The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-29 00:00:00

MXDIATION IN AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

The Paris Temps is of opinion that M. Dronyn
de Lhuys new overtures to America will not be
deemed acceptable, and that even if accepted,
they will not conduoe to the desired result. " The
two programmes of the North and South are now
more irreconcileable than they were at the oom-

mencement of the war, and now more than ever it
seems impossible to see any other solution than the
triumph of one party and the exhaustion of the
other. That is the opinion of the English press,
and it is also ours."

The New York Tribune of the 14th has the fol-
lowing on the subject of mediation :
It is well known that the French Emperor has taken up
the idea of a speedy settlement through friendly mediation,
and that he is not apt to forego or change his par-
prom lightly. Great Britain assures him that she would
rigidly aid him if she could. His success would be
very generally applauded in Europe, and would sensibly
humus his prestige and morel power. That intervention or
mediation of some sort is preparing—that it will be upon us
before June, if our arms shall not meantime be crowned
with &dive eareemer— is morally certain.

Now, we do sot invoke this mediation—we have in no
manner invited nor sought it—we but consider how our go-
verment should receive and treat it, in case it is proffered.
dad our oatmeal is—Take the weapon by the hilt rather
than the point--assume that it is friendly and generous,
not sinister and hostile. Meet it with the inquiry,
" When you shall have obtained the adhesion of the Con-
Wet= to the arbitration—if arbitration it be—that
yea propose, we will at owe take it int, earnest consider-
ation, with a sincere desire to find its acceptance compatible
with our imperative duties." Such we hold to be the wise,
humane, Christian way of meeting this momentous overture.
" But the rebels will not baton to arbitration, unless on
a teas which concedes to them the main point in die-
nutiv."

So much the worse for them, then ! They will then
stand before Christendom responsible for all the carnage
and world-wide misery that may follow.
"0, then you are only dooming—your assent to arbitra-
tion is only a dodge."
Not at all ! Our meant is perfect, hearty, sincere. The
aseamplka that the Confederates will reject arbitration is
net eons--it is the world'i, We are not in Jeff. Davis's
meadow" and never 'spired to be. We do not know, and
have net ewonmed to decide, what he will do in the pre-
miss. We only say, " You strengthen the argument for
acamisnee on ow pert." If we were to evince a willing-
ness to raider favourably the project of arbitration after
the rebels should have adopted it, and they were thereupon
to *sot it, or insist on conditions which make it a farce,
we shall have gained immensely by our treatment of the
proffer, and lost nothing at all. And there we drop the
sabjset

The Riehmond Enquirer of the 9th makes an
extract from an article in the New York IVorld its
text, and urges a truce for Biz months. It says :

Shies war has felled after its most persistent effort to
region the Union, common sense would suggest an armis-
tice to see if agencies other than war would have any effect
upon the " rebellion and recalcitrant people." Let six
months el truce try its powers of adjustment, its arguments
end possuasiens, and if these fail—if neither by arms nor
pessamaion—by conflict nor argument—by C&00011 nor cam.
premise—the Union can be restored, the folly of longer
delaying the recognition'of Confederate nationality will be so
great that permanent peace will result long before the six
months of truce shall have expired. _ _ _

For eighteen months the people of the Confederate
stable have stood the fiery ordeal of unparalleled battle ;
they have never wavered nor shrunk from the conflict ;
mei the lit of January, 1863, Hods their army larger in
uumbersosore efficient in equipment. more confident of
sueeme, peat in their moues% sod, though openly avow-
fig pea* anxiety for peso., yet perfectly willing to coa-
ti.oe the conflict. Will not our defeated, disheartened
sod disappointed enemies ever learn the folly of restoring
the.iynion by
tyrsni forc
cal e arms—of
, conquering our consent to
ant

War has failed to restore the Union. Scott, IrDowell,
WClellan, Pope, and Burnside in the East ; II•lleck, Great,
and Reasomens, in the West ; Butler and Banks in
New Orissa ; Hunter in South Carolina, and Foster in
Nails Carolina, have all failed. War is • " played out"
restorative. It is • sad confessioa for the United States, hat
it is true. The sootier the fact is recognised, admitted, and
acted upon, the happier will be their people. Separation is
inevitable, war has failed to prevent it, peace cannot atop it.
An armiatios with proposition for reconstruction by con-
rtitntionial amendments, of conventions of States, would
very soon reveal the fact that separation was flo►l, and, as
far ea one ',aeration can speak for its successors, it Is
eternal.

Then why not stop the conflict, and set about, like
sensible people, to adjust the terms upon which the two
nations can live upon the same continent in peace mid
harmony! To this end the contest has got to corn..
Enough blood has been shed to test the valour and approve
the manhood of both nations, as well as to teach each the
blessings of peace is the future, sad make each ch►ry of
giving offence. The continent is large enough for both ;
its mpabilities of production can employ the energies of
two motions. War can accomplish only the exhaustion of