Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-08

Tse Frouoh Minister'S xisis 70 Riehnoud.
The telegraph has given the main points |
consalnSd Is an exposition by the New York |
Times of the reasons Of N. NerclsFs visit
% Richmond. Ths importance Of the sub
iect iuStiHss the following liberal quotation
from the Times articles
~Thsn what did the French Minister 90
IN Richmond fort The answer Is this; To
assure the rebels that he Emperor eoss nos
recognise tksH. as a PopeT sAoHg iAs nei,o,s
that England and France by recognizing
them as belligerents, did all that could oe
expected on the part Of neutral eoyernmentSi
fkdt fks blockads Of tAeir porte % sgsstsdE
tkaf tksV ags faiFEg bsdtsn ia GrM1, aid thss'
iadeDsndsnes us 8 RgtioB tNPoaibisi that
ooutihuancs Of hostilltieS BY the threatened
destruction Of the cotton and tobacco crops
Of their citizens, would only be Wanson
inIurv 70 the commsrce Of the world, inlnr-
inc France and England even more than
the United States; and that resort to guer-
rills warfare, ss proposed, when their armies
Are DESTROYED, would demoraliEe society and
be simply q return to barbarism-
The rebels have been edmonished, there
fore, that cessation Of hostihne' q duty
fkev O,vs 70 thsmssIpes and tie VoTld, which all
civilized nations will units In requiring OF
them.
At the same time, 70 save their honor and
their existence IS free people, the French
Emperor has assured them that oiViliHed hu-
rome will not approve the enforcement Of
any hard terms on them By the United States
that their society shall not 5s disorganiEed,
their industry shall not be overtnroWni their
families shall not be impoverished by gener-
al and indiscriminate con6scations Of their
property; and that Mr.. Lincoln's Admins
tration will be held to q faithful observance
of the programme with which be appealed
to Europe for forbesrancs at the outbreak Of
the rebellion, TO Wit; a FestOTdhSH Of ths
Union on he bdsjs Of tie CoBsfsItiOn, With
the iakersnf rights Of he States preserved
The adoption By Congress Of Mr.. Lincoln's
policy Of voluntary and gradual emancipa-
ton by the Slave States themselves, with the
cooperation Of the National Government
satisfies the conscience of European Govern
ments, and the immediate overthrow Of the
institutions of the South BY National power
Ia condemned on the same grounds as they
condemn the destruction of the present crops
of cotton and tobacco BY the rebels them
selves. It is contrary 70 the higest interests
Of commerce, civilization and true philan'
throPy. EE.f.
That II. Mereier would not make an TIM
portant Communication to the rebel Con-
federaoy without instruction Of the Emperor
is certain. That the Emperor would not
have such communication made without the
knowledge and consent Of the President and
Mr.. Seward Is also certain. It follows, that
the mission of N. Mercier to the Confederate
Government is q voluntary effort Of the
Emperor Of the French for the restoration Of
the Union, on he basis laid down by the
President and Mr. Seward, and gloriOusly
vindicated by the armies OF the Union. The
President could not but consent and approve
of n. Mercier's communication. because Il
involved no armistice on our part no abate-
ment III the demands OF the United States
Governmentfort the unconditional submission
Of the rebellion, but sustained the President
in his defence Of the Constitution and Union
in their original spirit, letter and integrity.
When n Mercier returned from making
his eomm1uicatiOn Ct Richmond, most sig-
nifcant events followed BE was borne to
Washington ca 6 French war vessel, the deck
of which is the "sOil of France" This is
the first time in history Of the close meeting
of the two seVeFeignties. The President and
Mr.. Seward met n. Mercier at the NaVy-yard,
ON hissuuroacht TO theCapiasl distinguished
bonorZsnd when the President stepped on
the deck Of the GasSsnd, be was welcomed
1 dy- lflEall lle8aaa11a N hqnoE th-t aaoorded
| 70 the Emperor. That Was not 4'tf4Sdtts-os
the head Of a dismembered country, but 70
the chosen ruler of one of the hEst Powers Of
| the world, tried in the crucible Of war and
found triumphant. Within day OF Two
after the return to Washington, the Ambassa-
dor of France is entertained ct dinner In
noble style by the Secretary Of State, aad the
President and his Premier exhibit that re-
msrkable serenity which says to all the
world, ave are masters Of, the position"
On the other hand the visit Of n. Merciel
to Richmond Is followed BY disaster. and dis
NAV for the rebels. Their Congress ediournG
precipitstsIy, leaving numerous communica-
lions fSomlJ6f. Davis, whom they cali tbsil
uPre7ident,n unopened on their table. They
adjourn when the fate Of their rebellion, fol
veal or woe, is within two weeks Of 6nal de-
cisiou. They leave in such confusion and
haste, that the rebel papers Of Richmond
mock them for towards and fugitiYes thai
viii never return. The next result is the
abandonment of Yorktown By Gems. Lee anC
10. Johnston, the best point for defence il
the Southern Confederacy, and the retreat
in tumult and disorder, Of the best army tha
Je6. Davis has had in the 6eld. The ressoI
is they are hopelsss and dsmoraliEed. They
have no future, and cannot Aght except fol
the mere relief of escaping the shame Of dis
com6ture in death. '
On the dispersion Of the armies of Gems
10. Johnston and Besuregard, which JEFF
Davis can neither accelerate nor prevent
for he is no longer the shadow of q power
the rebellion viii be ended, and the UnioI
restored on the basis originally prescribed b!
President Lincoln, and enforced on the in
surqents By the French Government as po
liticsl and international necessity. The wa
viii cease; Southern industry will not b
overthrown, but gradually regeneratedi tn
present cotton crop, and increased futur
CROPS. will enrich the commerce and manu-
facurers of the United States and the world
and France will share in the glory Of th
1 achievement.
Hgreat Sod, Is there no relief for this Pee
p1eG0
MI 4. A. :, Lo,-t- "a 1, Siv-, -aysvv NJ tha Far