New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-06
FRENCH AND ENGLISH POLICY IN
AMERICA.
From The Saturday Rerier.

The Saturday Rtrer.
II il not known whether NJ. Merciers expedition
to Richmond was authorized by his Government;
but if il had succeeded j. would certainly have ceen
aporoyed The general purpose Of the visit cannot
be misapprehended. The information acquired has
of course been transmitted 10 Paris, and the TRENDS
Of the Confederate cause assert thai tne Empeior
Napoeon bas been confirmed in his belief that tbe
disruption is irrevocable. The communications
which may have been exchanged with the Southern
Cabinet were necessarily consistent with the views
Of the Northern Govern cent. The French minister
would not have gone TO the Confederate headquarters
to insure lot Of tobacco, and he would have VIZ,
lated all diplomatic proprety he had no, Pfevloas
stated his intentions to the Cabinet at Washington
On his return, the President and the Secretary Oh
State, in taking pains to do him personal nouor,
were probably influenced by " natural desire W
prove the fslsehood of the rumors which att''ou'eu
TO the Emperor Napoleon projects OF hostile in.er'
vention. 1t may he safely copJectured tnai M aiel
cer uryed on the authorities at Richmond the ipru-
dencc Of persevering in struggle when nae en-.
tailed ON them so mary disasters. ny pesuadinB
them TO abandon the contest, he wonld have rem,
dered great service 10 both parties, me wouiu
have attained an object which he would nave con.
adhered st;ll more desirable in reOpetng the trace Of
the south with his own country; ana Mr. Lincoln,
perhups, connived at the assurances OF Imperial
patronage and ntercession which he may have
offered on behalf Of his Government.
year ago Mr.. Seward published gra'uious
protest against any possible mediation which m8ht
be proposed by any European sovereign, but AmeQa
cans, when they speak of the world beyond IL
limits of their own States, always really think
in0 of that England which they are always ready 70
afront. 1t was the tyranny Of Queen Victoria, and
not the enlightened administration OF Napoleon III,
which was, by q rude implication, contrasted with
Republican institutions. With Americans, it 10 sp.
PATIENTLY az impossible for France to provoke hos.
ilty AS for England to coDciliale confidence and
GOODWILL Neither menaces Of breaking the block.
ade nor sharp rebukes for violations of international
law Interrupt the 2nisble credulity which Is at bot
tom only another form Of the pervadng jealousy OF
English greatness.
The ruler who proposes TO establishes monarchy
in Mexico by force Of arms has scarcely provoked
an occasional murinur among the yotaries oil the
Monroe doctrine. The annoyance to republican sus-
capabilities will, by some ingenious process, event
unliy he placed, usual 70 the account Of England
Mr. Disraeli with characteristic regard for the pub
lie interests, announced that Lord Lyons and n.
MERCER are intriguing round the Presidents chair a.
busy a. il it were oriental throne The story 10
scsndalous if Lord Palmerston is right In denoun-
cling it no false and would be still more shameless
and m ischievous, if it were unexpectedly found 10
be true. 1t is not the business Of good subject 10
thwart the efforts Of his own Government by be-
trayinR its embarrassing relations with foreign
States, and the invention and propagation Of fal-e
rumors with respect TO diplomatic secrets indicate
cunning which il not lees shallow thaa unscrupu-
lous.
Whatever MAY be the obliquities or cccen,ricifes
of Imperial policy, a community OF interests has
made France in the American difficulty the faithful
aly of England. In the earlier part OF the wal,
MIR. Seward thought II ingenious 10 bold dlnereht
language on all occasions to the two great Powers
which had framed thci. American dispatches In con-
cert Il Is possible that similar devices may still be
occasionally practced and Mr.. Disraelis French IN
formsnts have attributed TO Lord Lyons and M.
MERCER the antsgopism which the Federal Govern
ment had IDLY attempted to create. Even difer-
ence of opinion hid arisen the assumption thai Tue
English Minister WIS necessarily IN tho wrong could
only DO justified ON the general principle that unim.
ited subseryency TO Eraloe WAS the int OF political
du,ea The Emperor Napoleon IT, on good grounds,
supposed TO entertain unfriendly feelings To the
Northern States but his practical eaeftions VIII be
directed 10 the attainment, not Of revenge, but Of
cotton. 49,
Two or three months ago while all the Southern
di,fricis were still in the power OF the Confederate
Government, France would but Tor the remon-
stranccs Of England have pm, Oh end to tho flock
ade With New Orleans, and the greater number
Of Southern ports il the hands Of the Cnions,s, it
xould be idle 10 force passage by .es 10 coast
belonging TO tho blockadng power. For The present
trade can only he resumed condition OF peace anc
therefore NJ MERCER consulted the interests OF bis
Government il he urged the Southern leaders To
abandon their enterprise. II 10 not impossible that
his may have revived IN their minds the
hone of a more active European inter, ention. Their
eief la the indispensable necessity OF cotton has not
vet been thoroughly uprooted, and they may plao-
Silly point out the advantages which the Conied-
oracy offers 10 foreign trade
Even il the Southern porte were rc-opened for the
EXPORT Of cotton, they would be only held ajar for
the admission Of foreign manufactures. The occupa-
lion Of New-OrleaDs means the extension Of the
Morrill, tariff 10 districts where the cnlyator OF raw
material ouly desires unrestricted intercourse with
the producer Of finished goods. New ug land and
Penn wanna secured protection for themselves be-
fore they commenced their efforts for the restoration
OF the Union and the first hsh consequence which
they deduced from the disruption Will aso be their
principal concern whenever they conclude peace.
Nevertheless, NJ. Mercier may have reasonably
thought that trade any terms YVES better than the
indefinite continuance Of the blockade. There is
nothing in the activity Of the French Government 10
| provoke jealousy or oppOeiiion.
In the United Statee, Englan has long been ac-
custoned TO that treatment which is deemed appro-
pirate to the least favored nation 1t world he child
isb to allow unmerited shghte 10 influence national
polcy AS the Americans prefer French interfer.
ence the friendly counsels OF England may well be
reserved when the same advice is urged from more
acceptable quarter Sensible statesmen aro content
If their objects attained without any iostrunen-
tally of their own. prudent diplomstist is per.
haps not displeased with an excuse for aostauing
from display Of eloquence which Ia almost certain
to be frnitlers. The Federal Government, after ts
recent successes could not at present enter iuto
gotiatons for frontier, and although the South ID
severely pressed by tho invading armies, there
obvious reasons against immediate submission There
is nothing Skyline in the terms Of reconciliation
which will be offered by the Wa ,ington Govern.
ment. The Secedes know that, at the wort, they
may return to the Union with all their former priv.
ileges.
The ro-Slavery Democrats Of the North are now
among tine fercest deDouncers OF the rebellion,
partly from a natural wisb to avert popular sus
pcion and also because they feel IA III injury "a
themselves the desertion VI their former political
allies. On the first rulor Of peace the most ener-
getic half OF the Northern community, while 1t sup
- MINT IL.