The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-06

Pranse And her Foreign 8eI4siensi
The tone OF the French press, under Its
present rigid censorship, is worthy Of obsersa-
ton, as it may be supposed to reflect the poll
cy and indicate the purposes of the President.
Whatever lis secret intentions NAV be, his
declarations, and those of his organs, have been
pacific.
One ofthe government prints, the Pays, thus
notices the specuiations Of foreign Journals on
the probability of war between France and her
neighbors:
"A certain portion Of the foreign journals
have been for some time past speaking OF pro
iects of war and conquests, which, thank God !.
have no foundation. We have already shown
that Prince Louis Napoleon is too seriously
occupied with the work OF social rc-organiza-
ton, commenced on Dec. 2 (; Is too much de-
voted TO the protection which the great internal
interests of France demand, to think OF foreign
complication When nation has so much to
effect on its own territory, in re-estabshing
the finances, consolidating credits, developing
manufactures, and aiding agriculture, who can
imagine its government would engage in it the
perils Of a foreign war! No doubt neither
France, nor the men who direct her destinies,
would recOil from what the national interests
might require; but that they should become
| the aggressive party, without some irresistible
motive is an hypothesis which ought to fall to
the ground as nothing less than ridiculous.
Every conflict ought to have some casus belh; ;
and because the elected of the French people
bears the name of Napoleon, it does not follow
that he is fatally delivered over to The spirit of
war and conquest Combats for the Emperor
were not the mere effect of his fiery tempera-
ment it was great political and economical
views which caused him to draw his sword
against all Europe, and carry abroad the life of
that France which had scarcely escaped from
the commissions Of anarchy! Who can impute
to the nephew of Napoleon mere unrefecting
ardor to engage in sanguinary struggles, with
out there being some cause which it would be
impossible to escape from? And where is
such a cause to be found, where has it mani
tested itself in international relations? For
the past month, the English press has been
| sounding the trumpet of alarm with amaevo
lent feeling which is quite ncomprehensbe.
| Not day has passed without articles on the
possibility Of French invasion, and the best
means OF meeting it, The consequence has
been that business between the two countries
became materially affected; in fact, to hear
what was said, one would imagine that England
was threatened by n now William the Conquer
or. Nothing less than the solemn declarations
of Lord John Russell in the House of Com
mons, and the stong manner in which he spoke
against the conduct of the English press, could
suffice to put an end to these rumors of differ
ences which, it was said, existed between the
French and English governments Then part
of the Belgium journals took up, though in
another tone, the theme of the English news
papers.
/" It was first concert Of attacks and insults
on the President of the republic and next, q
series of articles against the warlike projects
| which, they affirmed, he entertained. And here
it was said that the means which were in con-
temptation were still more expeditions being
nothing else than decree, procaiming the
union of Belgium to France 80 that nation
was to be thus struck off the map of Europe by
the dash of a pen But the execution of such
decree-had any one thought to what it amount
ed Why,to nothing else than war and insur
reciion--Belgium up in arms, and Europe con-
vulsed by the rupture of the treaties which gov
ern her The Emancipation has reduced to
nothing these political canards.
"The President of the republic expresses
strongly to the Belgian ministers his pacific in
tentions, and asks only one thing from Belgium
not to allow him to be traduced and insulted
by her publications. At the same time that
was rumored about that an invasion of Switzer.
land was meditated, and some facts being inter
preted in an unfavorable sense, many persons
became apprehensive of what might occur in this
last named country We have no intention to
examine the Swiss question, complicated ms 1t is
with difficulties quite unconnected with France,
and relating solely to other European govern
ments. The complications which exist between
Prussia and the Helvetic republic relative to the
principally of Neufchatel, and the representa-
tons, made at different times by Austria, are
well known; but we have nothing to do with
the manner in which the negotiations, now SO
long pending, are to terminate. The question
for us consists altogether in the attitude of
France towards Switzerland and the possibility
of war on that point. The whole interest of
France is concentrated in the question of the
refugees. Our government has right to de-
mand that there shall not be on our frontiers,
and close to Lyons, a permanent hot bed of
agitation, obiging rigorous Surveillance to be
kept up, alike annoying to individuals, and injuri.
GUS to the general interests of the country But
in thai respect, we believe that the federal gov
eminent quite agrees in the views of the French
government, and considers itself directly inter
ested in their accomplishment. 1t is said that
General Dufour is about, before long, TO come
to France, with the mission to settle, in concert
with the President of the republic, the various
difficulties which may arise on that point. That
consequently, is a question which is to be de
cided by the pacific uens of diplomacy and OF
international right, and which public opinion has
! no need to trouble itself about. When, besides
all the public and private sympathies and tradi
lions which bind Switzerland to France are
borne in mind, the public may be completely
treasured on the eventuatv of hostile relations
between the two countries"
THE MISSISSIPPI WHIG u. S. SENATOR
t Hon. Walter Brooke, the new Wing United
f States Senator from Mississippi, previous t.
} his election, defined his position in letter t.