The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-19 00:00:00

BELGIUM.

Secretary Seward writes to Mr. Sanford, Minis-
ter to Belgium, saying :
" The President will not consent, directly or in-
directly to the interposition of any foreign Power
in a controversy which is merely a domestic one.
Among other things Mr. Seward says Mr. Sanford
will not fail to represent to the King of the Bel-
gians that all the interests of European manufac-
tures and commerce are identified with the promo-

tion of peace and the undisturbed activity of the
American people. An act of recognition in favour
of a now discontented party would necessarily tend
to encourage that party to attempt to establish
their separation from the Union by civil war,
the consequences of which would be disastrous to
all the existing systems of industrial activity in
Europe, and when once they had begun, those con-
sequences would be likely to continue indefinitely ;
whereas no nation in Europe can hope that their
own interests would be as safe and prosperous
under any change of Government here as they
now are and have so long been under the present
system."
Mr. Sanford writes, May 10, that he was re-
ceived by the King on the Bth in solemn audience.
In reply to Mr. Sanford's speech the King spoke
but generally of the insurrection in the Southern
States. He said he hoped that some peaceful issue
would be found, and that the spirit of conciliation
would prevail, and then referred to the growing
markets they had for their manufactures in the
United States.
Mr. Sanford in another letter says that he had

had a conversation with Mr. I)'Vricre on the sub-
ject of the efforts of the Commissioners of the so-
called Confederate States to obtain the recognition
of the European Powers. The Belgian Minister
informed him
.that no application had been made
to him in this view, nor would it now be enter-
tained if made. The revolution would receive no
sanction by any act of Belgium. Mr. Sanford took
his leave with the repeated assurances that no
countenance would be given in any form to the
rebellion in the Southern States. _ _

Secretary Seward, Aug. 5, writes to Mr. San

ford :

" There is no especial urgency on our part for
the consideration, by the Belgian Government, of
our proposition to accede to the declaration of
the Congress of Paris, before the similar proposi-
tions, submitted to the British and French Go-
vernments, shall have been acted upon by them ;
although we hold ourselves react)/ to carry over-
tures into effect when the Belgian Government shall
desire."

MEXICO.
Secretary Seward, writing to Mr. Corwin, Mini-
ster to Mexico, April 9, says;---
" The actual condition of affairs in Mexico is so
imperfectly understood here that the President finds
it very difficult to give particular and practical
directions for the regulation of Mr. Corwin's con-

duct during his mission. Mr. Seward finds the
archives here full of complaints against the Altai-
can Government for violations of contracts, and
spoliations and cruelties practised against American
citizens. It is not the intention of the President to
send forward such claims at the present moment.

lie willingly defers the performance of a duty which
at any time may seem ungracious, until the incom-
ing Administration in Mexico shall have had time,
if possible, to cement its authority, and reduce the
yet disturbed elements of society to order and har-
mony. You will, however, be expected, in some
manner which will be marked with firmness, as well

as liberality, to keep the Government there in mind
that such of these claims as shall be found just will
in due time be presented and urged upon its consi-
deration. The President does not expect Mr. Corwin
to allude to the origin or causes of our domestic
difficulties in his intercourse with the Government
of Mexico, although that Government will rightfully
as well as reasonably ask what are his expectations
of their course and of their end. On the contrary,
the President will not suffer the representatives of
the United States to engage in any discussion of the
merits of these difficulties in the presence of foreign
Powers, much less to invoke even their censure
against those of our fellow-citizens who have arrayed
themselves in opposition to its authority. The suc-
cess of this Government in conducting affairs to
that consummation may depend in some small
degree on the action of the Government and people
of Mexico, in this new emergency. The President
could not fail to see that Mexico, instead of being
benefited by the prostration or obstruction of
Federal authority in this country, would be exposed
by it to new and fearful dangers. On the other
hand, a continuation of anarchy in Mexico must
necessarily operate as a seduction to those who are
conspiring against the integrity of the Union to
seek strength and aggrandisement for themselves
by conquests in Mexico and other parts of Spanish
America. Thus,even the dullest observer is at last
able to see, what was long ago distinctly seen by
those who aro endowed with any considerable
perspicuity, that peace, order, constitutional autho-
rity in each and all of the several republics of this
continent are not exclusively an interest of one or
more of them, but a common and indispensable in-
terest of them all."

In the course of the instructions Secretary Seward

said :

" You may possibly meet agents of this projected
Confederacy busy in preparing some further revo-
lution in Mexico. You will not fail to assure the
Government of Mexico that the President never
bas, nor can over have, any sympathy with such
designs, in whatever quarter they may arise. or
whatever character they may take on, In view of
the President's temper and political habits, and the
opinions of the Mexican people, the President can
scarcely believe that the disaffected citizens of our
own country, who are now attempting a dismem-
berment of the American Union, will hope to in-
duce Mexico to aid them by recognising the assumed
independence which they have proclaimed, because
it seems manifest to him that such an organisation
of a distinct Government, onco that part of the pre-
sent Union which adjoins Mexico, would, if pos-
sible, be fraught with evils to that country, more
intolerable than any which the success of these
desperate measures could inflict even upon the
United States. At the same time, it is manifest that
the existing political organisation in this country
affords the surest guarantee M.3xico can have that
her integrity, union, and independence will be re-
spected by the people of the American Union. The
President, however, expects that you will be watch-
ful of such designs as I have thus described, how-
ever improbable they may seem, and that you will
use the most effective measures in your power to
counteract any recognition of the projected Con-
federate States by the Mexican Government, if it
shall be solicited.

Mr. Seward says in conclusion :
" The President trusts that your mission, mani-
festing these sentiments, will reassure the GoTern-