Had that plan been adopted, no matter how friendly in intent, there is little question that Lewis' forebodings would have been realized and war would have ensued between England and the North.

But also whatever its results in other respects the independence of the South would have been established.
Slavery, hated of Great Britain, would have received a new lease of life--and by British action.

In the Cabinet argument all parties agreed that Lincoln's emancipation proclamation was but an incitement to servile war and it played no part in the final decision.

Soon that proclamation was to erect a positive barrier of public opinion against any future efforts to secure British intervention.

Never again was there serious governmental consideration of meddling in the American Civil War[845].
FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 734: Motley, _Correspondence_, II, 71.