Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-13


WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The president to-
day sent to the senate the following Dispatch
es:-
To the president of the United States =
The secretary of state to whom was referred
the resolution of the senate of the 10th inst,
requesting the president, if not i'll his Judg-
ment incompatible with the public interests,
to lay before the senate any correspondence
which has taken place between this govern
ment and the government OF France on the
subject of mediation, or other measures look
ing to the termination of the existing civil
war, has the honor to lay before the presi-
dent copy of the correspondence called for
by the said resolution. Respectfully submit
ted, WILLIAM ii. SEWARD.
The following are extracts from the cor
respondence =
NJ DRoUYN DE LHUYS TO NJ. MERCER.
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PoLIr"
IcAL DIVISION, PARIS, 9th January, 1861
Sir In forming the purpose of assisting, by
the protfer of our good offices, to shorten the
period of these hostities, which are desc
lating the american continent, we are above
all guided by the friendship which actuates
the government of the emperor in regard to
the United States. The little success of our
overtures might chill the interest with which
we follow the fluctuations of this contest, but
the sentiment to which we have yielded is too
sincere for indifference to find place in our
thoughts-that we should cease to be painful
ly affected whilst the war continues to rage.
We cannot regard without profound regret
this war, worse than civil, comparable only to
the most terrible devastation of the ancient
republics, and whose disasters multiply in
proportion to the resources and the valor
,vb inl oh Of tha bolliUnraut rtin 1ayal-
ope.
The government of his majesty has, there
fore, seriously examined the objections which
have been made to us, when we have sug-
gested the idea of a friendly mediation, and
we have asked ourselves whether they are
truly of nature to set aside as premature
every temptation to a reconciliation. On one
part has been opposed to us the repugnance of
the United States to admit the intervention Of
foreign influence in the dispute; on the other,
the hope, which the federal government has
not abandoned, of attaining its salvation by
force of arms. Assuredly, sir, recourse to
the good offices of one or several neutral pow
ers contains nothing incompatible with the
pride SO legitimate amidst great nation, and
means purely national are not those alone
which furnish example of the nsetul character
of mediation. We fatter ourselves, besides,
that in profering to place ourselves at the
disposal of the belligerent parties, to facilitate
between them a negotiations the basis Of which
we abstain from prejudging.
We have manifested to the patriotism of
the United States all the consideration to
which it is entitled. Now perhaps still more
than ever, after such new proof of forces
and energy, we are none the less ready
and the wishes which we form in favor of
peace to take into account all the susceptible
81 rnl fonlip and IL af oil
question the ight of the federal government
TO decline the cooperation of the great mari
time powers of Europe But is it the only
means which offers itself to the cabinet at
Washington to hasten the close of the war?
And If it believes that it ought to repel any
foreign intervention could it not honorably
accept the idea of direct informal conferences
with the authority which may represent the
states of the south? The federal government
does not despair we know of giving more
active impulse to hostilites. Its sacrifices
have not exhausted its resources, still less its
perseverance and its steadfastness The pro-
fraction of the struggle, in word has not
shaken its confidence in the defnitive
success of its objects. . But the open-
ing of informal conferences between the
belligerent parties does not necessarily imply
the Immediate cessation of hostilities. Nego-
tiations about neace are not ALWAYS the con
seouence of a susnension of warfare They
nrecede. on the contrary. more often the es-
Enlistment of A truce. How many times
have we not seen Observation-Disclosures meet, ex-
change communications. agree upon the es-
sential provisions of treaties, resolve in fine
the question even of peace or war while the
leaders of armies continued the strife and en-
deayored even to the last moment to compel
by force of arms the conditions OF peace. To
racau only ona instance drawn from the his
tory of the United States. the negotiations
which consecrated their independence were
commenced long before hosulities had ceased
in the new world. and the armistice was not
established until the act of the Both of No
vember, 1882, which. under the name of pro-
visional articles. embraced in advance the
principal clauses of the definitive treaty of
1888. Nothing. therefore, would hinder the
government of the United States, without re-
nouncing the advantages which it be-
ieves it can attain nv the continuation of
the war. from entering upon an informal con-
ference with the confederates of the SOUTH
Iu case they should show themselves disposed
thereto. representatives or commissioners of
the two narties could assemble at such point
as if should he deemed proper to designate
and which could for this purpose be declared
neutral Recinrocal conpiaints would ,be
examined into at This meeting. InA Mace of
the arcnsations which north and south mutu-
aIIy cast mon each other at this time would
be substituted an arpumentative discussion of