Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-13

vanced, and now floats some " here on the so |
Cr over the Qualifications Of every slave stare
(saye cne.1 Their armies ha ave in the mean.
time been driven from an area of country en-
bracing in the aggregate not less than iOO,tOJ
square miles, and occupied by population
ranging from one million and half to two
millions OF people. They have lost every port,
harbor, and fertilization ON the Atlantic coast
OF any value, (hoss at Charleston alone ex-
cepted } from the mouth OF the Chesapeake to
the southern point OF Elorida, and thence around
the Gulf coast to Pensacola. But more i'm .
portant even than this, they have within the
year lost New Orleans, the great commercial
metropolis Of the South, with the numerous
fortlficaiions established for its defense. They
have likewise lost the Mississippi, with every
is and and river fortifcation (save that at
Vicksburg) by which it was defended. Within
the year, TOO, the North has built up an i'm
mense navy; and while on the one hand the
United States has revenue available in the
precious INITIALS of more than q hundred mil
lions, while its mines yielding gold more
rapidly than foreign trade withdraws it from
the country, the Confederates Oh the other,
with floating debt Of four hundred millions
OF dollars, represented by paper at discount
Of seventy five per cent, have neither raised
nor have they the means of raising a revenue
equal TO ten millions, in any form or for any
purpose. The difference in resources Of popu-
laticn Of the two belligerents is also pointed
out.
NJ. Drouyn de rHuys replies TO Mr.. Day ton
that although the representations of the latter
are certainly of nature to make him appreci-
ate all the resources Of our government it is
none the less true that notw tan ding the in
equality OF number rs and CT financial means,
notwithstanding local advantages and partial
CONG uestS, the conditions of soil and of climate
seem to oppose inSuperable obstacles to the
progress OF the struggle, and that the equal
energy OF both sides tends to impress upon il a
character of indCmitabie dies peratiun
After complimentary reference to the courage
displayed by the Americans on both sides IN
the struggle, he closes by reiterating the desire
Of France to effect reconciliation be tween the
be Iii -eICnts.
Other CORE spondence follows between Mr.
Dayton and Secretary Sc ward, an then comes
the important communication from the Fren Oh
Government and the reply to il by Mr.. Sew
ard, given below:
ME-. DRoUYN DE L'HUrs TO NJ. NERoIEE
[Trdnsiated.l
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
POLITICAL DIVISION, PARIS, Jan. 9, 1868
SIR: In forming the purpose of assisting, by
the profer of our good Offices, 10 shorten the
period Of those hOstilirias which are desolatinp
the American continent, had we not been
guided, beyond all, by the friendship which
actuates the Government Of the Emperor in
regard to the United States the little success of
our oyertures might chill the interest with
which we follow the fluctuations Of this con.
test but the sentiment to which We have yielded
Is too sincere for indifference to find place in
onr thoughts, and that we should cease to be
painfully affected, whilst the war continues to
rage
We cannot regard without profound regret
this war, worse than civil, comparable to the
most terrible distractions of the ancient re.
pubhcs, and whose disasters multiply in pro.
portion to the resources and the valor which
each OF the helligerent parties develop.
The Government Of his Majesty have there
fore seriously examined the objections which
have teen made to US. Where we have sug.
gested tie idea of friendly mediation, and we
have asked ourselves whether they are truly
OF nature to set aside as premature every
tentative TO q reconciliation, on one part has
been opposed to us the repugnance Of the
United States TO admit the inter vention of for
eign influence in the dispute, ON the other hope
W hich the Federal Government has not aban.
coned, OF attaining its solution by force of arms
one or several neutral Powers contains nothing
incompatible with the pride SO legitimate amidst
a great nation, and wars purely international
are not those alone which furnish examples of
the useful character Of mediation We fiatter
ourselves, besides, that in proffering to place
ourselves at the disposal of the belligerent par.
ues 70 IaciIitate between them negotiations, the
basis Of which we abstain from prejudging, we
have manifested to the patriotism Of the United
States all the considerations to which ii is en-.
titled, now perhaps still more than ever, after
such new proof OF moral force and energy. We
are none the less ready, amid the wishes which
we form in favor Of peace, to take into account
all suscepfibilities OF national feeling, and we
do not al all question the right OF the Federal
Government to decline the cooperation icon.
eours] Of the great maritime Powers OF Europe.
But TINS co.. operation, Is 1t not the only means
to hasten the close Of the war7 And il it be.
neves that 1t ought TO repel any foreign inter.
yention, could II not honorably accept the idea
OF direct lpourpdriers] informal conferences
States OF the South!
The Federal Government does not despair.
we know, Of givinga more active impulse TO
hostilities; its sacrifices have not exhausted its
resources, still less its perseverance, and its
stead fas ness
The protraction OF the struggle, In q word,
.uccess Of its efforts. But the opening of in
formal conferences between the beiIigerent
parties does not necessarily imply the immedl.
lts cessation Of hestiites~ Negotiations about
peace ara not always the cOnssQ uence of sus.
pension OF warfare. They preOede, on tho con.
trary, more often the establishment Of a ruce.
HOW many times have we net seen plenipotsn.
apoa ii the essential provisions of toaties.
resolve. In nne, thu question eyen OF peace or
war, whilst tho leaders Of armies eontin ned the
sn %oss e sa 4.
p psacsf To recall only ons memory, drawn
rou The history Of the Unitsd StaseA The
negotiations which oonssceated their independ.
.aA ceased Ia the New world. AID ths amis-
ioe was NOT estsblshed until ths ast Of 3O,h I
Novefh Der, 17S9, which, under the name Of
,rovnao1si articles, embraced tn advance NE
aent Of the DATED States, witAous renouncins
BY the continuation Of the war, nom entcrin-
uPOn tnformrl conferences with the confeder.
ltes Of tbs south, in case they should show
themselves disposed thereto.
Rspre.@ natives or commissioners Of the two
parties could assemble n such point ~ IL
should b dsemed proper TO designate, ana
which co1ld, for this purpose, be declared
neutral. Reciprocal complaints would be Ok.
amined into at this meeting. In place OF tina
Accusations, which North and South mutually
cast upon each other at this time, would be
substituted an argumentative discussion OF the
Int rests which divide them. They would seek
ont by means Of well ordered and profound de-
liberatiOns whether these interests are def.
nIuveiy Observation-Disclosures separation II
an extreme which can no longer be avoided, or
whether tho memOri-s Of q common existence.
" heihsr tho ties OF any kiRd which have made
OF the North And Of thA South ono sole and
" hole federative State. and have borne them
On TO 20 high degree OF prosperity, are not
more powerful than the causes which have
placed arms In thu hands OF the two popula-
tions. negotiation, the object Of which would
be thus Discriminate, would not involv '. Nnv Of
the objections raised against the diplomatic in.
teryenton Of Europe, and without giving birth
to thu same hopes as the Immediate conci usion
Of an arntsttce, would exsrotss . happy tnfiu.
ence on tbs march Of events. Why, hsrefore.
should not . combination. which respeots ali