The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-12-05
The Diplomatic Correspondence on Medi-
ation---France's 0vertures to England
and Russia---Reply of Earl Russell.

| 1he f0li0wlng is the despatch of the Frencl
Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed to the
ambassadors of France at London and St. Pc.
tersburg:
PARIS, October 80.
Europe watches with painful interest the
struggle which has been raging more than
year upon the American continent The hos
tiities have provoked sacrifices and efforts Ger
tainly of a nature to inspire the highest idea Of
the perseverance and energy of the two popu-
lations. But this spectacle, which docs so much
honor to their courage, is only given at tile
price of numberless calamties and a prodigies
effuson of blood. To these results of civil
war; which from the very first assumed vast
proportions, there is still to be added the apprt
hension of servile war, which would be the cul
minating point of so many irrcparable disasters.
The suffering of a nation toward which we have
always professed sincere friendship would
have sufliced to excite the sincere solitude Of
the emperor, even had we ourselves not suffer-
ed by the counterblow 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 consequences Of the
crisis, which has dried upone of the most fruii-
ful sources of public wealth, and which become
for the great centres of labor, cause of mott
sad trials.
AS you are aware, when the conflict COM
menced, we held it our duty to observe tle
most strict neutrality in concert with the mar
atime Powers, and the Washington Cabinet
has repeatedly acknowledged the honorable man
ner with which we adhered to that line of COR
duct. The sentiments dictated to us have un-
L,xt g ba,, oh
ter. That neutrality, instead of imposing Oh
the Powers the attitude which might resemble
indifference ought rather to make them of ser
vice to the two parties, by helping them out Of
q position which seems to have no issue. From
the commencement of the war an armed force
was set on foot by the belligerents, which since
then has almost continually been kept up. AZ
ter so much bloodshed, they are now, in that
respect, nearly in the same position--nothing
authorizing the presumption that more decisive
military operations will shortly occur, accor d.
ing to the last ewsreceived in Europe. The two
armies, on the contrary, were in a condition
that would not allow either party to hope, with
in 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 the present circumsta nces, no
strateg ical objection can be made. The favor
able disposition towards peace, which are be-
ginning to manifest themselves in the North,
us well as in the South, might, on the other
hand, second steps that might be made to rec
ommend the idea of truce. The Emperor has,
therefore, thought that the occasion has pre-
sented itself of offering to the beligerants the
support of the good offices of the maratme
| Powers; and his Majesty has charged me to
make the proposition of this Government 10
OF Russia. The three Cabinets would exert
their influence at Washington, as we'll as with
the Contederates, to obtain an armistice for six
months, during which every act of war, direct
or indirect, should provisonly cease on sea as
well as on land, and it might be, if necessary
ulteriorly prolonged.
The overtures, l need not say, sir, would nol
imply, on our part, and judgment on the origin
or issue OF the struggle, nor any pressure upon
the negotiations which might, it is to be hoped,
ensue in favor of an armistice. Our task would
consist solely in smoothing down Obstacles and
i'll interfering only in measure determined up.
on by the two parties.
We should not, in fact, believe ourselves call
ed upon to decide, but to prepare the solution
of difficulties which hitherto have opposed rec
onciliation between the belligcrent parties -
Would not, moreover, an agreement between
the three courts respond sufficiently to their in
tentions7 Would it not give to their step the
character of evident impartiability Acting in
concert, they would combine the conditions best
suited to inspire confidence.
The Government of the Emperor, by the con.
stant tradition of French policy towards the u
nited States-England, by the community of
race-Russia, by the marks of friendship she
has never ceased to show to the Washington
Cabinet. Should the event not Justify the hope
of the three Powers, and should the ardor of
the struggle overrule the wisdom Of their coun-
ellis, this attempt would not be less honorable
for them. They would have fulfilled duty of
humanity, moro especially indicated in a war
which has excited passions which render al d.
rect attempts at negotiation more difficult. 1t
is the mission which international law assigns
neutral at the same time it prescribes to them
a strict impartiality, and they could never make
a nobler use of their influence than by endeav-
oring to put an end to struggle which causes
so much suffering, and compromises such great
interests throughout the whole world.
Finally, even without immediate results, these
overtures would not be entirely useless, for they
might encourage public opinion to views of con.
ciliation, and thus contribute to hasten the mo-
ment when the return of peace might become
possible.
request you, sir, in the name of his Majes-
ty, to submit these considerations to Lord Rus
sell or to Prince Gortchakof, begging him to
state the views of the Government of her Bri-
tanic Majesty or the Court of Russia.
[Signed] DRouYN DEL'HUYs.
| EARL RUsSELL'S REPLY.
| The following despatch was addressed by Earl