Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-05-17
FnANoR AND THE SOUTH.

" fuANVE AND THS SOUTH,
~ Tho following highly interesting official cor.
respondents ispubished lin the Northern pa
Pers:
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
s~s PARIS, April Is, 1861.
R0s. Vim. II. Se,oard. Serrctarycf Stuiss
'ss1R: I call to day upon N. Thouvenel at the
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, and was promptly
admitted to an Interview. Agreeable 70 your
request handed to him cory of the Iuaugu-
raj address of President Lincoln, and added
that was instructed by you to cay to him that
it embraced the views Of the United States
upon the difficulties which now disturb the har-
moDy Of The American Union, and also an ex-
position of the general policy which it was the
purpose of the Government to pursue with a
view to the preservation of the domestic lace
and the maintenance Of the Federal Union.
Here III. Thouvenel asked If there was not
some diversity Of opinion in the Cabinet of the
President as 10 the proper mode Of meeting the
difficulties which now disturb the relations OF
- the States and the General Govern ment.
Ireplied upor that point had no informn-
tion. Under our system, the cabinet was hut
an advising body; its opinions were entitled to
weight, but did not necessarily compel the ac-
tion of tHs President The Executive power
was, by the Constitution, vested exclusively in
the President. I said thatI was furt ther in
structed to assure him that the President of the
United States entertains full confidence in
the speedy restoration of the harmony and
unity of the Government by firm, yet just
and liberal policy, cooperating with the de-
lbcrate and loyal action of the American peo-
ple.s
NJ. Thouveuel expressed his pleasure at this
assurance.
I further said that the President regretted
that the cvents going on in the United States
might be productive Of come possible ipconve.
nienos ta The people and subjects of France
but ke was determined that those inconvenien-
cos shall be made as light and transient as pos.
sible. and so for as it may rest with him. that
all strangers who may suffer any injury from
theni shall be indemn6ed I said to him that
the President thought it not improbable that
an appeal would be made befurc long by the
Confederated States to the foreign Powers aad
amongst othera to the Government of France,
for the recognition Of their independence:
that no such appeals having yet been made, it
OF the points involved in that de'cate and i'm
portant inquiry. hut the Government of the
United States desired the fact to be known that
whenever any such applications shall he made.
it will meet with opposition from the Minister
who shall then represent that Government at
this Cou,t
l said to him TINT my mission at this Cour:
would very soon terminate and ! should have
lIo official connection with the question which
it was anticipated might arise upon the demand
Of the Con onfederate States for recognition Of
their independence. That my place would
soon be supplied BY distinguished citizens Of
the State of New Jersey, gentleman who pos
sessed the confidence of the President, VIII" fu.-
ly svmpathised in lis Publc views, and VIII"
would doubtles come fully instructed as to the
then wishes and views Of the Government Of
the United States. aud that the only re9mrst
which I would now make, and with which
would close all had to cay in the eontro-
versy, was that 10 proposition recognizing the
perrnauent dismembermep of the American
U4iqn shall be considered by the French Gov
the uew Minister accredited by the Unitrd
States to this Court. -
NJ Thouvenel in reply said that no arplica
ton had as yet been male to him hy the Con-
federaie States in any form for the recognition
of theit Independence. Fhst the French Gov
errmeut vas not in the habit Of &c. ing hastily
upon such questions, might be seen hy its
tardipess in Recognizing the new Kingdom of
Italy. Tint lie believed the maintenance
of the Fe'leral Union in i.s integrity was
to be desired for the Lemeht Of the people Of
the North and South, ns we'll as for the inter
ests "f Frnnce -and that the Government If
tho United States might rest we'll assured that
no hnsty or precipi,nte action woull he taken
on that subject by the Emperor. Hnt whilst
he gave utserance to these views he mas equally
bound TO soy that the prmciiee and usage OF The
present century had fity establi*hcd the right of
dc faeio governments to rscogni ion when prop,
er case was mad. out for the decision of foreign
powers. Hero the official interview ended
!. Tie con versatior was then further prntrac-
ted by an inquiry from If. Thouvenel. when
the new. teriff woald 60 into operation, and
whether it wasStoabe regarded as the settled
policy; Of the Syernmenti II told him that
the firsr of tke:fsesent month had been pres
cribed as the period when the new duties
would take affect; that had not yet exa"in-
ed its provision with such care as would jnsti
tyne itpronouncing opinlan upon its mgr
its; that ittwss condemned by the commercial
classes Of The country, and that had no doubt
from the discomfort manifested in several quar-
ters, that the subject would engage the atten.
tion Of Congress at it's next meeting, and prob
~Af I.n- 4
mads 10 It. The finances Of the Government
Swsrs'at this time temporarily embarrassed. and
Fhsd nd doubt that the provisions of the new
tariff we're adopted with aYisv. although pro.
bsbIyR mittafen one, 81 stistaining the credit
Of the treasury as mues as Of reviving t,,s pro.
steetiys policy: -
gHslhsa ssked me my opiniop .as TO tina
course or policy 1Iist would be adopted to.
wards the seeding States. and whether I
thoupht fofce would He emploved tn coa,cs