The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-11-08
England and Franoe-War with the
fgN United States.


The following letter from Baltimore to
the New York Herald will attract some
attention; =.
have been put in possession Of some
very startling facts to-day, which, taken
in connection with others already we'll
known, furnish as strong confirmation
as could be desired of the inimical atti-
tude of France and England toward the
United States. You are aware that Sir
James Ferguson, a distinguished member
Of the British Parliament, is now in this
city, having come from Richmond through
the lines Of the opposing armies before
Washington, under the protection of a
flag of truce. 1t is proper to state here
that have derived none of my informa-
ton from Sir James, or from the gentle
man who accompanies him. Indeed, ii
is due to him to say that he has behaved
most honorably in this respect, regarding
the privilege of flag Of truce as too sa-
cred to be violated. ........
The facts then are these. The "open
letters OF introduction" which Sir James
bore, were from higher source than
Dudley Mann. They were from Lord
Palmerston, and, whether addressed to
jeff. Davis or not, were presented to him
aud served to give all the sanction that
JEFF. desired to whatever communication
Sir James made. That will shortly see
the light. Although verbally made, it was
of the highest possible importance to the
rebels, as, if accepted, it will virtually
place the Confederate States under the
protection of England. 1t has not yet
been accepted. But after it was made,
Messrs. Mason and Slidell were accredited
by tho rebel Government us ministers to
England and France, received their in.
structions, and sailed from Charleston q
week ago to-day, namely, on the 18th
inst.
On the 10Th inst. these facts were known
at the State Department in Washington
and on that day the Secretary of State
issued his proclamation to the Governors
of all the States on the seaboard and
lakes. ......g
This proclamation means more than il
snys. 1t implies that the negotiations that
and England on the one hand, and the
rebel States on the other, will result in
foreign aid being furnished to the latter
that an actual necessity exists that ouI
harbors and lake ports be put into state
of defense immediately; and that in all
human probability we shall have Euro
pean war on our hands in less than sixty
days. This proclamation will be followed
next week by one from the War Depart
ment, the language and requirements Of
which will be still more explicit. Those
States which have not yet furnished theil
quotas for the war will be required to dc
so forthwith. Such are the facts. When
it is remembered, in addition thereto, that
the Prince Camille dc Polignac, and five
other French officers of high rank are
now serving in the Confederate Army,
with the approval of the Emperor Napol-
con: that he has refused and forbidden
officers in the French Army from serving
in the Union Army: that the two sons OF
the Prince de Joinville, the hereditary
enemy OF the reigning Emperor, have
been given commissions in our army; and
that it is not long since Napoleon declar-
ed that the South must be recognized as
Italy had been, it requires no great skill
or penetration to decide which way the
Emperor feels inclined. Finally, TIE fact
came to light yesterday, that Megsrs. Ma
son and Slidell are authorized to treat in
England and France for Il European pro-
tectorate over the South. ..r..