The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-15
The Diplomatic Correspondence.

| correspondence OF the past year is exceeding
! iy voluminous, especially that OF Great Bri-
tain and France. We have room for only
few suggestive extracts from the mass of his
torieal material, and begin with
ENGLAND.
Two letters from Mr.. Adams will sufficient
| ly indicate the disposition of the English gov
eminent. On the 26th of June our minister
I wrote:
There is not so much talk of intervention,
or even of mediation in our affairs, as there
| was some weeks ago. The news of the cap
ture of Memphis, and of the recovery of our
control of the Mississippi, like that of every
| preceding stroke of decisive character put
an end for the time to such agitation The
! impression is growing stronger that all con-
certed resistance to us will before long be at
an end. But there is still an eager belief that
Is iostered by the confederate emssaries that
there will be irregular and continuous OPPOSE
ton to an extent sufficient to make peace and
reunion impossible. Some are still supported
by lingering hope that the movements of the
Emperor Napoleon in Mexico may take a turn
against the United States. The ddrlinq de-
SIRE Of the governing classes that the United
States may be irrecocabiy dicided though
Suodued IN oppression by euents, still remains
as closely cherished as IL ,cas on the first
creating out of the disturbance.
In October the administration received the
following significant hints:
Without putting too much stress on unau-
thorized conjectures, it is perfectly fair to in
fer some connection between the approxima-
ton OF the cabinet meeting, and the postpone
ment of Lord Lyons return. / do not there
fore doubt that the opportunity viii be taken
to reconsider the situation, and to lay down
the line of policy for the regulation of the
minister during the subsequent season. Hour
far the question Of q recognition of the
Insurgents tcW enter into the deliberations,
tciH not Venture 10 predict. My 0,cn opinion
hs that that ereat nor depends almost entire
ty on the fortune Of the rdr. If ,ce prore
ourselves by February merit no more able to
control its results than zee are at this moment
II UiH be difficult for ministers longer to re-
sist the current Of sentiment leaning in that
direction in both houses Of Pdriidment-
l do not know that many of them will be long
er inclined to do so. Even the unpleasant al
tentative ofappearing to uphold slavery against
the action OF a free government will be acqui-
eseed in as an overriding necessity indicated
by the popular opinion. L feel it nv duty TO
say thus much in order to prevent the smallest
misconception of the existing state of things
on this side in the minds OF the government
at home.
looking TO mediation in our quarrel startled
us chiefly as coming fom our ancient ally
FRANCE.
That the Emperor of the French has not
been averse to interference by some power.
is indicated by the following dispatch from
Mr.. Drayton, dated Feb. 9th:
feel now and have felt tsince the address
OF the Emperor in opening the Chambers) in
the best hopes and spirits for the future |
l think l can see from the British press
how this thing has worked itself out. Eng
land and France have been coquettng a little
with each other on this question. We have
had what seemed to be the most reliable as
surances from England that the Emperor was
urging them TO interfere. In the meantime
the British press was urging France to inter
fere; IL was giving out that the blockade was
paper blockade, and the South should be
recognized, thus working France and them
selves up to a point of at least Joint inter-
ference. Then came the Emperor's address:
it was not what they expected. They said
that inst before its delivery "the switch had
been turned off," and forthwith the London
Times and other portions of the English press
ran off along with it. Now all hands seem OPP
posed to Interference. How long this will last
no human power can tell.
Add this passage, written in March:
| called his attention to the fact that with
drawal ofbelgerent rights would under these
circumstances, take from the South no materi-
al adyantage-it would only deprive them of
the countenance and moral support of other
nations. The Emperor replied that he must
frankly say, when the Instruction broke ont
and this concession of belligerent rights was
made he did not suppose the North would sue
coed; that it was the general belief of states
men III Europe that the two sections would
never come together again. This beliefhe in
timated was principal reason why this con-
cession of belligerent rights was then granted.
The embarrassing business of the French in
vasion of Mexico, was thus handled by Secre-
tary Seward,in aletter TO Mr.. Dayton in June:
France has right to make war against
Mexico,and to determine for herselfthe cause.
We have a right and interest to insist that
France shall not improve the war she makes
to raise up in Mexico an anti-repubican or
anti-slavery government, or maintain such a
government there. France has dsclaimed
such designs and We, besides reposng faith in
the assurances given m frank and honorable
manner, would in any case be bound TO wait
for, and not anticipate, violation of them.
Circumstances tend to excite misapprehensions
and jealousies between this Government and
that of France, in spite of all the prudence we
can practice on our part. We studiously en-
deavor to avoid them. You will therefore. be
fully authorized in assuming that this Govern
ment does not inspire, and has no responsible
ty for, the assumptions of different character
made by the press.
There remains but one other first class Eu-
ropean power From
RUSSIA,
the United States have always received marks
of the friendship, which is natural result of
the relation in which both Governments stand
to the monarchies of Western Europe Mr.
Cameron writes in July:
The Emperor was exceedingly plain. frank
and unostentatious in his demeanor The I'M
usual length of the interview, as well as the
unaffected earnestness and sincerity of his ex-
pressons gave evidence that he desired to
make speedy manifestation of his friendship
for our county and Government. Both on en-
tering and leaving his Cabinet he gave me his
hand with cordial familiarity. This practical
experience ofthe good faith ofthose professions
of sympathy with the United States which
Russia now makes as she has heretofore made
not only unimpaired, but Strengthened, by
the knowledge of our national trals-has al
forded the most profound qualification.
Since Mr.. Camerons return his representa-
tons of the friendly feeling of Russia have
been confirmed by his successor, Mr.. Bayard
Taylor. On the 10Th of October, Mr. Taylor
had on interview with Prince Gortschakofr for
the purpose of delivering letter from the
President to the Gar We select the follow