New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-25
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
THE MAsON.sLHDELL QUESTION IN
FRANCE.
From Our Own Correspondents


act OF Commodore Wilkes, and Las used the oppor-
UNITY 70 express Itself with remarkable unanimity
in condemnation of The act. Not our best friends
not our most jealous r4riisans-and we Sun nave
friends and partisSns Uncomfortable Its defense
No Freucbman can defend it. The French regard
tbe right Of search when exercised by us-as they
and we have hitherto rega-ied it when exercised or
claimed by tie Enghsh-a wrong. Aud for rs 10 Say
IN our defense that the BGglisO have doue as much
rs Ike the Eugsb saying, i'll reply, that we have s-
WAYS prosesied agaiust sach doiDgsthe erga'neatsm
ad ho,a.aem only, net IN argument 10 them, The
French. But il IL our best fierts who ross
esrneely condemn the act of the captain OF the San
Jaeiuto and its possible approval By our Government
and just because they are our friends. They FEAR
that our Government will cOniinue 10 fulfill the Sc
ere, wishes Of IRE Cabinet of Richmond. How far
more efficient service for the rebel its captured
err ssaries hare already rendered thsn they could
have done bv their presence and iDtrgoes IN London
and Paris, n iamentably evident So evident is the
advantage ~ the c. s. A. that ingenious persons,
'sgnorant Of the thorough loyalty Of Capt. Wilkes,
explain his conduct as one OF thce works of treason
IN which cur latter history has aboundedconcerted
with tho managers of the Southern Rebellion.
Another equally abused explanation is that Our Gov
snmen really desire to take their bands, already
over fri with the civil war, a war with The frst
navalrJower in the world. But il the people are
driver to entertain for a moment such absurd ex-
plansons it is because they offer escape from tue
idea either that Capt. Wilkes acted under specific
orders or that his act has been fully approved by
President Lincoln. For ihis being accepted as true,
Their recognition by England Of the {. S. A. seems
purposely provoked. and war with England very inn
minent.
Will French recognition accompany or immediate
" follow English recognition What position will
France take in the An lo-American war that could
hardly fail 10 follow an English recognition These
are the questons now profoundly occupying tie pub
Lie mind. Their discussion, as you may conceive is
none the less animated, that some Of the elements 10
thorough discussion must be supplied from conjecture.
We have not as yet the American official account Of
the seizure of the Southern emisssries; we have
nothing more trustworthy than newspaper reports of
che view taken of j, by the Washington Cabinet; we
have no authentic copy Of Earl Russels dispatches
20 Lord Lyons; of what passed in yesterdays Cabi-
net Council al the Tuieries nothing positive lbs yet
TRANSFERRED onr reicent Emperor o5serves character
sic silence as 10 bis conditional or foregone conclu-
ions
We are afoat on a stormy sea of conjecture and
suggestion, dslkened with great overhaugiDa,
war cloud. 1t said with considerable likelihood of
truth, that Prince Napoleon, whose voice has more
weight than formerly, Is decidedly opposed to
recognition of the G.. s. A., OF which neasure II is
thought some influential personages about the En-
peror are IN favor. These last doubt, what the
Prince believes, that If let aloe tie Union cause viii
triumph overtte rebellion; they that in an Anglo
American war, the American navy would be de-
stroyed-not eonsammaiion 10 be desired by Frances
that by joining with England resistance on tie part
of America would be made hopeless. and uabs-
acton between the United States aud the G. S. A.
be made necessity, and that so commerce would
resume It's course TO and from Northern and Southern
American S:aieswhoss interruption las been ands;.!l
Is grievous aggrsvaiion Of the very difficult financial
"sualion" both ofthe government aud Of the inercan.
tile community-le alone the consequent dfieu eco.
noinieal situation Of the masses, which threatens
always difficult political situation for the Emperor
This notion Of imposing peace on us is not a new
one with French theoretical politicians. France has
not 30 great but proximatey Us great as En-
gland to desire the peace, her suffering by the war
being very serious. Not only 90 Mulhouse ana
ROuen want Ourraw cotton but France wants our pur-
chases Of her fine manufactured cotton Of her slks
OF ler wines Of her articles de Paris. We were
formerly, next to England, her best customer.
But tie Emperor is practical politician. There
fore these other conjectures have more likelihood in
them: That his first aim-for the attain ent of which
rumor runs, with hopeful acceptance, that LIE hss
taken the nitiatory stcpsis will 10 10 offer his
mediation, to readily accept tie proposal made by
Of mediation, between the United States and En-
gland. Offered by our Government and accepted by
him, or rice resa, our actual position at tie bar Oh
European public opinion in respect of England would
lie exactly reversed-she being in the wrong Of she
refused the mediation) and we in the right again.
The mediation once accepted, it would furnish orpor
tune occasion for international negotiations, out OF
which should grow the needed reform and def
milton Of the maritime rights of nations H.
10 respect does the wofrlly loose law Of m.
lions stand in moro need of revision and codil-
ca,on thar in this. In this respect England hither
TO has been chief legislator judge, and exeeu.
tor. You say, in TIE TRIBUNE Of 18th November.
"lf she England is ready now to establish and
abide by ony doctrine on the general subject, VIC
trust her prOers viii he received with disti guished
consideration Now, though there is small ap.
pearance just now of English ministers making prof.
fers OF this Sort there is party Of seusble men in
England DESTROYS Of having them made. II @ party
Of men can be iound with ns es sensible Us Nessrs
Bright and Golden, all France will BIO their CO.
operators, and out OF this present tapge of evil may
YET come great permanent good. The chiefest idea
set forth the letter signed by Winfield Scott, and
published in our Paris papers, is radically the same