It read: "Whereas, while _heretofore_ States, and Nations, have tolerated slavery, _recently_, for the first time in the world, an attempt has been made to construct a new Nation, upon the basis of, and with the primary, and fundamental object to maintain, enlarge, and perpetuate human slavery, therefore, _Resolved_: that no such embryo State should ever be recognized by, or admitted into, the family of Christian and civilized nations; and that all Christian and civilized men everywhere should, by all lawful means, resist to the utmost, such recognition or admission[964]." This American hope much disturbed Lyons.

On his return to Washington, in November, 1862, he had regarded the emancipation proclamation as a political manoeuvre purely and an unsuccessful one.

The administration he thought was losing ground and the people tired of the war.

This was the burden of his private letters to Russell up to March, 1863, but does not appear in his official despatches in which there was nothing to give offence to Northern statesmen.

But in March, Lyons began to doubt the correctness of these judgments.