Daily national Republican., 1863-02-13
TO MR.. DAYTON.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
mo. 297.I


mo. 297.l DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, 9th Feb, 1858.
sIR: The intlmation given In your dispatch
of January 18th, No. 255, that might expect
a special visit from NJ. Mercier; has been real
lied. He called on tho Sd instant, and gave
me coPyof dispatch which he had just then
received from NJ. DrOuyn de PHuys under the
date Of the 2lst January. l have taken the
Presidents Instructions, and now proceed to
give you his views upon the subject in ques-
tlon.
1t has been considered with seriousness re-
sulting from the reflection that the people of
France are known to be faultess sharers with
the American nation In the msfortunes and ca
lamitles Of our unhappy civil war; nor do we
on this, any more than on other occasions, for
get the traditional friendship of the two coun-
tries, which we unhestatingly believe has in
spirCd the counsels that NJ. Drouyn de PHuys
has impaired.
He says, ''the Federal Government docs not
despair, VIC know, Of giving more active i'm
pulse 10 hostiities;' and again he remarks,
''the protraction Of the struggle, In a word,
has not shaken the confidence (of the Federal
GoVernment) in the definite success Of Its ef-
forts" These passages seem TO me to do uh-
Intentional injustice 10 the language, whether
confidential or public, In which this Govern
ment has constantly spoken on the subject Of
the war. 1t certainly has had and avowed only
one purpose-a determination TO preserve the
Integrity Of the country. 30 far from admit
ting any laxity of effort, or betraying any des-
pondency, the Government, has on the con-
trary, borne itself cheerfully in all vlcissitudes
with unwayering confidence In an early and
complete triumph of the National cause. Now,
when we are, In a manner, invited by friendly
Power 10 review the twenty-one mouths history
Of the conflict, We find no occasion 10 abate
that confidence. Through such an alienation
of victories and defeats as Is the appointed in
Cldent of every war, the land and naval forces
of the United States have steadily advanced,
reclaiming from the insurgents thep ports, forts,
and posts, which they had treacherously seized
before the strife actually began, and even be-
fore II was seriously apprehended. So many
Of the States and districts which the Insurgents
Included in the field Of their projected excu-
sive slaveholding domlnlons, have already been
re-ostabllshed under the hag of the Union, that
they now retain only the States of Georgia,
Alabama and Texas, with half Of Virginia, half
of North Carolina, two thirds Of South Caro-
lima, half Of Mississippi, and one third respec-
! lively OF Arkansas and Louisiana. The Ma
tlonal forces hold even this small territory In
close blockade and siege.
This Government, II required, does not hesi-
tate to submit It's achievements TO the test Of
! comparisons and II maintains that In no part
| OF the world, and In no times, ancient or mod
| ern, has nation, when rendered all unr0ady
for combat by the enjoyment of eighty wears of
| almost unbroken peace, so quickly awakened
at the alarm Of sedition, put forth energies SO
vigorous, and achieved successes so signal and
effective as those which have marked the pro-
grcss Of this contest on the part Of the Union.
NJ. Drouyn de L'Huys, fear, has taken other
Light than tho correspondence Of this Govern