Washington telegraph., 1862-12-24
From the Moniteur.1


PARIS, October 80, 1862
Europe watches with painful interest, the
struggle which has been raging more than
year upon the American continent. The hos
Utilities have Pr s"kei sacrifices and efforts
certainly NJ nature tu inspire the highest
id.n I'M tIr perseverance, anh energy Of the two
populations. Bit this spectacle. which docs
81 much honor ID their courage. il only given
At the price VI nGmherleS caan.tie- and Il
prudiginus efTu>un of hinv.l. II these results
Of civil war, which from tho very first assn
med vast proportions. there is still TO b. added
the apprehension Of n seville Ear. which would
be the eliminating point Of many irrcparsl.
Die disasters. The suffering OF 4 nation toward
which we have always prnfe-sed 4 sincere
friendship, would have sufficed to excite the
sincere solicitude of the emperor. bad not We
ourselves suffered by the couHter blow Of these
events.
Under the influence Of intimate relations,
which extensive intercourse has multiplied be-
tween the various regions Of the globe. Europe
itself has suffered from the cOnscaaoucoa IT
the crisis which has dried mp one III tile most
fruitful sources &c public wealth. ami which
has become. for tho great centres az labor a
cause nj most snh trials.
n ypr aware, when the conflict frst
commenced. W. held ii our DUTY M ~ Nv.
the most strict neutrality. III concert with cher
maritime Powers, and the Washington Cabinet
has repeatedly Acknowledged the honorable
manner with which VIC adhered 70 that ;re OF
conduct The sentiments dictated to n have
undergone no change. hut Of benevolent
character. The neutrality. instea Of irpos-
ing upon the Powers tho attitude which might
resemble Indifference, ought rather to make
them of service to the two parties. by helping
them out Of position which seems 10 have
no issue. From the commencement Of the
war, an armed force was set foot BY the
bclllgerents. which, since then. has been al
most constantly kept up- After 50 muck
bloolshcd. they now, in that respect, very
nearly in the same position, nothing anthori-
zing the presumption that more decisive mill
tarv operations will shortly occur, according
tO the last news received in Europe The two
armies, M the contrary, were III a condition
thar would not allow either party to hope.
within a brief delay, far any decided adv an
tlre to turn the balance, and accelerate the
conclusion of peace.
All these circumstances taken together, point
to the opportunity OF an armistice to which
moreover, under the present circumstances
no strstrgotical objections can be made. The
favorable dispositions toward peace, which are
now beginning To manifest themselves in the
North as we'll as the South might, on the
other hani, second steps that might he made
to recommend the idea of truce. The Emperor
has, therefore, thought that the occasion pre-
scented itself Of Offering TO the belligerents the
support Of thu good Offices Of the maritime
Powers and his Majesty has Ct arg,d me 70
make the proposition Of this Government 70
\ her Britannia Majesty, as well AZ ID the Court
Of Russia The three Cabinets would exert
their Influenced at Washington, as well a. with
| the Confedcrates. to obtain armstise for
six months, during which, every act OF war,
either direct or indirect, should Professionally
cease on sea as well as on land; and il might
be, if necessary, INTENTIONALLY prolonged
| The overtures, need not say, sir, would not
imply, on our part, any judgment on the origin
or issue of the struggle, nor any pressure upon
| the negotiations which might, ii is to be hoped.
cnsue in favor of an armistice. Our task would
consist solely in smoothing down obstacles, anu
in interfering, only, in u measure determined
upon by the two parties. We should not, IN
fact, believe ourselves called upon to decide,
but to prepare the solution Of difficulties which
hitherto have opposed reconciliation between
the belligerent parties. Would not, m oreoVsr,
an agreement between the three courts, res
pond sufficiently to their intentiors' would
it not give to their step, the character Of en-
dent impartiality' Acting IN concert tney
would combine the conditions best CALCULATED
to inspire conference.-the Government Of the
Emperor, by the constant tradition o. frencn
policy towards the United States; England,
by the community of race; Russia, BY the
marks of friendship she has never ceased to
show to the Washington Cebitet- Should the
event not Justify the hope Of the three Powers,
and should the srdor of the struggle override
the wisdom of the councils, this attempt would
not be the less honorable for them. They
would have fulfilled duty of humani ty, more
especially indicated in war which has excited