Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-06-13
Mir. Stewards diplomatic instructions European Governments and the South.

The instructions of Mr. Seward to the American Minister at Paris, have been pub lished and have been before the country for some time. These instructions betray studied effort to make q false impression upon the French government. In dlcta- ting to Dayton, the representations to be made to the French government, whenever Seward has occasion to speak of the Con- federate States, he designates them by no word, description or explanation, but Gin surgents," as if they were only combl- nation of disorderly individuals, resisting the authority of the law. In replying to pacificatory delegation from Maryland, he affected to be shocked at the idea of any European power being tolerated as friend ly intervenor to compose "a domestic con tention'' in this country. These expres- sions are indispensable to the whole theory of coercion. They, however, involve fundamental error of doctrine and flat contradiction of historical fact. The use of such phrases is characteristic of lan- keedom. They are as ready to cheat in logic as they are in trade. They are inca pablo of manfully facing either truth or an enemy Nothing goes further to es- tablish their inherent propensity for fraud, than the singular aptitude displayed by their public men for trickish expedients in phrase and argument. In characterizing the southern people as insurgents and in designating the troubles between the North and South as domestic conten tion," he begs the whole question, and at ouce sets up a theory that at once excludes the possibility of peaceful adjustment by the contending parties themselves, and the composition of the quarrel by foreign mediator.
 He suppresses the fact that those whom he calls "insurgents" are eleven States, each of which was formerly an equal mem Der of the Federal Union; that each one has retained its own state government in full operation, preserving perfect internal or der, and that in rmonious cooperation; they have together formed new govern ment, perfectly organized in all its depart ments, and exercising specific powers, con fided to it in written constitution. In fact, the existence of two antagonistic na- tionllitics lying between the St. Lawrence and the Rio Grande, is as familiar to him as his doctrine of the " irrepressible con nict." If Mir. Seward were a wise and honest statesman, he would acknowledge this fact. If he were an accomplished diplomat, he would modify his policy m accordance with it. Mir. Seward, however, is not wise and honest statesman. He is only political sophist, who, while framing spacious plans to entrap others, entangles himself inextricably in the same meshes. Nor is he an accomplished di- plomat He is, at most, a lubricous trick ster, who imagines the whole of diplomacy to consist in dextrous phrases and perildi- ous expressions.
 It is quite possible that either England or France, or perhaps both, may offer their mediation ts arrest the conflict which Mr. Seward and his countrymen have forced upon us. These powers may, indeed, have already taken steps to do this. In that event, if the administration to which Mir Seward is attached, reject the offer on the ground that the war, though actually and notoriously national in all.ts features, IS strictly family matter, q domestic con tention," this fact will be signal reasser- ton of full purpose to prosecute the rebellion theory" 10 the better end, and to establish despotism upon the ruins of liberty, not only in the South, but in the North. But to compel the southern peo- pie by fire and sword to become an integral part of a northern empire, is an utter i'm possibility. Adamant is not so inhexible as the determination of the people of our Confederacy, not to yield to threatened or actual means of compulsion. That is an invncible moral fact, not less trua now than it will bs hereafter, when history shall throw its reproachful light on the fraudful, cruel and rapacious policy of Lincoln and Seward.
 How long will Mir. Seward succeed in convincing statesmen in Europe that we are engaged in purely "domestic conten- tion," while his government proclaims a blockade which is strictly the warlike act ion of one nation towards another nation while the people of the Southern Confede racy are yielding exclusive obedience to a government of their own deliberate crea- tion,-while the President of the North is violating the laws of his own government to make war on q people living and resol- ved to live under the laws of another?- If there is "domestic contention" is it not at the North, where conscientious and law-loving people must either engage in civil strife with their neighbors or submit, withouta murmer, to wicked usurpation. It has been the policy of both France and England of late years, and especially of the Palmerston ministry, to recognize not only de facto governments, as measure of com mercial and diplomatic convenience, but to acknowledge the right of people, who manifest undeniable insticts and aspira- tions for nationality, to erect a government of their own, regardless of pre-existing forms and conventions. Those persons are keenly observing American events at this moment, and the attitude of the South is such that they will undoubtedly demand of Lincoln one of two things-that he should
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