Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-12-10
FROM the London Tines.
Meditation I'm America.

Of the French Minister Of Foreign Affairs,
addressed to the Ambassadors OF France At
London and ST. Petersburg We translate is
from the Monfftur iJl
~ "PAnIs, Oct 80, 1852.
"SIR,--Europe watches witha painful inter
est the struggle which has been raging for
more than year upon the American conti-
nent The hostilities have provoked sacrifices
and efforts certainly Of anature 10 inspire the,
highest idea Of the perseverance and energy
Of the two populations but this spectacle,
which does 30 much honour TO their courage,
is only given at the price Of nnmberless Gala
mites and at prodigious effusion Of blood.
To these results Of civil war, which from the
very FIRST assumed vast proportions, there is
still to be added the apprehension of a servile
war, which would be the eliminating point Of
so many irreparable disasters @
THE suferings Of nation towards which
we have always professed a sincere friendship
would have sufficed to excite the sincere
solicitude Of the Emperor, even had we our
selves not suffered BY the counter-blcw ofthese
events. alf. .laO .U sU. o."
| "Uuder the influence Of the intimate rela-
tions which the extension of intercourse has
multiplied between the various regions Of the
globe, Europe itself has suffered from the
consequences Of crisis which dried up one
of the most fruitful sources of the public
wealth, and which became for the great CEN
! tres of labour the cause of the most sad trials.
"As you are aware, Sir when the conflict
commenced We held it our duty to observe
the most strict neutrality, in concert with the
other maritime Powers, and the Washington
Cabinet has repeatedly acknowledged the
honourable manner in which we adhered to
that line of conduct The sentiments which
dictated it to US have undergone no change
But the benevolent character of that neutral
ity, instead Of imposing upon the Powers an
attitude which might resemble indifference,
ought rather to make them of service TO the
two parties, by helping them out of position
which seems to have no issue.
From the commencement OF the war an
armed force was set on foot by the Dellger-
ents, which, since then, has almost constantly
been kept up, snd, after so much bloodshed
T they are now in that respect nearly in the
same position. Nothing authorizes the pre-
sumtion that more decisive military operations
will shortly occur According to the last
news received in Europe the two armies, on
the contrary, we're in condition that would
not allow either party to hope within q brief
{ delay for any decided advantage 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 present circumstances
no strategical objection can be made. The
favourable dispositions towards peace which
, are beginning to manifest themselves in the
North as well as in the South might on the
other hand second the steps that might be
} made to recommend the idea of truce
1.-THE Emperor has therefore, thought thai
the occasion has presented itself of Offering
to the belliRerents the support of the gooc
e offices of the maritime Powers, and Hi
Majesty has charged me to make the PROPOSE
ton to the Government of Her Britanit
: Majesty, as well as to the Court of Russia
n The three Cabinets would exert their influence
= at Washington, as well as with the Confsdsr
= ate States, to obtain an armistice for si1
= J. months during which every act of war, drec
i or indirect, should Professionally cease on set
o as well as on land, and it might be, if neces
d sary, ulteriorly prolonged,
= "Thess overtures, / need not say, Sir, woul,
not imply on our part any Judgment on tn,
origin or issue of the struggle, nor any pressure
upon the negotiations which might it is to b.
- hoped, ensue in favour OF an armistice. Ou
task would consist solely in smoothing dowr
l. obstacles, and in interfering only in tn
d measure determined upon by the two parties
We should not, in fact, believe ourselves calet
) upon to decide but to prepare the solution 0
I. the difficulties which hitherto have opposed
l. reconciliation between the belligerent parties
would not, moreover, an agreement be
u tween the three Courts responded sufficiently
t. to their intentions? Would it not give l.
u, their step the character Of evident impartial
= typ Acting in concert they would combin
l. the conditions best suited 20 inspire confidence
II the Government of the Emperor by the con
stant tradition Of the French policy toward
~ the United States England by the communt
e, of race, Russia by the marks of friendshi
n she has never caused to show 70 the Washing
ton Cabinet .a.u.a r.r. il.
"Should the event not Justify the hope
y the three Powers, and should the ardOur Of tn
is struggle oyerrule the WISDOM of their council
=. this attempt would not be the less honourabl
es for them. They would have fulfilled duty
le humanity, more especially indicated in ws
a. in which excited passions render all direct a
= tempts at negotiation more difficulty IL
~ the mission which international law assign
at to neutrals, at the same time that it prescribe
or to them strict impertiality, and they coul
e. never make nobler use of their inAuens
It's than by endeAvouring to put an end to a strul
he gle which causes so much suffering, and cor
promises such great interests throughout Il
whole world. .gL .ta
l. "Finally, even without immediate result
these overtures would not be entirely useles
- for they might encourage public opinion
Al views Of cancellation, and thus contribute
to hasten the moment when the return of peat
o. might become possible.
=, II request you, Sir, in the name Of II
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