The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-09 00:00:00

AMERICA.

THE NEW YORK PRESS ON EUROPEAN

MEDIATION.

LIVERPOOL, TIIIKIDAT._

The Royal Mail steamship Europa, Captain
Moodie, which left Boston on the 26th, Halifax on
the night of the 27th, and was intercepted off Cape
Race on the 29th ult., arrived in the Mersey about
two this morning.

NEW YORK, Nov. 25.

The steamship Arabia was intercepted off Cape
Race yesterday, and the news of the dissent of t►e
English cabinet from the French proposal for
mediation was obtained.

The New York journals contain but few com-
ments this morning on the subject.
The New York Herald has the following :

The Arabia, off Cape Race, with a week's later news,
brings some important intelligence—not important because
it is absolutely new—but because it now bean an official
stamp and seal. Napoleon has actually taken John Bull by
the horns and proposed mediation in American affairs. He
seeks the cooperation of Russia and England in a tripartite
alliance to heal the difficulties in this country by gently
patting both parties on the back with soft words. Accord-
ing to the official papers now laid before the world, England
has emphatically refused to join the alliance, and correctly
doubts if Russia will have a hand in the matter. She pre.
fere her neutrality with the hope that the North and South
will finally succeed in destroying themselves, when she can
step in and gather up the pieces for her own aggrandisement
and power.
Thus the matter stood on Nov. 16. It is clearly mani-
fest from these developments that intervention never had
any strength in Europe, and the recent conclusions of the
rebel journals in regard to European recognition appear to
have been based upon correct information. This news, of
course, banishes in the South all hopes of foreign aid and
comfort. It will be of service to the rebels. It will show
them the folly of persisting in their rebellion. It must con.
visce them that unaided they cannot withstand the over-
whelming power of the loyal states. Let this lemon from
the three great powers, bitter as it may be to the Southern
leaders, have its intluenceorith the people of the seceded
states. They may now abandon all hope of outside sasist-
atlee. _ _

---
Whatever view we may take of the conduct and policy of
Napoleon on this great question, we are indebted to him
for being the means of setting at rest, officially and de-
cidedly, the idea that had possession of many minds, that
the leading powers of Europe would interfere in our do-
medic affairs, and thus destroy us as a nation. Although
we are indebted to the Emperor for demolishing this silly
notion, yet we really owe our safety to our enormous re-
sources and their wonderful development in our improvised
iron-clad navy and our gallant army in the field.
The New York Times says :
The most important piece of news which bas reached us
from Europa the present year is that brought by the Arable,
and telegraphed off Cape Race lest night, in relation to
the proposed mediation of France and England in the Ame-
rican quarreL It is at least verified that the French Em-
peror has seriously meditated intervention, and has
actually proposed to the English government a joint offer
of mediation to stop the American war. The fact that it
is Minister Drouyn de Lhuys so recently taking his
place in the Emperor's cabinet that initiates this movement
is significant—almost sinister—as indicating the willingeess
of the French government to interpose its influence to stop
the war at a moment when all the advantages in a military
aspect are in favour of the Union—when its armies are
largest and most efficient, and prepared to give the finish-
ing blow to the rebellion. This disclosure is not in ac-
eardrum with concurrent testimony from France during
the war and up to the present tints. We had been led
very generally to believe that no government in Europe
was more firmly fixed in the views of the utter impolicy of
meddling with the American rebellion than that of the
French.
The divulgement at last of the consultations that have I
taken place between the governments of England, France,
and ROODS, in regard to American affairs, will be beneficial
to all parties concerned, and we suppose we on this side of
the water are most deeply concerned of any. It will give
a definiteness to American policy that will leave the govern-
ments of Europe no room to doubt what will be the result
when they shape and indicate their own course. Whatever
is done or said hereafter will be done and said with a distinct
understanding of the very grave interests involved.
The proposition of the French Emperor, it seems, was to
unite with England in an offer of friendly mediation in the
American quarrel. We were to be asked perhaps to sub-
mit to their judgment the question whether the seceded
states should be recognised as an independent government
or not. In view of the fact that English ministers hold
the opinion that the American Union is a nuisance which
ought to be abated, the nature of their ballot on our destiny
if once placed in their bands will not be doubted, while
the offer of the South to both England and France of per-
fect free trade on the recognition of its independence would
hardly leave the latter an wholly disinterested umpire.
The reply of Earl Russell to the circular of M.Drouyn de
Lhuys discloses more than et first strikes one. He declines
to join the French government in the proposed mediation,
first because he believes there are as yet no signs that it
would be received by the United States government with
favour ; but secondly (and it seems to as mainly), because
that, up to the present time the Russian government had
not agreed to co-operate, although it may support the en-
deavours of England and France."
We do not wish to suspect the English government of
malevolence towards us verging to unfriendly demonetise
tioes, but we do not like that phrase in regard to Russia.
If it is " moral suasion" only that England was contem-
plating, in what respect was the abuses of the " active
co-operation " of Russia a baulk to mediation, provided
that power " supportA the (moral) endeavour" of France
and England? Was there anything cootemplated in the
contingency of the utter rejection of mediation that ren-
dered the " active co-operation" of Russia a desirable thing
to have!
There will be a long train of conjectures and speculations
suggested by this exposure of European diplomacy. It
Was not without a reason it is given to the world. What
the reason and purpose is we will not attempt here to dis-
cover, but earnestly hope the progress of the national arms
will not give occasion to a revival of the consultation now
temporarily dismissed, or suspended we had better say, by
Earl Russell.

The President has issued the following order :

Executive ilitosioe, Nov. 13.

Ordered by the President of the United States, that the
Attorney.geoeral be charged with the superintendence and
direction of all proceedings to be had under the vet of Con-
gress of 17th July, 1962, entitled "An act to suppress in-
surrection, punish treason and rebellion, seize and confis-
cate the property of rebels, and for other purposes," in so
far as may concern the seizure, prosecution, and con.
demnation of the estate, property, and effects
of rebels and traitors, as mentioned and provided for in '
the sth. 6th, and 7th sections of the s►id act of Congress;
and the Attorney. General is authorised and required to
give to the attorneys and marshals of the United States
such instructions and directions as he may find needful, and
touching all seizures, prosecutions, and condemnation ; and,
moreover, to authorise all such attorneys and marshals,
whenever there may be reasonable ground to fear any forcible
resistance to the act in the discharge of their respective
duties in this behalf, to call upon any military offioer In
I command of the forces of the United States to give them
such aid, protection, and support, as may be necessary to
enable them safely and efficiently to discharge their re-
spective duties ; and all such commanding officers are re-
quired promptly to obey such call, and to render the nee's-
miry service as far as may be in their power, consistently
with their other duties.

(Sigped) ABEAULI LINCOLN.
By the Prisident.

The War Department has hawed the following
order relating to the discharge of arrests :

War Department, Washington, Nov. n

Ordered : First,—That all persons now in military cus-
tody, who have been arrested for discouraging volunteer
enlistments, opposing the draft., or for otherwise giving aid
and comfort to the enemy, in states where the draft has
been made or the quota of volunteers and militia has bees
furnished, shall be discharged from further military
restraint.

Second,—That persona who, by authority of the military
commanders or governors in rebel stake, have been
arrested and sent from such statee for disloyalty or hostility
to the government of the United States, and are now io
military custody, may also be discharged upon giving their
paroleto do no add hostility against the government of the
United States, nor render aid to its enemies ; bat such per-
son shall remain 'abject to military surveillance and liable
to arrest on breach of their parole ; and if any such pence/
shall prefer to leave the loyal states on condition of their
not returning again daring the war, or until special leave
far that purpose be obtained from the President, then such
person shall, at his option, be released, and depart from
the United States, or be conveyed beyond the military hoes
of the United States foram

This order shall not operate to discharge any Lperson who
has been in arms against the government, or by force and
arms has resisted or attempted to resist the draft, nor re-
lieve any person from liability to trial and punishment by
civil tribunals, or by conrt.martials or military commis-
sion', who may be amenable to such tribunals for offeuoer
committed.

By order of the Secretary of War,
E 11. Towatumn, AISWIMS AdjutardrereceraL

THREAT OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The following is the order which has been issued
by President Davis relative to the reported
massacre at Palmyra :

isocutivo Offboo, Mohamed, Nov. 17.

General,—Enclosed you will fled • slip from the Memphis
Daily Appeal, of the 3rd inst., containing an account, put.
porting to be desired from the Palmyra (Missouri) Counsc,
• Federal journal, of the murder of ten Confederate citizens
of Miesouri, by order of General M'Neil, of the United
States army.
You will communicate by flag of truce with the Federal
aim commanding that department, and ascertain if the
facts are as stated. If they be so, you will demand the im-
mediate surrender of General M'Neil to the Confederate
authorities, and if this demand is not complied with, you
will inform the said commanding officer that you are ordered
to execute the first ten United States officers who may be
captured and fall into your hands.—Very respectfully yours,
JurritooN

Lienteeant-General T. J. Holmes,
=mending Trane-Hiesiesippi Department

FEARFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

Yesterday, shortly before 11 o'clock, an explo-
sion of fire-damp took place at the Edmund's
Main Colliery, -between Sheffield and Barnsley,
which it is to be feared will be attended with
a very shocking lose of life • indeed, since the ter-
rible catastrophe at Lund.hill, in 1857, nothing ap-
wently so calamitous has occurred in this district.
The colliery, which is about 180 yards deep, and in
' which the Barnsley bed of coal is principally
worked, has been hitherto nearly free from acci-
dent involving the loss of life the proprietors,
Messrs. Bartholomew, Tyas, Mitchell, and Co.,
having adopted every means for the safety of the
men. At the time stated the men in the pit, num-
bering close upon 300, were startled by an explo-
sion of firedamp, which caused those men near the
pit bottom to at once rush thither for safety ;
those in the advanced levels, some 1,400
to 1,600 yards distant, were unable to reach
there in consequence of the gas. The men
at the top were soon made acquainted with the
state of affairs by the quantity of coal and rubbish
thrown up out of the cupola by the explosion. As-
sistance was promptly obtained, and as the news
reached the other collieries in the neighbourhood
the meu at once ceased working and rushed to
the scene of the catastrophe. Numbers volun-
teered to descend and rescue, if possible, the men
below. In this they were so far successful that
in a short time some 40 or 50 were brought to the
pit mouth, about 20 of whom were severely
burnt, one man, Davy, dying on reaching his
home. Another poor fellow, nearly 60 years of age,
named Pickery, was dreadfully burnt, and in his
agony called out for help, praying fervently that
God would give him strength to see his poor family
again. Mr. Walton, of Dailey Main, was among
those who first went down, and was brought up all
but insensible. He informed our reporter that he
heard the men above where he was praying de-
voutly.
Lawton, the bottom steward, also went down,
and was obliged to be left by the party he went
with, having evidently penetrated too far into the
workings and been overcome by the sulphur.
Shortly after 2 o'clock it was announced that
nothing more could be done until bratticing was
fixed and the air course was cleared.
The number of men iu the pit is variously esti-
, mated, the lowest being that considerably mere
than 100 remain to be recovered, and in what state
it is easy to imagine.
i Most of the medical men of the district are
present, and the scene on the pit hill is most
I agonizing.