Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-08

w N.
Faukner interview with NJ Thouvenel, the French MIN
ister for Foreign Affairs concerning the application OF
the Commission of the Montgomery Confederation,
having found its way into the press the Department OF
State has consented that the correspondence shall De
published. Co.,
PARIS, April To- 1861.
Hon. YIN. H. Sssard SECRETARY Of STATE:
SIR-I called to-day upon NJ ThouVenel at the MINIS
try of Foreign Affairs and promptly admitted 10 an
interview. Agreeaby to your request handed to MN
a COPY of the inaugural address oil President Lincoin
and added that was instructed by you 70 say 10 nun
that il embraced the views of the United States upon
the difficulties which disturb the harmony OF the
American Union and also exposition of the general
policy which was the purpose of the Government pur
sue with view the preservation OF the domestic peace
and the maintenance OF the Federal Union
Here NJ Thouvenel asked there was not some aver
s,v of opnon in the Cabinet Of the President as to the
proper mode Of meeting the difficulties which now ds
urb the relations of the States and the General Gov
erument.
| replied upon that point had no information I'm
der our system the cabinet but an advising body
s oninons were entitled to weight but did not neces
sory compel the action of the President. The Execu
tive mower was by the Constitution, vested exclusively
in the President said that was further instructed TO
assure him that the President OF the United States enter
ains full confidence in the speedy restoration OF the
harmony and unity of the Government by firm, yet
Just and LIBERAL policy, cooperating with the deliberate
and loyal action of the American people.
NJ. Thouvenel expressed his pleasure at this assur-
ance.
events going on in the United States might be productive
of some nosbe inco venence the people and subjects
of France but he was determined that those nconyeni
ences shall be made light aud transient as possible,
and so far as may with him. that all strangers who
NAV suffer any injury from them shall be Undermined
ai to him that the President thought II not improbable
thar an appeal would be made before long by the Con-
federated States to the foreign Powers, and amongst
others TO the Government of France for the recognition
of their independence that no such appeals having yet
been made it was premature and out OF place 70 discuss
any of the points involved in that delicate and important
INQUIRY, but the Government of the United States de-
sired the TACT to be known that wherever any such app
,tou shall be made it will meet with opposition from
the Minister who shall then represent that Government
at this Court.
said TO him that nv mission at this Court would very
soon terminate and should have official connection
with the question which il anticipated might arise
on the demand of the Confederate States for recogni-
ton Of their independence. That my place would soon
be supplied by distinguished citizen OF the State OF
New Jersey gentleman who possessed the confidence
of the President who fully sympathzed in his public
views and who you'd doubtless fully instructed as
TO the then wishes and views OF the Government OF the
United States and that the only rQuest which would
now make, and with which | would close all had to
say in the controversy was that no proposition recog
riLing the permanent dismemOerment OF the American
Union shall be considered by the French Government
until after the arrival and reception of the new Minister
accredited by the United States 10 this Court.
NJ Thouycne in re ~ said that no application had as
ye: been mad, to him by tue Confederate States IN any
orm FOR the recognition of their independence That
the French Government was not in the habit OF octing
hastily upon such quesous might be seen by its tar
iiDess in recognizing the kiogdom of Italy That
ne believed the maintenance Of the Federal Union in Its
integrity as 70 desired for the benefit Of the people
Of he North and Soua, well as for the interests OF
France and that the Government of the United
States might vel assured that hSsty CT precipl-
ate action would be taken that subject by the En-
ncro. But whilst he gave u'terance TO these views ne
was uy bound hatthe practice and usage OF the
presen century had Gy established tho right OF de aco
governments 10 recognition when a proper case was
de GU for the decision Of foreign Powers. Here the
,licial interview ended.
Tie conversation wgs then further protracted by en-
oufry from H. Thouycuel when the new ter.f would
81. into oleatiOu aud whether II was to be gried as
10, settled policy OF tie Government: ted HIN tha
d. lis. OF th5 ptcscu. month had been prescribed rs
he period when tie mes dates would take ohsct; that
had not VT examined is Provisions with such care as
would Justly m- in pIO.oulciug an opinion upon It's
ma .lils that it condemned by the commercial classes
oil the county, and that bad 10 douot, IRON the dis
content manifested in several quarters that the subject
would engage the attention Of Congress at It's mex
meeting and probably some important notifications
would be made in it, The finances Of the Government
W re at this tine temporarily embarrassed and had no
doubt that the provisions o. the tariff were adopted
with view although probably Z mistaken one OF sus-
tanning the credit OF the treasury much as OF reYVing
the protective policy.
He then asked me my opuion as 10 the course OF poll
CIV that would BE- adopted yards the seeding States and
whether thought force would be employed 10 coetce
fbsm into submission the Federal authority! told
him that could ony give my individual opinion, and that
thought force would not De employees that ours was
government of public opinion, aEG although the United
States uaquestionaby possessed all the ordinary pow
er necessary for is preservation as had been shown III
several partial instructions which had occurred IN our
history vet that the extreme powers OF government
could only be used in accordance with the public opin'
ion and that sized thst the sentiment OF the
people was opposed to the employment OF losce against
the seeding States So sincere the Difference felt
in that country for the great principles OF segovern-
nen and great the respect for the action OF the peo
pie when adopted under tie imposing forms OF State or
arizacn and State sovereignty that did not think the
mploymeut OF force would b. tolerated for moment
anu thought the only solution of our difficulties would
DC found Il such modification Of constitutional com
pact as would ulte tie seeding States back into the
Union or peaclble acquiesOonc9 in the assertion OF
their claims to separate sovereignty
NJ Thouvenel expressed the opinion that the employ
meut Of force would be uuwse aud would tend to fur
her rupture of the Confederacy by causing the remain
irg Southern States to make common cause with the
Safes which had already taken action on the subject
am, very respectfully your ohedient servant,
CHAs. j. FAULKNER.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON May 4, 1851.
To William L. Dayton. Esq, dc, dc.
SIR-The dispatches OF your predecessor numbers 10,
| | 10 and 100 have been received
The letter acknowledging the receipt of our letter o!
recall and announcing his Intended RETURN requires no
special notice Number III bears the date OF 9th April
last 1t contains only expression of Mr. Faulkner
views of the policy which this Government ough: to ppr
sue in regard to the disturbed condition OF affairs at
home but the time gives no information con-
| corning the state Of our affairs in France
The instructions heretofore transmitted to you will
show you the Presidents views the subject Mr. Faux
uer has discussed and these will be your guide, notwh
standing any different opinions your predecessor may
have express or left record OF Paris No. ll9 bears
date of the 18th April last and oontsns report oil an
sfcial conversation and also of unofficial one held
| between Mr.. Faulkner and n. Thouvene
In the former conversation II. Thouvenel asked Mr.
Faulkner whether there iS not soae diversity OF opinion
in the Caonet of the President the proper mode Of
meeting TIE difficulty which distuTbs the relations
OF the States and the General Government Mr. Faux
ner in reply said that he had information on the
subject The matter Is os great moment Vt it il
desirable that there be EsapPsahensons OF the true
safe OF che Government IN the present emergency You
mly therefore, recall the conversation to II. They've
res memory, and then assure him explicitly that
there is 70 difference Of opinion whatever between The
President and his constitutional advisers among those
advisers themselves concerning the policy that has been
pursued, and which is now prosecuted by the Admins
adon 10 regard 10 the unhappy disturbances eEiatire