The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-09


The following despatch is addressed
by Earl Russell TO Earl Gewley, her Ma
jesty's Ambassador at Paris
FoRgtGN OFFICE, Nov. I3, 1862.
M Lora-The Count de Flabault came
to the Foreign Office on Monday, the 10th
inst, by appointment, and read TO me q
despatch from NJ Drouyn de PHuys, re-
lating to the civil war in North America
In this despatch the Minister of Foreign
Affairs states that the Emperor has fol-
lowed with painful interest the struggle
which had now been going on more than
a year on the American Continent.
He does justice to the energy and per-
severance which has been displayed by
both sides, but he observes that these
proofs of their courage have been given
at the expense of innumerable calamities
and immense bloodshed. To these ac-
compartments of civil conflict is 10 be
added the apprehensions of servile
war, which would be the climax of so
many irreparable misfortunes. If these
calamities affected America only, these
sufferings of friendly nation would be
enough to excite the anxiety and sympa-
|
suffered in one of the principal branches
of her industry, and her citizens have
been subjected to most cruel trials.
France and the maritime Powers have, du-
ring the struggle, maintained strict neu-
tralitity, but the sentiments by which they
are animated, far from imposing on them
anything like indifference seems, on the
contrary, to require that they should as
sist the two belligerent parties in the en-
deavOr to escape from a position which
appears to have no issue.
The forces of the two sides have hith-
erto fought with balanced success, and
the latest accounts do not show any pros
pect of speedy termination of the war.
These circumstances taken together,
would seem to favor the adoption of mea-
sures which might bring about truce.
The Emperor of the French, therefore,
is of the opinion that there is now an
opportunity of offering to the belligerents |
the good offices of the maritime Powers |
He, therefore, proposes to Her MsjestX, as |
we'll as to the Emperor of Russia, that |
the three courts should endeavor, both at
Washington, and in communication with |
the Confederate States, to bring about a
suspension of arms for six months, dur
ing which every act of hostility, direct
or indirect, should cease at sea as well as
on land.
This armistice might, if necessary, be
renewed for further period. This pro-
posal NJ. Drouyn de PHuys proceeds to
say, would not imply Oh the part of the
three Powers any judgment on the ORR
gin of the war or any pressure on the
negotiations for peace which it is hoped
would take place during the armistice.
The three Powers would only inter-
fere to smooth obstacles, and only within
the limits which the two interested par
ties whould prescribe. The French Gov
eminent is of the opinion that, even inf
the event of failure of immediate sue
cess, these overtures might be useful in
leading the minds of the men now heated
by passion to consider the advantages of
Cancellation and peace.
Such is, in substance, the proposal of
the Government of the Emperor of the
French, and need hardly say it has
attracted the serious attention of her
Maiesty's Government. Her Majesty is
DESTROYS of acting IN concurrence with
France upon the great questions now
agitating the world, and upon none more
than on the contingencies connected with
the great struggle now going on in North
America.
Neither Her Majesty the Queen nor the
British nation will soon forget the noble
and emphatic manner in which the EN-
peror of the French INDICATED the laws
h.. 81 !
peace in the instance of the seizure of
the Confederate Commissioners on board {
the Trent. Her Majesty's Government
recognizes with pleasure the design of
arresting the progress of war by friendly
measures and the benevolent views and
humane intentions of the Emperor. They
are also of opinion that II the steps pro-
posed were 10 be taken, the concurrence
of Russia would be extremely desirable.
Her Malesty's Government have, how
ever, not been informed, up to the pres
ent time, that the Russian Government
have agreed b cooperate with England
and France on this occasion. Although
that Government may support the en-
deayors Of England and France to attain
the end proposed, but is the end proposed
attainable at the present moment by the
course proposed by the Government Of
France?
Such is the question sFaich has been
anxionsly aud carefully examiped by
this Government After weighing oil
the Information which has been received
from America, Her Majesty's Government
are led 10 the conclusion that there is no
ground al the presfnt moment 10 hope
that the Federal Government would ac-
cept the proposal suggested, and refu-
sal from Washington at the present time
would prevent any speedy renewal Of the
offer. Her Majesty's Government thinks,
therefore, that it would be better 10
watch carefully the progress Of opinion
in America, and if, as there appears rea-
son Ia hone. il NAV be ionud 10 have un-