He concluded with a vigorous assertion that if the Ministry were to administer the affairs of the nation it ought to be trusted in foreign affairs and not have its hands tied by parliamentary expressions of opinion at inopportune moments.

Finally, the South had not yet securely established its independence and hence could not be recognized.
This motion, if carried, would place England on a definite side and thus be fatal to any hope of successful mediation or intervention in the future.

Having now made clear the policy of the Government Palmerston did not insist upon a division and the motion was withdrawn[705].
On the surface Lindsay's effort of July 18 had resulted in ignominious failure.

Lyons called it "ill-timed....

I do not think we know here sufficiently the extent of the disaster [to McClellan] to be able to come to any conclusion as to what the European Powers should do." But the impression left by the debate that there was a strong parliamentary opinion in favour of mediation made Lyons add: "I suppose Mercier will open full cry on the scent, and be all for mediation.