New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-06
FRANCE AND DlSUNIoN.
Faulkner's Interview with ThOuVenel'
Mr., SEWARD'S LETTER TO MIR. DAYTON
THE UNION TO BE PRESERVED
WAsBINGToN, May 5, 1861


view with Nj. Thouvenel, the French mlu'S'cr
for Foreign Affairs, concerning the application Oh
tbe Commissioners of the Montgomery Conieder-
alton, having found their way into the press, tne
Danartment Of State has consented that the cor
respondence shall be published. 1t is as follows:
MIR. FAULKNER TO MIR. SEWARD.
No. 1871 LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
PARIS April 18th, 1861.
Hon. WM II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State SIR;
called to-day upon M. ThOuvenel at tue Ministry OF
Foreign Affairs, and promptly admitted TO an IN
teryiew Agreeably 10 your request, handed to him
n copy Of the Inaugural Address Of President
Lincoln, and added that | was instructed by
YOU 10 say to him that 1t embraced the views
of the President of the United States upon the
difficulties which now disturbed the harmony of the
American Union, and also due exposition Of the
general policy which it was the purpose of the Gov
enmeut TO pursue with view TO the preservation OF
domestic peace aud the maintenance Of the Federal
Union Here NJ. Thouvenel asked if there was not
some diversity of opinion in the Cabinet OF tie Pres
dent as 20 the proper mode of meeting The difficulties
which now disturbed the relations of the States ana
General Government. L replied, upon that point
had no information; under our system the CaOne was
an advising body; it's opinions entitled 20 weight,
but did necessarily compel the action OF the Presl
dent; the executive power WAS, by the CONSTITUTION
vested exclusively in the President. j tad that
was further instructed 90 assure him that the
President Of the United States entertains full
confidence in the speedy restoration Of harmony and
uuity Of the Government by firm yet just and liberal
policy, cooperating The delioerate ana loyal alCh
of the American people. NJ. 1houven expressed his
pleasure az the assurance. further said the Presl-
dent regretted that the events going on in the United
States might be productive OF some possible inconyen-
fence 10 the people and subjects of France but he was
determined that those Inconvenience shall be made AZ
light and transient pos IDLE, and so far as 1t may
rest with him that all strangers who may suffer any
injury from them shall be unidentified. said to him
that the President thought it not impossible appeal
would be made before long by the Confederate States
10 foreign powcrs and among Others 20 the Government
of France for the recognition OF their Independence;
that no such appeal having yet been made II was pre-
mature and out Of place to discuss any Of the points in
volved in that delicate and important inquiry but the
Government of the United States deslfed tie tact TO bo
known that whenever any snch Application email he
made i, viii meet with opposition from the Minister
who shah then represent that Government al this
Court l said to him that my misricn at this Court
would soon terminate, and | should have no Oliclgl
connection with the question which II was antici-
rated might arise upon the demand Of the
Confederate States for recognition of their ill.,
dependence; that my place would soon be
supplied by distinguished citizen Of the
State Of New.Jersey, gentleman who possessed tie
confidence Of the President, who fully sympatlzed In
his public views, and who would doubtless come fully
instructed TO the then wishes aud views OF the Gov
eminent Of the United States and that the only request
which would now make and which would close all
had 10 say in the interview, was that no proposition
recognizing the permanent disnemberment OF the
American Union shall be considered by the French
Government until after the arrival and reception Of the
new Minister accredited by the United States to this
Court. Nj. Thouvenel, in reply, said that no ap-
plcation had vet been made TO lin by the
Confederate States in any form for the recognition Of
their Independence that the French Government was
not in the habit of acting hastily upon such questions
might be seen by it's tadness in recognizing the new
kingdom of Italy, that he believed TIE maintenance
Of the Federal Union, in lis integrity, was 10 BE-
desired for the benefit Of the people Of the North
and South as well as for the interests Of France; and
the Government Of the United States might rest we'll
assured that hasty nor pretipitae aoIoh "9eu oe
taken ON that subject by the Emperor But while he
"a utteranee to these VIEWS lie was equally bound 70
90, that tie practice aud usage Of the present century
had fnIv established the nga OF deJaeto governments
10 reco: ition when proper case was msde out iOT
Ge 3sSio, re FOREIGN powers Here tie Official
Interview ended. The Conversation vas then further
protracted, by an inquiry from M. Ihoayenel, when
tie new arf would 60 into operation, and whether it
was 10 be regarded the settled policy OF the Govern
ment | tod him that the first day Of the present
month had been prescribed the period when the new
duties would take effect that had not yet examined
it's provisions with such care would justify me in
pronouncing opinion upon It's merits; that II wac
condemned by the commercial classes Of tbs country
and that had no doubt, from the discomfort manifest
ed in several quarters that the subject would engage
the attention OF Congress at It's next meeting, and
probably some important notifications would be
made in it. The finances OF the Government
were at this time temporarily embarrassed, and had
no doubt the provisions Of the new tam were adopted
with view, although probably mistaken one, Of
sustaiuinQ the credit of the Treasury much Of
yiying the protective policy. lie then asked Inc my
opinion TO tie course Of policy that would be adopted
toward the seeding States, and whether thought
force would be emf Logged 70 them into subuis
sion 20 the Federal authority. told Lin that could
Only give him my individual opinion, and that thought
force would not be employed that ours was Govern
mert Of public opinion and although the Union I'M
0ues,ionably possessed all the ordinary powers
necessary for its preservation, as had been
shown in several partial lnsurrections which
had occurred in our history yet that the extreme pow
eTs of the Government could only be ued III accord
ance with public opinion, aud that was satisfied that
tie sentiment Of tie people was opposed 10 the
plOymeBt of force against the seeding states 30 SIN
cr was the Difference felt in that country for the great
principles of eelfgoyemmen and great the respect
Tor the action of the people when adopted under the
imposing forms Of State organization and state
sovereignty that / did rot think the employment Of
force would be tolerated for moment and thought
the only solution of difficulties would be found In
such notifications of our Constitutional compact
would invite the seeding States back into the Union,
or pesceable acquiescence in the assertion Of their
claims TO separate sovereignty NJ IhouVenel ex-
pressed the opinion that the employment Of force
would wOuld be unwise, and would tend to further
rupture Of the Conedaracy by causing the remaining
Southern States to make common cause with the States
which had already taken action on the subject
CHARLES }. FAULKNER.
Mr.. SEWARD TO MIR. DAYTON.
No.7.l DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHNGToS, May 4, 1861.
SIR: The dispatches Of your predecessor Nos. ll7
49, and 100 have been received. The latter acknow.
Lodging the receipt Of letter Of recall and announc
ing his intended return, requires special notice.
No liz bears the date Of 9Th OF April last Ii
tsins only an exposition Of Mr.. Faulkners views of
the uolcy which this Government ought ~ pursue in