Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-21
MORNING LEADER.



French Intervention.
The Paris correspondent Of the n. y.
Times, Who is generally thoroughly posted
in French affairs, has an interesting letter
upon the subject Of intervention, under
date Of August sth It appears from this
that N. dePorsigny, the Minister Of the In
terror, declared a few days before, that
France, England and Russia had come
to terms on the subject Of mediation, and
that such an offer would be made soon
at Washington. He even went 50 far as to
indicate the mode Of procedure. The offer
was 70 be made simultaneously but ssper-
ately, in the most amioable way. They
were to recommend a cessation Of hostil-
tiles. ana the appointment Of Commission
ers from either side to meet and agrseupO
the terms Of separation. If the Govern
ment Of Washington should reject the Of
fer, then France, taking the lead as she had
done in Syria, Mexico and elsewhere, was
to become the war party, and should COM
monce by recognizing the South. But both
while Offering mediation and recognizing
the South, she was toprotest to the United
States that these were only peacable acts
which need notneeessarily bring a rupture.
At the same time, however, she would make
such display of force in American waters
as would prove to the United States that
she was prepared for any emergency.
Naturally these statements Of so inhu-
entail member Of the Cabinet produced
much uneasiness among Americans, which
was increased by the statement of the Con-
stitutionel, the organ Of Persigny, that the
terms Of mediation were being prepared,
but that the Government did not under
stand that mediation meant war. But in
restigation into the reported case devel-
oped the facts that the Minister of the In
terror stands alone in his desire for imme-
diate hostile measures to the North, and
that other equally high members Of the
Government declare that not Onlyn terms
of an offer Of mediation have been arrived
at between the three Powers, but that no
communications have taken place between
these Governments upon the subject.
But there is another part Of the letter
which is Of stin greater Importance than
the above reports and oounter-repOrts. A
leading editor of Paris, after long con-
sultatiOn with Cabinet officer upon Ame-
ican affairs, published a strong article upon
mediation, and laid it down as fixed doc
tFine Of the French Government that there
eouid Be no recognition Of the Southern Con-
Jsdsrasy until thai Co4fedTaey had gHaraH-
tssd the abolition Of slavery. Now when ii
is known that the leaders of the Southern
rebellion have threatened to take this step,
rather than submit to the North, this dec
laration becomes q significant one. It is
true that Alexander s. Stephens declared
the corner stone Of the COnfederacy to be
slavery, but it is also true that at this TIME
the greatest desire Of the leading rebels il
for success at any price or hazard, ant
that they VIII make almost any conceiv'
able bid for foreign aid. It is well, too, NO
close sight Of the warning which has beer
given by leading and intelligent minds
among the contrabands, who assert tina
the North must secure their aid by giving
them their freedom OF the South lViH do ii
Tie blacks cannot be neutral in this war
tbey have kept maTvelOusly quiet thus far
how much longer this viii continue de
pends upon the Federal Government.