Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-08

80 that " the three Courts may then avail themselves of
such change TO offer their friendly counsel with a greater
| prospect than now exists of it being accepted By the two
| contending parties" We cannot, therefore, look upon
| the proposal Of the French Emperor as having been
| wholly useless, inasinuch as 1t has called forth SUCH clear
opinions from the two leading nations Of Europe, and
| gives, also, reason to believe that the Russia, which the
Republicans affect so much to admire, is equally opposed
to the policy Of Washington.
| Long, however, before these dispatches reach the
| New World, one great question will have been fully de-
| cided. The fate OF the Constitutional Party in the United
| States hung on the elections which were held in the first
| week Of the present month. In New York city every
thing was forgotten but the approaching struggle be-
tween Mr.. Seymour and Gen. Wadsworth, and that not
only the eyes of the Federal Government were liked upon
that great event, but that all through the North it was
laccepted rs the decisive constitutional battle of the day.
OF the chances OF the two parties We, of course, know
nothing except what comes 10 Us by rumor, but il seems
that the Democrats are exceedingly sanguine Of success.
If these hopes be realized, it will be indeed a severe
blow to the Republican party, since the country districts
of New York have been almost as much opposed TO the
South us are the New England States themselves, and it
could only be the disgust inspired by the proceedings of
the Government which could have so changed the opin-
ions of this large population. In u few hours, perhaps,
we shall learn how the battle has gone, not only in New
York, but in several other States which hold their cleo
tons at the same time. Ii is a momentous contest, since
the dominant party appear to have abandoned all respect
for law, and openly threaten their opponents with their
vengeance iu case of q Republican defeat. 1t may be
that the elections will be merely the prelude to some
sharper and more deadly struggle.
From the Morning Herald.
Such are the terms in which Lord Russell refuses the
proposal of our Imperial ally for a join, effort 70 bring
about an accommodation between the American be-
I~gerents-such is the language with which he mocks the
hopes and insults the misery Of half a million of starving
English laborers. 1t is thought probable that Mr.. Lin
coin and his Cabinet may like TO continue the war, and
of course they must please themselves. We could not
think of doing such Il lawless thing as to compel them to
listen to the voice o freason, of justice, and OF humanity.
They have a right to go on as long as they please; to
burn neutral ships in neutral waters, to blockade British
harbors, to plumber British vessels while engaged in q lc-
Ultimate traffic between one neutral harbor and another,
to imprison British subjects in New Orleens, and to starye
British subjects in Manchester. Far be it from US to iu-
terfere with the qualification Of their frantic passions,
or TO thwart the schemes of their criminal ambi-
ton. Perish the South, perish the cotton trade,
perish the millions whom It supports, rather than
that England should go to war in yindication of
her wounded honor, or, with a perfect certainty that war
will not be the result, interfere to influence for their
own good and for that OF the civilized world a people
drunk with blood aud mad with the greed OF illimitable
empire Everything is to be sacrificed TO the vain hope
of retaining the parliamentary support of Messrs. Bright
and Golden, and the still more absurd delusOn thar, by
abiect patience aud dastardly submission, We may avert
the vindictiye wrath and pacify the causeless hatred of
the mongrel rabble which controls the Government Of
the Northern States. Of all political crimes since history
began, this which has just been committed by the Eng
lill Government is one Of the most foolish and the most
objectionable. For tho coldblooded cruelty aud pusil-
Luminous betrayal Of duty, Lord Russell and his coll
leagues are hardly TO be matched among statesmen, liv-
Jug or dead. Ii their rivals in guilt are to be found,
they must be sought among the Generals and Ministers
of Mr.. Lincoln, and the agitators and ~self-styled preach.
ers of the Gospel who hound them on TO deeds Of wick
edness unparalleled in the history of civilized warfare.
COMMENTS OF THE DAILY NEWS, (ABoLlTEos.)
The Daily N,ps shows that the proposal of France
would benefit the South and injure the North. Con:
fsderate paper" it says, would go up, and the South
would supply itself with commodities which would ena.
BILE it to enter upon the war next spring, prepared 10
continue it for years. The proposal is one which would
deprive che North of all the advantages of the approach.
ing campaign, which il has been preparing for a, the
cost of millions, and in which its naval resources are
calculated to give it peculiar advantages. The North is
TO De asked TO iorego the use of its large guuboat fleet
just in the season when the rivers are full, and every
circumstance is favorable for naval operations. There
is nothing in the proposal to set over against these dis
advantages for the North. What is more important il,
that the reinforcement of the South, which it would be
the means Of procuring, would enable the Confederate
Government TO dictate its own terms of peace"
IMPORTANT MISUNDERSTANDING OF ENGLISH DiPIo-
MACY TO THE AMERICAN QUESTION.
Correspondence Of the Nes York world1
LoSpoS, Nov. 1.-THE tone in which the Emperors
proposals for an armistice in America have been treated
BY our press will be so likely to blind you on the other
side OF the Atalsntic TO the real origin and object Of
these proposals, that ! think it right to inform you GER
tain facts which must eventually come to light in con
nection with the diplomatic history Of this crisis in the
United States. While neither the French nor the Eng.
lsh government has for some time past believed a re-
union in America as probable in any event, and while
both governments regard such 4 Reunion ~ utterly i'm
possible il the war is prosecuted in the interest of abo-
litionism, there is this important difference to be noted
between the attitude of the two powers France desires
to see America united under one government England
prefers the establishment of two confederacies. The
reasons for this divergence of view are obvious, aud In
NV Judgment perfectly compatible with real good will
to the people Of both sections OR the part of each of
the powers which have formed such contrary opinions
in respect to the best solution of the existing difficulty.
BE this as it may, each power has recently been acting
upon its own theory. The date of the despatch of NJ.
Drown de rHuys is October 80. You will remember
that Lord Lyons sailed for America on the 25th, having
originally intended TO leave on the 18th of that month.
His departure was DELAYED TO enable him to receive in
structions based on the result of propositions made by
this government TO the governments of France, Spain,
Italy, Russia and Prussia, earlier in the autumn. The
tenor of these propositions WAS similar to that of the
subsequent propositions of Napoleon, with this vital diff.
ference, that the English propositions contemplated what
". de rIIuys, in his subsequent despatch, describes as II
pressure" in the case OF their nOn-acceptance. The
powers, as | am well informed, replied substantially as
follows
Spain as a maritime and colonial State, nearly inteD
ested, declined committing herself to any action which
might at once expose her possessions to immediate an
nOyance, and bring upon her the imputation of awaiting
herself ungenerously of the distrcsses Of the U. States
to secure indemnity for the past and security for the fu.
ture.
Italy regarded that her relations with the United States
were such rs TO ~indispOse her TO become a party TO any
untimely pressure upon that country while passing
through II crisis analogous in many respects, though in
an inverse sense, with that from which the Italian king
dom itself is just emerging,
Russia regarded the moment as inopportunc for a de-
monstIatiOn of the kind intended, aud did not consider
herself sufficiently interested TO warrant any action 20
| emphatic, at this time.
France was unwilling to adopt measures which nigh;
indeed bring on a peace, but at the erp,n1e of the Union,
tho hope of seeing which re-cstabished she was not yet
fully prepared to Iorego.
Such, ! have reason to believe, was the tenor of the
| replies which finally determined the English cabinet to