Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-04
from La Presse, Of Paris, Dec 4
The French Press en- DlSuaiOn-goS-
iilily TO a Southern COnfederacy.

France eaunot be otherwise
than proud to tind ber protection claimed or her
alliance sought by all oppressed nationalities,
and 1t is her interest aud her glory not to fail
10 any OF the obligations that her high position
imposes upon her. But in the present case
(that Of the Prof9red alliance of the Southern
Statesi the question of independence is COM
plieated by question of slavery, and the one
hlngs an unhappy shadow over the other.
France, who abolished slavery herself can
not even seem to protect it in other countries
Such sn idea even would do ber serious in
jury Tie Americans of South Carolina must.
then, be persuaded that # eUer theg obLqll from
the French Government the moral support thqt
they denlad, 1t tciH not be as propy1efors. but
"a sPffe Of Their bsing proprietors of staues,
ana by virtue Of lac principle, acknowledged
Tor ihirty years, that ali Governments de facfo
shah be recognized BY the Governments of Eu
rope and America.
The sea-coast towLs, ou the contrary, are
strongly conservative. New York gave 25. 600
maj. against Lincoln; New Orleans voted for
Bell; snd Charleston, Savannah, and all other
Southern ports have, 10 a certain extent, oppos-
ed tue tide OF sehism proclaimed at Augusta
and Columbia. The reason is that The mara
time towns understand better thau all Others.
fhat tie prosperity Of the Union depends upon
~lta0n, and that az rupture 1te 6gsis of ats sue.
cess IS destroyed! Commercial instinct rises in
them to the height of political Intuition, and
merchants aud traders are at this time the truest
patriots.
France has in the United States the same
Interest that these large towns have, and ough.
to follow the same line OF conduct. The rup-
ture Of the Union will entail more risks than
benefits; for while the commerce of England
aud the whole of Europe will be admitted,
with our Own, to the free ports of The new con-
federation, the Northern confederation will i'm
mediately seek, in exclusive alliance with
Eogiand, e0untefpoI-e 20 the Southern agree
ment win France. Was will inevitably flow
from tdis antagoDism. Having as allies slave
proprietors, we will De forced, BY the nature Of
things, to defend their institutions aud to toll
crate their plan OF annexing Mexico and the
Island OF Cuoa, which the North up to this time
has alone preyepted
France eclH neger lag herself open 10 such a
course. She ought not 10 attoU the Southern
States TO deceiUe Themselves in this matter. She
cannot eUea lend such consent as silence aaay
to preUeat a dissolution. There ought not to be
or Us, on the other SIDE Of the yftlaaiic, either
Southern americans or Northern .4meicans.
but STATES WhoSe uTion IS important to the
equilibrium Of the tuorid. The .4mer,caa marine
as not less necessary 10 France than the Russian,
SPanish and Italian naoies, to pceUent single
Poaoer from gesSing the empire Of the SEAS
Frauee was the first ailay OF tue United
States-we hope that she will now be their
counsellor, anu expose tae abyss into which
they are hurl ying-an abyss in which will be
buried forever Past most glorious aud Fu-
tnre most hopeful. For the american Union
separation as suicide; 1t IS .he murder of great
nataon and great principle. France cannot
lend hand TO This Sucide and this murder.
Sac has helped to make this people she piU
neoer help 10 destroy them.
SAGA are. ICE are convinced, The sentiments of
oar Government.