The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-03

Highly InsportassN Diplomatic Move
meats at Washing <en-French Media
zion Agais AsitaHd.
When NJ Mercicrs -the French Ambassador
visit 10 Richmond was first annousced, VIC
stated, >pn authority that We deemed reliable
that IL had grave political significance. Tins
view q il wa: rejected by the majority OF our
contemporaries, who professed to ses in il only
purely ministerial interference for the pro-
lection Of the cotton and tobacco belonging 10
| French ctixea which is now lying stored at
| Richmond
| We publish this morning, from three different
very curious and importans character, and
which bear Qua the information that We haze
previously received. In one Of these it il
affirmed that an aNsnesty, excluding all but the
proasinent leaders 81 tho rebellion, + now, and
Las been for SONS time past, under tho con-
siderason Of our government, the period OF its
issue depending merely on the yesalt of the
great battle about to be fought before York
town in another ii is stated that on Tuesday
evening last an ifor,nal consultation took
place bstween the CaDseet and the diplomatic
corps at which the question Of an Guaeistice
with tho rebel goverment wM mcotsd, d.
MERCER believing thai the time has como
when, ursier The instructions Of the En-
rercr, he may step forward as media
tor. The third Of these communications throws
fresh light on the mctiSes that prompted
the visit Of the French Ambassador to the re-
bel capital. From conversations which he. has
had with The best Informed Of the French resi-
dents il Washington and Baltimore, the
writer is convinced that. the Emrcrons
designs on Mexico ore at tho bottom Of
this movement. They state their belief tlat
N. MERCER has concluded with the Confederate
government c, treaty which Is both political
and commercial in its character. II may seem
Inconsistent that such step should be takoa
nov, when The Union arms are everywhere tri-
unphant This view our correspondent meets
by the statement that the impression. both in the
Trench Legation and nj the Tuilercs, il that.
the turning point in the war has nov been
| cached that the tide Of success on Our side
will be arrested, and that the summer cam
pagn viii resals disastrously to the federal
arms. Thi; conviction is derived partly froms'
the fact that tie l MON forces will for the fu-
turc have 10 operate al long distances from
THEN base Of operations. and where our gun
boats cannot penetrate, and partly from the
adverse climate Influences thai our troops Will
have 10 contend with.
We do not. or course. vouch for tho accuracy
Of all tho statements set forth N these connu-
ncatops. Their corroboraticGo Of each other in
the main, and thcir con6rmation of the charac-
ter given BY our previous information to the
French Ambassadors visit TO Richmond. leave
however. no doubt that dplom.tic movements
have been sci on foot in Washington with c,
view 10 bringing about compromise invoiv-
ing a recognition OF The politisal independence
Of he South. A retrospect sf tho course Of
the English and French governments in con-
nection with tho war will show that. if the.
have delayed thus far IN carrying out thei,
present design, il was only because they en-
tcrtaned the conviction that the triumph Of
tie rebels would render interference on their
| part unnecessary. From the fret they get oat
| with the notion that lie North would not sac
coed in restoring tho rcvoltcd State. to tho
Union. To this conclusion they were led, not
]
there was NO example in history Of a
!, rebellion OF similar magnitude having been
! successfully put down. They did not take into
account thar this il democratic and not q
| despotic government. and that wo are not to
| be Judged by the same rules ard principles
that apply to other nations That they enter
tanned an overpoworing desire TO see MS d.
4 IT, al
| however. be mistaken. The English sristoc-
racy, through their organs, openly ayowed il.
| whilst tbe French Emperor, moro crafty, con-
tented himself with secretly urging the Pal
| merston Cabinet t. take The initiative in recog-
| nizng the independence Of the South. Ii was
| only the unwillingness Of England to antici-
pate q result that she deemed certain from tho
! formidable character Of the stand made by the
rebel, that prevented both governments from
| taking that step Their real disposition was,
| however, made manifest 10 US by the insult
put uron US by England in tho Trent affair.
and by France in that Of Mexico. Now that =
rapid succession Of overwhelming victories on
our part has convinced tbem that We are in a
fair way to crush out the ebeilion, they are
/ seltihG scared az tDe consequences 70 thcnt-
sclves. They know that they have deeply
insu'ted and injured Us, and they have no rea-
| con TO count Oh our forbearance. When we
| end this war we shall have the largest
and best equipped army in tho world. and
The recent sea fight il Hampton Roads
has shown Inc world that in point Of naval
strength &c are now not inferior to England
herself IA wrongdoors, both England and
France arc specializing with anxiety as to
how We shall employ the immense naval and
military force that will DO liberated by tho ex-
| tnctcn Of the rebellion. and they arc making
shi. last effort to prevent its contamination.
Our government has but one duty TO per