The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-25
STARTLING, IF True.
From the New York Herald.

5tOH VI IcIuS-f tCC fcotuc'N otcPtoHo
Abortiue Mission to Washington-ks o.
ject TO Make Peace and aroid this French
AUiance-His Present Mission to France
to Ratify the. Treaty.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Is, 1868.
Within the last few days have had fire.
quent conversations with gentleman re-
Gently from Richmond. where he had held a
position which gave him an inside opportu-
nifty Of becoming acquainted with the facts
which he has related to me, and of learning
what may be considered State secrets
From him l have acquired the information
which | propose to convey in this letter.
You recollect how the mission which Mr..
Vice President Stephens undertook to dis
charge at Washington puzzled the public
mind at the time. What was its object ?
Some thought it was to propose terms OF
peace and reconstruction of the Union.-
When it failed, On account of our Govern
ment, not deeming it exactly right TO per-
nit his going in a rebel vessel of war to
Washington, it was given out in Richmond
that he merely desired to arrange some de
tails about the exchange of prisoners, and
up to the present time that is the only ex.
planation given of this very curious cir
cumstance. My Informant explains it in
this way In November last Mr.. Slidell,
the Representative Of the Southern Confed-
eracy In France, communicated to his gov
ernment the important Information that
Louis Napoleon had consented to form an
alliance, offensive and defensive, with the
Southern Confederacy, and to contribute, as
the material aid required for the estab ish-
ment of its independence, his navy and
three hundred thousand men, provided that
the Confederacy woulG yield to France all
the cotton growing territory west of the
Mississippi, embracing Texas, half of Louis
lana and Arkansas.
To this the Conservative representatives
Of the South objected; first, because they
were opposed to any foreign alliance; and,
second, because they preferred the Gov
ernment to the United States, administered
upon Constitutional principles, with the
Constitutional recognition of State rights,
to any government which the world has
yet known. Hence Mr.. Stephens, after a
consultation with his friends and the rebel
authorities, undertook his mission. Ad
monished by others less hopeful than him
self and less anxious for a restoration of
the Union, that it would be impossible to
obtain an interview with the Union authori
ties upon the direct object that he had in
view, and that it was extremity doubtful
whether he would be permitted to hold au-
dience with the President or his Secretary
of State, he determined to adopt the
strategic question which he presented in his
official communicatlons-namely, consulta-
tion upon the treatment and exchange Of
prisoners OF war.
He entertained the confident hope that
no serious obstacle would be interposed to
bis proceeding to Washington, and there
with President Lincoln and
Secretary Seward, as to whether some mu-
tually satisfactory terms of compromise
might not be arranged, so that the rebel
might be saved the disgrace Of
inviting IN foreign aid, at such an immense
sacrifice Of its honor and of the territory
over which it claimed jurisdiction. Disap.
pointed in this hope, he returned to Rich
nond, and yielded to the general sentiment
aud determination to form any alliance, to
submit to any conditions imposed by for
eign ally, rather than yield to the govern.
nent of the United States.
1t has been resolved, therefore, to con-
sent to an alliance with France, aud con- |
'ede Texas to that Power, in return for the
i'd of its navy aud army in securing the
Confederate independence. This accounts
or the confident tone OF Mr.. Stephens
peech at Charlotte, North Carolina, in
which he assumed that the prospects Of the
Jonfederacy were not discouraging, and |
hat there was certainty of success. 1t
las been rumored that Mr.. Stephens has
rome to Europe. There IS reason to belieUe
hat he is nolC in Froace-that he Is Uested
9th authority to close negotiations loiM the
French Gorsrnment-that Louis Napoleon
las already formed and alliance, offensive
md defensive with the Southern Confeder-
ICY, upon the terms before mentioned
france to take Texas and to put its entire
lavy and three hundred thousand soldiers
nto the service of the Southern Confeder-
ience.
The knowledge that bearer OF despatch
IS to the Confederate government has re-
emily arrived from Europe, bringing infor-
nation that the alliance between France
md the Southern Confederscy has been
ully perfected, may have induced Governor
ance, of North Carolina, to issue his ex-
raordinary proclamation, published day
or two since, invoking the people Of that
State to stand by the confederacy
There is, without doubt, an important
representative in Richmond from Gen. Fo-
'ey, commanding the French forces in Mex
co, whose mission is TO ascertain from the |
Confederate government at what points
French troops are desired for the service of
he Southern Confederacy.
Will it startle the people OF the North,
who have been unable to account for the
confident tone of the Southern mIiltary and |
civil authorities: the Southern people and !
Southern press, even after the severeEt re-
verses, if the Information is impaired to /
them that there are reasons to apprehend /
immediate action on the part of the French
government in behalf of their new ally. the |