Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-16
THE. MEDIATION PROPOSITION.

paris Correspondence Oy ~ Of the New York Heraal
The long agony is over Some daysbe this reaches
you you will doubtless have received by telegraph the
confirmation of the report which Igave credence TO in
my last two letters that France had made proposition
to England and Russia for mediation in American a
fairs There is great deal Of feeling here caused by
Englands refusal aud the Emperor Is said TO be exceed
ngy disguised at it, In conversation yesterday with
distinguished journalist the leading editor Of paper
which is on tue Government side he expressed the opn
lon that this refusal would 60 far iowa widening
breach which really exists between France and England
and which, though brdged at present by an unnatu
raj alliance later divide the two nations
The present act of the Emperor would, he thought
stand forever evidence OF his friendship Tor the
United States of his desire brought to end the
fearful struggle which desoates our country, while he
interpreted the refusal of England TO unite with France
as an evidence Of the desire of the former country to
see US ruined and destroyed and this is the opinion
you will see expressed by the government journalists
far they dare express IT, Ii does not seem yet to
be fully determined here whether England has or has
not formally rejected the proposal of France The re-
port received yesterday to the effect that she had
To-day this is modified into adjournment Of the ques
ton until the result of the elections shall be known and
until dispatches shall have been received from Lord
Lyons. r..z --
In any event. the Nonitew does not seem to give up
the idea of the proposition having effect in the Uni
ted States. .r-.a ..-g
In its bulletin of this morning, in referring to the
guarantee given by the OF vessels taken by
the Alabama to pay eghtysx thousand dollars to the
government OF the South after the conclusion Of
the official journal remarks "If this statement Is cor
rect this stipulation, imposed upon one side, accepted
on the other authorizes believe that in the United
States itself pacific solution is not considered as either
impossible far Off The question which the despatch
of the Emperors Minister of Foreign Affairs has just put
TO Europe will come then in good time the other side
of the Atlantic The English press, upon mere rumo
has ham discns he nnnnrtunty of offer
Of good offices made by the great maritime Powers
The hesitation which some Journals manifest ought now
TO disappear when the basis full OF humanity, OF dis
cretion and of pracal sense, upon which the propo
stons OF France rest known, and that under the
pressure Of the amentabe disasters which follow in the
wake of war without result the idea of pacific solu
ton seems TO have gained ground with the belisaren
Americans themselves"
Although there has been no official statement to that
effect il is generally believed that Russia has also refused
join France in the proposition, and it is now an inter-
esting question upon which public opinion is greatly d.
vided whether the Emperor will will make the
proposition to government alone. The Southerners
here he WILL and that in of refusal the par
Of the federal government 10 accept 1t he will lend the
ply steal aid of France the South raise the blockade
and recognize the Southern Confederacy The blockade
once raised they say England would be glad to avail
herself of the advantages thus offered 10 commerce,
and would of course in manner interfere with FRANCE
the aid which the latter would render TO the South
Mr.. Sdell was received by the Emperor at Compiegne
few days ago since the circular of the Minister Of
Foreign ars written, aud he ia in constant com
muuicadon with the Minister himself.
| am inclined TO believe that the Emperors future
course upon this matter will be moulded entirely BY
what he considers his iatereS in Mexico and it is very
certain that he looks upon the prospective occupation OF
Texas by large body Of Union troops with no very
favorable eye
In spite Of the claimed " impartiaity" OF the docu.
of the French Minister Of Foreign Affairs 1t is evil
dent where the sympathies OF the French government
present lie The bare fact that through the whole p
il the governments" OF Washington and Richmond
regarded equally entitled the consideration Of
France shows this the French government may be COP
dercd as committed the Southern interest and il be-
hooves be the alert and prepare ourselves for
any future contingencies which may arise weknow NOT
how snnn. -.