question is settled _without_ our recognition of the South, he might _rest certain_ that the Northern Armies _would_ be marched into Canada.

I hope my note may produce the desired results, and thus get the Government to take the matter in hand, for _sub rosa_, I saw that the House was not _yet_ prepared to vote, and the question is far too grave to waste time upon it in idle talk, even if talk, without action, did no harm." ] [Footnote 649: _Ibid._, Slidell to Mason, June 17, 1862.] [Footnote 650: _Ibid._, Mason to Slidell, June 19, 1862.] [Footnote 651: _Ibid._] [Footnote 652: Hansard, 3rd.Ser., CLXVII, p.

810.] [Footnote 653: Mason Papers.