Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-02-20

ters Of this bloody war. You know, sir.
what feelings this sad spectacle has gvcn
rise to m us. You know tho step which q
profound sympathy for Amorici has in
spircd in the government Of the Emperor, in
the hope Of opening tho way to reconcilia.
ton. This step. you know, also ought, and
could take place, in the opinion Of the EN-
perof, on}yWith the consent and concurrence
of the two Belligerent parties. At present
the reception givon to our proposition by the
Cabinets of London and S.. Petersburg, pre-
vents us from thinkiog of pushing it farther.
But can assure you, sir, that our friendly
dispositions have not changed. II somo day,
the Americans, tired of turning their valor
against themselves, should wish 10 b we TO-
course to us. in ordor to sock in concert the
means Of terminating this conflict, they
would find ug always roady, associated with
other Powers, or separately, to aid them
with our CO o.opsratian, and TO testify by our
good offices tho feelings which have not
ceased to animate France in regard to tho u.
Receive, sir, the asaurance OF my dislin-
guished consideration.
DRoUYN DE- LHUYs.
Mr.. DAYTON, Eavoy Extraordinary, &c.
Mr.. SEWARD TO Ma. DAYTON.
LExtract-No. 26l.]
DEPARTMeNT or STATE, }
WARRINGTON, Nov. %, 1862. :
VIM. L. DAYTON, Esq, &C., &c.:-
SIu-Your despatch Of November 10 (No'
22S has been received onl y at this late day.
have now only to Bay that the vicws pre-
sentol by mo in my despatch ofOotober 20
are tho delbei ate and settled convictions oi
the government, always to be expressed
when ill your judgement any expression
whatever OIL the subject of the action Of for
eign Poworu shall bu either necessary or expe.
dicnt. In Ieply to Il suggestion in your dss-
patch, it is proper for mu to say that neith'
or M. Msrciur nor any othor person has had
the leaat waruan, fr,xu any authority OF the
Unitol Statoa for roproaanting to his govern
u,ent that tho President would be d.sposod to
entert lin any proposition in regard 10 tho nc.
ton Ul taia government in tho conduct OF
our domestic affairs from any foreign quarter
whnannvsr. The exact contrary is in ciiect
all that has evor pRatled between all the min
ihts.a residing hero aud THU department.
You W Ill Judge whether ii is important to
clrar up thia point at Paris.
| ain, hir, your ohndiont servant,
WIN. Fl. SEWARD.
Tho next, in the suriea of lettsrs embraced
in this correspondence, ere thrso scrersl
communications from Seward to Dayton. In
the first OF. theso ho says, sit is proper for NE
to say that neither n. Mercior nor any other
person has had the least warrant from any
authority OF the United States for represent
ing to his Government that the President
would be disposed to entertain any PROPOSE
ton in regard to tho action of this Govern-
ment in the conduct of our domestic affairs
from any foreign quaxtor whatsoever. The
exact contrary is in effect all that has ever
passed between all the ministers residing here
and this department" This letter is dated
Nov. %, 1862.
The second lotter of Seward, under date oi
Nov. so, repeats that the United States have
continually said to all Europethat they know
that the saving of tho American Union de-
ponds on the American people, and not at
all on tho policies Of foreign States, severally
or combined. Foreign nations, he thinks,
neod scarcely to be reminded that family
quarrols arc always Of short duration; that
tho very scandal which thOy bring operates
AZ an incentive to reconciliation.
His next letter ia dated on tho 1lth OF De-
csmbcr, aud merely acknowledges the rccep-
tion of tho correspondence between Dayton
and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The next letter Of importance in the cor
respondcnce is ono bearing date tho 18th o1
January, 1868, from Dayton to Seward, in
forming him that dispatch would shortly
be sont by NJ. Drouyn dc L'huys to Nj. Mer::
cior, requesting him to suggest, on a suitable
OCCASION, the propristy of appointing. COM
IN ,ssidners to troat with the South for peace
and for Union, if possible; if not possible, fol
such torlns of separation as may be event
ually agreed upon. This communication
was submitted by Drouyn do L'huys to the
Emperor on tho 9th, aud returned by him
on tho 14th. 1t contains the following pro.
positions:
First--No intsrfsronce of any kind by :
foreign powor.
Senond-it docs not require or ask for any
cessation Of hostilitiss pending tho negotia'
tiOuE; but, like the negotiations for peace IL
1888, between tho United States and Grea'
Britain, permits everything to proceed as
if no efforts Tor Il sottlomOnt were being
mads.
Then follows the communication of the
French Minister OF Foreign Affairs to M
Mercier.
Nh. DR0UYE DE- IHUYs TO Mr.. MEnCIER.
DEpARTMENT or FoRETGN AFFAIRS,
PuLlrlcAL DIVISION,
PARIS, Jan. 0, 1853. :
Sir-Ia forming the purpose Of assisting
by the proffsr of our good offices, to shorter
the period of those hostilities which aIe desc
lating tho American continent We have not Z
be guided beyond all by the friendship which
actuates the government of the Emperor II
regard to the United States. The little sue
cess of our oysrLures might chill the interee
with which We follow the fluctuations Of thi
contest; but the sentiment to which we nav
Welded is too sincere for indifference to fine
a place in our thoughts, that we shoud ceas
to BIO painfully affected whiIe the war con
tinues to rage. We cannot regard withou
profound regret this war, worse than civil
comparable to the most terrible Distraction
Of tho ancient republics, and whose disasterl
multiply in proportion to the resources ant
Tho valor which each of tho belligeren
parties develope. The government of hi
Msiesty, have, therefore, seriously exam
ined the objections which have been mad
to US when we have suggested the ide
of friendly mediation, and we have aske'
ourselves whether they are truly Of natur
to set aside as premature every tentative to re
Cancellation. On one part has been opposed t
us the repugnAncs Of the United States to admi
the intervention of foreign influence IN tn
dispute; on tho other the hope, which tn
Federal Government has not abandoned, Q
attaining its solution by force of arms: AS