The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-13


bsr. Seward, ar. Dsytea snd sAe Ere ncn
| Ministers.
Some highly important state papers wert
communicated to the Senate yesterday. and arr
published in our columns to-day. They com
prise correspondence between Mr.. Seward
and Mr.. Dayton, concerning the proposition Of
mediation by the French Emperor, and
the communications which passed between
our Minister at Paris and N. Drouyn
| dc lhuys.
| Baron de Mercier's letter and Mr.. Stewards
vigorous answer to II, published In the HERALD,
must have caused great sensation in diplo-
matte circles ct Washington. In this city con-
siderable excitement was caused by the CORES
pondence in question, a. from its tone It Is easy
10 foreses that future relations between our
Minister Of Foreign Affairs and tho Emperor Ma
poleon's Minister wi II be extremely unpleasant
We are at loss to understand what course M.
Mercier can pursue. save that Of demanding his
passports He made an assertion compromis-
ing our Secretary Of State. who. In the most dis
tiAct manner, centradicts his statement. " Be-
tween gentlemen as the Gar Nicholas would
say, in private -iife,~ the course. TO pursue
would be clear; between persons occupying the
high positions which Mr.. Seward and Baron
Mercier respectively Ill it becomes matter
hard to decide. At this stage Of our affairs it is
to be hoped that all unpleasant complications
may be avoided; but We feel assured that the
letters which have just been made public by
the French Minister and Mr.. Seward, added 70
the Emperor Napoleon's missive to General
Forcy upon the Mexican question, to say moth
ing of the intrigues Of the French consuls
against Texas, will cause i'll feeling between ne
people Of this country and France. a.ss.
From the commencement of the rebellion we
were inclined to look upon France as friend.
She was not making an illicit commerce with
the rebels. She made no .endeavors to break
our blockade and sold no ships to the insurgents;
nor did she construct and at out pirate vessels
to prey upon our COMMERCE So we felt an
noyed at England, who did ell this, and we
were friendly disposed towards France, who did
not. But now it is forced upon our conviction
from all sides that France is really inimical to
US. We have the assertion from the Emperor
himself. who says that France must stay our
progress on this continent, and who clIivalrously
undertakes the task at moment wien we are
hampered by gigantic rebellion. n. Mercier
states that he went to Richmond at the instiga-
tiCn Of Mr.. Seward The latter fatty contra
diets this assertion. Singularly enough, at this
juacture of affairs we find in the columns Of
Ftnch periodical an article which goes TO
prove that N. Mercier went to Richmond with
other motives than those he acknowledges
Mr.. Cuchcval Clarigny. a writer in the service Of
the French government, states in the Annuaire
dies Dc,a Mordes that it was French influence
Richmond 1t must be borne In mind TINT at
the date of M. Mercier's visit to Richmond the
rebels were inclined to abandon that place,
and that they had determined upon re-
moving the seat OF their government to
some other city. They. after NJ Mercier's
visit, concluded TO remain, and did 80 success
fully; and now we find q prominent French
writer assuring US that Richmond held out at
the instigation Of France. II il clear that Mr..
Cucheval Clarigny would not have haxarded
this statenient in Paris nau ne not been fully
informed upon the subject. .e.s+ sse
/ The unfavorable statements made 10 CON
stantiy by the semi-offcial organs Of the French
government as regards the position Of our ad-
ministration; their desire that France should
mediate, all, Of course, with view to the seve-
rance Of tho Union are persisted in with . bad
grace, knowing, as they do, how offensive to
loyal Americans would be any foreign inter-
vention or meddling We fear that any abrupt
or incautious policy at this moment might re-
sult badly for the entente cordiale between our
government and that of the Emperor Napoleon
His alliance with England is ON its last legs
and, as he is ambitious to elevate the Latin
race at the expense Of our power and prestige
he might gladly seize upon any occasion to
rend asunder even the semblance of good feel
ing which exists between us, and thus have
done altogether with the Anglo-Saxons..A We
would warn our authorities at Washington to
exercise the greatest caution and delicacy in
handling M. Mercer, and the most untiring ex-
petition in building iron-clads and arming them
heavily; for IL we must have foreign war let
us by all means be prepared for it.
Mr.. Stewards straightforward letters IN con-
nection with the correspondence between Mr..
Dayton and Mr.. Drouyn de Lhuys, which we
publish to-day, put him before the people in
the best light. AS regards the charges made
against him by Baron Mercier, he makes no
deviations nor explanations, but uncompro-
misingly denies them. This places M. Mercier
In most unpleasant predicamest, and will
most likely lead to his recall, as he can no
longer continue his relations with Mr.. Sew
ard. 1t remains to be seen how the Emperor
will look upon the matter; and as we said
above, ~ long IS doubt exists let us prepare
for the worst The Emperor of the French,
should he be inclined TO take advantage Of this
incident, will nnd that his calculations ~ to
the diminution Of our power are sadly at vsri-
ance with the real state Of the case. A foreign
war thrust upon us 1t such . moment would
rouse the people Of the North to display Of