Washington telegraph., 1863-09-02
Correspondence Of the New York News


THE MISSION oF Mr.. srEpuExs Vhat
its real Object trds-Proposition Of .Jef Daris
n Napoleon and Spain. tba return az
Vice President Stephens to Richmond several
facts have been brought to light calculated n
make people think that his mission was M.
simply confined to the topics contained in
jeff. Davis instructions, hut had n far more
important object in view
gentleman connected with tho STATE De.
partment tells me to-day that. indenendantlv
Of his public and ostensible mission NJ >tn-
phens had been entrusted by the President Of
the Confederacy with a secret that the
first was only cloak for the second ana that
revelations Of the greatest Importance we're 4 I
the bottom Of the diplomatic transaction in
trusted to his care.
This. il appears has been discoverad since
the return of Mr.. Stephens 70 Ricbmond
where his arrival was Immediately followed bv
a Cabinet council, and by the sea,l;ng a bearer
of dispatches TO London and Paris bv MIR. BEN
iamin, tile Secretary Of Foreign Affairs.
The bearer of dispatches carries with him.
| am told, a proposition OF alliance TO Louis
Napoleon. in which the Confederate Govern
ment proposes to the Emperor of the French
protectorat. upon Mexico and upon the Re
! public Of Central America, and al offer VI
free trade with the South for the term of %
years.
Al the same time. JEFF. Davis, in comrli-
auce with the well known spirit Of ahtagonisn
| existing in Europe, on the question of slavery,
proposes t0 modify that institution ID a man
ner consistent with the requirements Of ciyili-
zation and humanity.
in exchange. the President Of the Confeier
ate Government demands the recognition Of
The South. and Il G raising NJ the blockade:
ana should this measure cause war between
the Northern States and France, all that tie
4 Confederate Government requires ia such "A
Y case !. the cooperation Of her navy. Neither
Z n man nor a mu~ket is needed from Europc
\ but simply vessels Of var aad few irou-c.ad
\ ships.
/ MIR. Slidell. 10 whom these communication
4 hav. been transmitted. ii authorized 10 oileF
! Tile same Inducements ID every nation that mty
: feel inclined 20 comply with the wishes Of the
4 South anl particularly 70 SPAIN % watch ihe
pos r>siOn'of Cuba GuI the southern part OF San
4 Domingo would be guaranteed forever should
she decide a. len her assistance ~ the perina-
nent foundation OK the Southern Confederacy
/ | am also told that MIR. Slidell il invited tC
\ take advice Of Louis Napoleon in everything
belonging 10 tile institutions TO be hcreaf ei
framed by the Southern Cou.ederacy, TO solicit
4 III. opinions A. cgards tLs best means to be
Y employed for the foundation south of Mason
! aud Dizon's Line cf a strong consolidated gov
I ernment, and even 10 promise Linn protecro-
Y rate upon Texas. -houll lie deem the indepen-
! deuce of that State necessary to his designs
\ upon fexico.
I III ;act the Eroposition of JEFF. Davis tc
| Louis Napoleon Is that oi offensive and de-
K fcnsiye alliance, attended with a. large con-
Y c-ssons ~ government can make 10 anOtber
without losing it. freedom o. oction and dig
Y niiy of character.
\ But before making these propositions 70 th'
I Emperor Of Flaice and sacrificing the institu
ticn Of slavery. Jrff. Davis sent Nir. Stephens
w.ih 4 secret message 10 NT. Lincoln. 70 ad
yiso him OF the resolutions taken BY his Cab
4 iuet. ami to ak him whether he would not con
I sent. before applying 20 Europe for protection
and support, ard thereby 20 run the risk O
running the democratic institutions in thi:
country, ID an grmis:ice anil TO 4 convention
of all the states tor the settlement of the pend
in difficulties.
Tie mission Os Hr. Stephens was then look
Ing = you will see, to the preservation Of the
n free democratic ms itutions of thc South, and
v was opposed to any encroachments by foreign
power upon the country. The refusal of Mr..
4 l. nculn tJ sec hill has batiiel the project Of
| Alr. Davis, GEd has apparently forced the
\ South to rlace ITSELF under the protection OF
N the empires mt monarchies of European
J event which iHuy threaten lie inier.ity III our
! OWE liberties il the the North.