The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-21
Letters Of Secretary Seward .-e Min
hsp lister Dayton. ~ -'
mr. seward 90 mir. Dayton.

William y. Duytoa, Esq.: aHlt
Sm: The intimation given in your
dispatch Of January 10 (No. 25h), that |
might expect a special visit from nj.
Mercier, has been realized. He called
on the I'D inst, and gave me a copy Of
dispatch which he had just then receive
ed from NJ. Drouyn de LHuys under
date Of the 9th Of January. l have Ia
ken the Presidents instructions, and now
proceed to givs you his ideas upon the
subiset in question. q
lt has been considered with sefiousnesH
resulting from the reflection that the peo-
pie of France are known TO be fsnitless
sharers with the American nation in the
misfortunes and celsnaities Of an unhap-
py civil war. Nor do we on this, any
more than ON other occasions, forget the
4 traditional friendship Of the two coun-
tries, which, we unhesitatingly believe,
has inspired the counsel that M. Drouyn
| de L'Huys has impaired.
He says 1.-THE Federal Government
does not despair, we know, Of giving
more active impulse TO hostilities;" and
again he remarks: "The protraction of
the struggle, in word, has not shaken
the confidence of the Federal Govern-
ment in the defiDative success Of its ef-
forts" These passages seem TO me TO do
unintentional injustice 10 the language,
whether confidential or public, in which
this Government has constantly spoken
on the subject of the war. Is certainly
has bad and ayowed only one purpose
a determination 10 preserve the integrity
of tho country. So far from admitting
any taxing Of efforts or betraying any
dependency, the Governmenthas on the
contrary, borne itself cheerfully in all
vicissitudes with unwayering confidence
in an early and complete triumph of the
National cause. Now, when we are in n
manner invited by friendly power to re-
view the twenty.one months history Of
the conflict, we find no occasion 10 Abate
that confidence through such an alterna-
tion Of victories and defeats as is the ap.
pointed incident Of war. The land and
naval forces of The United States have
steadily advanced, reclaiming from the
insurgents the porte, forces and posts
which they had treacherously seized be-
fore the strife actually began, and even
before it was seriously apprehended
many of the States and districts which
the insurgents included in the field of
their projected exclusive slaveholding
commission, have already been re-estab-
lished under the flag OF. the Union that
they now retain only the States Of Geor-
gia, Alabama and Texas, with half Of
Virginis, half of North Carolina, two
thirds Of South Carolina, half of Missis-
sippi, and one-tbird, respectively, of Ar.
kansas and Louisiana; the Nation a.
forces hold even this small territory in
close blockaed aud siege. Co.
This Government, if required, does not
hesitate TO submit its achievements to
the test Of comparison, and IL maintains
that in no partof the teorld, and in no times,
ancient or 3lode,T, has a nation, when rem
dered all dnreAdy for combat by the en-
joyment of eighty years Of almost un-
broken peace, 50 quickly ai0aksned at he
alarm Of sedition, put Jorlh energies 50 VigOr-
Gus and achieved successes so signal and egec-
tie as those lOhich haze marked The progress
Of dlis contest on the part Of the Uniea. NJ.
Drouyn de L'Huys has, / fear, taken
other light than the correspondence of
this Government for his guidance, In as
certaining its temper and tirmncss he has
probably read of divisions OF sentiment
among those who hold themselves forth
as organs Of public opinion here, and has
given TO them an undue importance.
1t Is TO be remembered that this is 4
nation of thirty millions, civilly divided
into fOrty-one States and Territories,
which cover an expanse hardly less than
Europe, that the people are a pure de-
mocracy. exercising every here the ut
most freedom of speech and suffrage;
that a great crisis necessarily produces
vehement as well as profound debate,
with sharp commissions of individual,
local and sectional interests, sentiments
: and convictions; aud that this heat Of
controversy is increased by the interven-
tion Of speculations, interests, prejudicef
and passions from every other part Of
the civilized world. II is, however
= through such debates that the agreement
3 of the nation upon any subject is habit
ually attained; its resolutions formed
and its policy established
While there has been much difficulty
) Of popular opinion and favor concerning
the agents who shall carry on the war
! the principles upon which il shall b'
waged, and the means with which i
shall be prosecuted, NJ. Drouyn dl
0 L'Huys has only TO refer TO the statutl
? book Of Congress and the Executive or
dinanoes TO learn that the National ao
tivity has hitherto been, and yet is a
efficient as that Of any othes nation, what
4 ever its form Of government ever wa
under circumstances of equally grav
import 20 its peace, safety and welfare
. Not one voice has been raised anywhere
n out OF the immediate field Of the insur
4 rection, in favor OF foreign intervention
mediation, of arbitration, Of compromise
with the relinquishment Of one acre o
the National dominions, or the surrende
Of even constitutional franchise. AZ th
h same time IL is msnifest to the world tha
. our resor"res are yet abundant, and ou
credit a, uate TO the existing emergen
cy.
What NJ. Drouyn de L'Huys suggest
is that this Government shall appoin
Commissioners 10 meet, on neutra
ground, Commissioners Of the insurgents
n lie supposes that ia the conference to b
), thus held reciprocal complaints could b
J. discussed, and In place Of the aecusa
tions which the North and the Sout
: now mutually casthpoh each other, th
e conference would be engaged with dis
ousEions Of the interests which divid
q them. He assumes further that III th
!. commissioners would seek his means
well ordered and profound deliberatiol
whether thess interests are definitely Il
rsoonellAble, whether separation is an 81