Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-09
THE CONWAY CORRESPONDENCE.

We published, few days ago, the correspon-
dence which has recently been had in London
between the Rev. MoNcURE d. CONWAY, who
represents himself As an agent Of g the leading
Abolitionists of America," and the Hon. JAMES
M. MASON, the Commissioner of the Confederate
States. In his opening letter, Mr.. Conway, it
will be remembered, made the following propo-
sition
"If the States calling themselves the Confederate
States Of America will consent to emancpate the negro
slaves those States such emancipation to be guaranteed
by liberal European commission, the emancipation to be
nauguraed at once and such time to be allowed for its
completion az the commission shall sdudge to be
sary and just and such emancipation made to be
rrevocabethen the abotionsts and antsavery leaders
Of the Northern States shall immediately oppose the prose-
cuon Of the war the part Of the United States Gov
ernment and since they hold the balance OF power, will
certainly cause the war to by the immediate with
drawal Of every kind Of support from il"
We know nothing of the auspices under which
Mr.. Conway has made his appearance in London.
That he had no credentials by which to authenti-
cate his representative character, to certify the
nature Of his mission, was sufficiently proved by
the fact that, when Intercepted on these points
by Mr.. Mason, he had no other reply to make than
the following:
~ could easily give you the evidence that represent
the views of the leading Aboitioniss Of America, but
with regard the special offer which have made have
concluded that It best to write out to America and
obtain the evidence Of my right to make it in form which
will preclude any doubt as to its suffciency."
Those who know Mr.. Conway (and he is well
known in this city, from his former residence
among us) will readily perceive the source Of the
error into which he has fallen. Giving to his anti
slavery ideas q preponderance which disqualifes
him for the formation Of well-balanced and judi
cious determinations in matters concerning the
supposed welfare of the slave, he avows his read.
ness to sacrifice all other political interests and
principles affecting the welfare and integrity of the
United States provided emancipation can be at
tanned This latter is with him the paramount
consideration. Similar views, the offspring of the
same inspirations, have been announced by Mr..
Wendell Phillips, of Boston, and by the Hon.
Martin f. Conway, member of the last House Of
Representatives from the State Of Kansas. How
widely the same sentiment prevails among this
class Of politicians We are unable to say, but are
inclined to doubt whether Mr. Conway will be able
to find msny among his friends who are ready to
endorse his proposition.
II is not to be presumed that this proposition
was made by him with any criminal intent, how
ever injudicious it may have been, and however
obviously it falls under the pains and penalties de-
nounced by statute Of the last Congress, framed
and introduced by Mr.. Senator Sumner. It il
known that the Fifth Congress Of the United States
by an act passed on the Both Of January, 1899,
prohibited all correspondence and intercourse, YER
bal or in writing, direct or Indirect by any citizen
at home or abroad, with any officer or agent of or
any person sympathizing with . !" foreign Govern
ment," with view to change, modify, or thwart
the measures Of the United States As this act in
terms related only to a foreign Government" it
was doubtful whether il could be made to apply to
the case Of citizen corresponding or communi-
catiog with the insurgent authorities at Richmond
sor their representatives abroad, and in order to
discourage all such volunteer and irregular diplo-
1macy, the last Congress passed nm act applying the
prohibitions and penalties Of the old law to those
who should hold intercourse with "the present
pretended rebel government" or any Of IL oilssrs,
agents, or sympathizer, with intsst % dsfsas tks
measures Of the United States GovssnnsoI, a. %
weaken in any way their efficacy" Ths psassts