Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-05-15
France and the Southern ~Confederacy.
INTERVIEW OF MINISTER FAULKNER WITH
THE FRENCH MINISTER.

INTERVIEW OF MINISTER FAULKNER WITH
THE FRENc MINISTER.
WASHINGTON, May 5.-An imperfect state
ment of Faulkner's interview with NJ. Thou
venel, the French Minister for Foreign At
fairs, concerning the application Of the Com
mi>sinnerso If The Montgomery Confederation,
having found us way into the press, the
Department of State has consented tina: the
correspondence shall be pub ished.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
PARIS, April 10, 1861.
lion. Vim. IT. Seeoard, Secretary Of State:
Sui called to-day upon NJ. Thouvenel
at the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, and was
promptly. admitted to an interview. Agree
ably to your request, | handed to him a copy
Of the inaugural address Of President Lin
coin, and added that | was instructed 10y you
to say to him tlat it embraced the views of
the United States upon the difficulties which
now disturb the harmony Of the American
Union, and also an exposition Of the general
policy which it was the purpose OF the
Government to pursue, with a view to the
preservation Of the domestic peace and main
tenance of the Federal Union.
Here NJ. Thouvenel asked if there was not
some diversity Of opinion in the Cabinet of
The President as to the proper mode of meet
ing the difficulties which now dis urb the
relations of the States and the General Gov
ernTnent 2
/ replied upon that point | had no infor-
nation. Under our system the Cabinet
was but an advising body It's opinions
were entitled to weight, but did not necessa-
rly compel the action of the President. The
Executive power was, by the Constitution,
vested exclusively in the President. | said
that | was further instructed to assure him
that the President of the United States en-
tertains full confidence in the speedy reSto-
ration Of the harmony and unity Of the Gov
ernment, by a firm, yet just and liperal poll
cy, cooperating with the deliberate and 10y.
al action Of the American people.
NJ. Thouvenel expressed his pleasure at
|, this assurance.
/ further said that the President regretted
that the events going on in the United
States might be productive of some possible
Inconvenience to the people and subjects Of
France, but he was determined that those
inconvenience shall be made as light and
transient as possible, and SO far as it may
rest with him, that all strangers who may
!, suffer any injury from them shall be indem-
e nlfied. / said to him that the President
d thought it not improbable that an appeal
would be made before long by the Confede
+ rated States to the foreign lowers. and
n amongst others to the Government of France,
r for the recognition of their independence !;
that no such appeals having yet been made,
it was premature and out OF place to discuss
any of the points involved in that delicate
and important inquity y, but the Government
of the Uni ed States desired the fact to be
z known, that whenever any such application
l. shall be made, it will meet with opposition
lc from the Minister who shall then represent
,e that Government at this Court.
/ said tOhim that my mission at this Court
would very soon terminate, and l should
y have no ofic al connection with the question
- which it Was anticipated might arise upon
., the demand of the Confederate States for
" recognition If their independence. That
v. my place would soon lie supplied by a dis.
= tinguished citizen Of the Safe OF New Jer
~ rey a gentleman who possessed the conf
~ denee of the President, who fully sympa
e thized in his public views, and who would
"a doubtless come fully instructed as to the ther
~ wishes and views of the United States, anC
o that the only request which | would now
make, and with which | would close all / had
III to say in the controversy, was that no prop
tv osition recognizing the permanent dismem
herment of the American Union shall be con
a sidered by the French Government until at
NJ ter the arrival and reception of the Min
he lister accredited by the United St,tes t.
iii this Court
ed NJ. Thouvenel in reply said that no appli
cation had as yet been made to HIN by tn
Confederate States in any form for the re
he cognition Of their independence. That tn
French Government was not in the habit
H. acting hastily upon such questions, as Nigh
es be seen by its hardness in recognizing tn
ed new Kingdom of Italy. That he believe
that the mali tenance of the Federal Unto
n in its integrity was t0 be desired for the Der
NJ eft Of the people Of the North and South, q
IT well as fer the interests of France; and tia
as the Government of the United States migt
al rest we'll assured that no hasty or precipitat
EN- action would be taken on that subject by tn
p: Emperor. But whilst he gave utteranC
be to these views, he was equally bound to sa
l. that the practice and usage Of the preser
lie, century had fully established the right of d
Of ttcto governments torecognition hen a PR
IT, per case was made out for the decision
y. foreign Powers. Here the official i~ntervie,
ended.
'!e The conversation was then further pro
Is tracted by an inquiry from NJ. Thouven,
l%Stt when the new tariff would go into operation
M~Nand whether it was to be regarded as tn
pops maSedd policy of the Government; | told hil
N OF preScrn5rSt of the present month had bee
Jon ties would tathe period when the new du
the ined its provisioHsct; that | had not exam
e IS justify my pronouncIh, such care as woul
merits that it was condemQpinion upon i
mercial classes of the coun,r by the com
IN had 40 doubt, from the discontSsnnsS NJ that
IN several quarters, that the subiSaante~te
~ engage the attention Of Congress az M
vi meeting, and probably some important m
=" lhcatlon would be made in it. The imam
Ut the Government were at this time tenn
rdrily embarr assed, and | had no DOUBT t
'ooV the provisions of the new tariff were adop
1an With a view, although probably y miStal
Tue one, of sustaining the credit of the treasl
II ny as much as of reviyIng the protective poi
He then asked me my opinion as to
,rors course of policy that would BE- adopted
ward the Seeding States, and whethe
aim. thought force would be employed to coer
mn them into submission TO the Federal auth
NJ iy ? | told n i'm that | could only give
individual opinion, and that / thought 70
,ne would not be employed that ours wa
government Of public opinion, and althor
Ec the Union unGuestionabiy possessed all
ordinary powers necessary for its preser,
ms ton, as had been shown in several partial
surrections which had occurred in our hi
Pal tory, yet that the powers of governm
800 could only be uSedin accordance with pul
opinion, and that | was satisfied that
sentiment Of the people was opposed t.
May employment OF force against the Seced
t the States. So sincere was the Difference fell
Log that country for the great principles of S
government, and SO great the respect for