Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-05-14
COUNT MERCIER'S MISSION
What He told tie Rebels at Richmond
He Councils Submission and Offers
FrieudU Mediation.

4 ter TO Richmond has occasloned some
speculation on the part of the public, but
nothing like what Its extraordinary char
acter would have justified anon. people
more skilled in ctatecraft than ours
such an event could not have occurred
under like circumstances, In Europe with
out absorbing the attention of all the
Cabinet, and leadisg to immediate expla-
nations on the part of those engaged =
/ Suppose. for instance, Ireland in a state
| of rebellion, and the French Minister at
! st James s visiting the head dquarters of the
insurgents in the midst OF the frav.-
| Would not England know why he went
at all events, before be returned and re
sumed his am;cable relation to the Eng
/ glish Government
/ The spe ulations of your cotemporaries
/ on NJ Merciers visit have, so far, been
extremely superficial and absurd His
/ mission had a far deeper import than any
one has yet publicly indicated, and it is
we'll to let the people have correct idea
of it, that they may be prepared to meet
the political necessities q their position
! And first, NJ. Mercier did not visit Rich
mond to look after the French Govern
ments tobacco, for he Is not CONNER cial
| agent but a diplomatist
| Secondly, NJ. Mercier lid not 90 to Rich
mond in the interest o. the rebels He
could not, as an honorable man, have
+ gone through the Union ines on a mission
unfrendly to the Union and he could
not, as the representative Of an honorable
| Government, remain at Washington plot
ting adversely to the Government to which
he is accredited
The rebels have been admonisheI i, there
! fore that cessation Of hpstititiesi a dutg
! they oue to themselves aad to the lc0rId,
which all civilized nations will unite in
requiring Of them. At tae same time, to
save their honor and existence as a free
people, the French Emperor has assured
them that civilized Europe will not ap-
prove the enforcement of any hard er
on them by the United Ststes ,, ms
society shall not be ll,iisc .hat tne!r
| industry shall "is .rganized, their
eral az ''o' oe impovished by gen
| = ,~Ao h-ulscriminate contiscation Of
'heir property; and that Mr.. Lincoln's
Administration will be held to a faithful
observation OF the programme with which
he appealed to Europe for forbearance at
the outbreak of the rebellion, to wit: \
restoration of the Union on the basis of
the Constitution, with the inherent rights
of all the States preserved
Then what did the French Minister 20
to Richmond for J? The answer is this
TO assure the rebels that the Emperor of
the French does not recognize them q
power among the nations that England
and France by recognizing them rs bel
li4arents, did all that cou'd be expected
on the part of neutral Governments that
the blockade of their ports is etfectual +;
that thew are fairly beaten in arms, and
their Independence rs a nation lmpos olble
that continuance Of hositilities by the
threatened destruction of the cotton and
tobacco crops of their citizens, would on
" be wanton injury TO the commerce Of
the world, iniurine France and England
even more tIan the United States and
that resort to guerrilla warfare, as pro
posed when their armies are destroyed
would demoralize society, and be simply
a return to barbarism.
The adoption by Congress of Mr.. Lin
coins policy of voluntary and gradual
emancipation by the slave States them
selves, with the cooperation OF the Nation
al Government satisfies the conscience of
European Governments ana the immed-
ate overthrow ol the institutions OF the
South BY National power is condemned
on the same grounds as they condemn the
destruction OF the present crops OF cotton
and tobacco by the rebels themselves II
is contrary to the highest interests OF
commerce, civilization and true phiian-
thropy
That NJ Mercier would not make an
important communication TO the rebel
Confederabv without instruction of the
Emperor is certain That the Emperor
would not have such communication
made without the knowledge and consent
OF the President and Mr.. Seward is also
certain. lt follows. that the mission of
| NJ Mercier to the Confederate Govern
ment is voluntary effort Of the Emperor
OF the French for the restoration OF the
Union, on the basis laid down by he Pres
dent and Mr. Seward, and gloriously vim
dicated bv the armies Of the Union. The
President could not but consent and ap-
prove of NJ Mercier communication, be
cause it involed no armistice on our part
no abatement of the mands of the Uni
ted States Government tor the uncondi-
tional submission Of the rebellion, but
sustained the President in his defence Of
tn; Constitution and Union in their orig
inal spirit, letter and integrity.
When NJ Mercier returned from ma
king his communication at Richmond,
most significant events followed. lie was
borne to Washington on a French war
vessel, the deck OF which Is the " soil oi
France" This is the first time in history
of the close meeting of the two -oyer
/ eiGDlleS- l. IL L ItSiueut anu VT. S6Nt ttTu
received NJ Mercier at the Navy \ ard
on his approach to the capital distin
guished honor-and when the President
E stepped on the deck Of the GGssendj, he
was welcomed by salute equal IN honor
to that accorded to the Emperor. Tha
was not a tribute to the head of a dismem
bered country, but to chosen ruler O
one of the first powers of the world, tried
in the erucible Of war and found trium-
phant Within day or two after the
return to Washington, the Ambassador of
; France is entertained at dinner IN noble
; style by the Secretary OF State, and tbs
; President and his Premier exhibit tha
! remarkable serenity which says to all the
world, :. We are masters of the position.
, On the other hand the visit Of Nj. Mer
: eier to Richmond is followed by dis ste
and dismay by the rebels. Their Con
gress adjourns precipitatelyy, leaving nu-
, merous communications from jeff Davis
/ VIII m they call their President uno-
, pened on their table They a ,journ whel
the fac of their rebellion, for veal or woe
: is within two weeks Of final decision. -
i They leave in such confusion and haste
that the rebel papers of Richmond noel
!, them for towards and fusitlves th.t vii