Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-27

to be added the apprehension of servile war
which would be the climax of so many ire
parable misiortunes. If these calamities at
! fiicted America only, those sufferlngs OF a
friendly nation would be enough to excite the
anxiety and sympathy of the emperor; but
Europe has suffered also in one OF the princl-
! pal branches of her industry. France and the
maritime powers have during the struggle
maintained the strictest neutrality, but the
sentiments by which they are animated, far
from imposing on them anything like indiffer-
| ence, seems on the contrary TO require that
they should assist the two bellgerent parties
in an endeavor to escape from position
which appears to have no issue. The forces
of the two sides have hitherto fought with
balanced success, and the latest accounts do
not show any prospect of speedy termination
of the war. These circumstances taken to-
gether would seem to favor the adoption OF
measures which might bring about truce
The emperor of the French, therefore, is Of
opinion that there is now an opportunity OF
offering to the belligerents the good oihces OF
the maritime powers He, therefore, pro-
poses to her majesty as well as to the emper-
or of Russia that the three courts should en-
deavor, both at Washington and in commun-
munication with the confederate states, to
bring about suspension of arms for six
month";, during which every act of hostility,
direct or indirect, should cease at sea as well
as on land. This armistice might if necessary
| be renewed for further period.
This proposal M. Drouyn De L'Huys pro-
ceeds to say would not imply, on the part Of
the three powers, any Judgment on the origin
of the war, or any pressure on the negotla
tons for peace, which it is hoped would take
place during the armistice. The three powers
would only interfere to smooth obstacles, and
only within limits which the two interested
parties would prescribe. The French govern
meut is of the opinion that, even in the event
of the failure Of immediate success, these
overtures might be useful in trying the minds
of men now heated by passion, to consider
the advantages of Cancellation and peace.
Suchis the substance of the proposal of the
government of the emperor of the French,
and need hardly say that it has attracted
the serious attention of her majestys govern
ment. Her majesty is DESTROYS of acting in
concurrence with France upon the great
questions now agtating the world and upon
none more than on the contingencies connect
ed with the great struggle now going on in
North America. Neither her majesty the
queen nor the British nation will ever forget
the noble and emphatic manner in which the
emperor of the French indicated the law of
| nations and assisted the cause of peace
in the instance of the seizure of the con-
federate commissioners on board the Trent.
Her majesty's government recognize with
| pleasure the design of arresting the pro-
| gress of the war by friendly measures,
| and the benev client views and humane
intentions of the emperor. They are also of
the opinion that if the steps proposed were to
| be taken, the concurrence of Russia would be
extremely desirable. Her majesty's govern
-. r I
the present time, that the Russian govern
ment has agreed to cooperate with England
and France on this occasion, although that
government may support the endeavors of
England and France to attain the end pro-
posed.
But is the end proposed attainable at the
present moment by the course suggested by
the government of France? Such is the
| question which has been anXiously and care
| fully examined by her nlajesty's government.
| After weighing all the information which has
| been received from America, her majesty'S
| government are led to the conclusion that
| there is no ground, at the present moment, to
! hope that the federal government would ac-
| cept the proposal suggested, and a refusal
| from Washington, at present, would prevent
any speedy renewal Of the offer Her majes-
TVS government think, therefore, that it would
| be better to watch carefully the progress of
| opinion in America, and if, as there appears
reason to hope, it may be found to have I'M
dergone or may undergo hereafter any change,
the three courts may then avail themselves Of
such change to offer their friendly counsel
with greater prospect than now exists of
| its being accepted by the two contendng par
| ties. Her majeStys government will commu-
nicate to that Of France any intelligence they
| NAV receive from Washington or Richmond
bearing on this important subject. Your en-
cellency may read this dispatch to NJ. Drouyn
de L'Huys, and give him Il copy of it.
RuSSFII