The New York herald., 1863-02-22
INTERESTING FROM WASHINGTON.
BuppositiOns and RumOrs Relative to
French Intervention.
The Proposed Amendments to the
Internal Tax Bill.
THE Postal Reform Bill Passed
~ the House,
Ms &C.. Go.

4 WASHINGTON, Feb 81, 1858.
tR. sswARD's ANSWER TO THE FRENCH MINISTER
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS-THE VIEW TAKEN OF IT BY
( FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
\ 1fKELY TO AccEDE MR.. sEwARDS rRoPosAI.--
/; M WILL INFLUENCE THE SOUTH TO SEND REPRE-
| DENrATiyES TO COSGRESS-cONsEQuENF MAJORITY
AGAINST TIE ABnLITIONIsTS TO RESULT IN A
PEACE BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH, ETC., ETC.
Ar. Sewards to the conference proposal made
- this government by the French Minister OF Foreign
A6Alrs attracted great attention political cir.
oss, and given rise TO suppostons and all
4 less important; Tho foreign diplomats here
basd 70 the belief that Napoleon will upon the
ter proposal aa'is by Secretary Seward, who,
while refusing 10 accept the tmpcrors ofler stated
etat this government would listen to any sug
8cssens made by Southern representatives filing
soe vacant p!aces In Congress which sio I'D te
occupied BY Southern members. Some weakninded
Repo those not with the real character of
~ asute mnnarsh Of Franco. anticipate that ho will
os very indignant at Mr.. Sewards reply, and that be
viii thon and there recognize tho Eavis government
ovea NAPOLEON wers blind to the advantages OF Mr.
Stewards oc. Is supposed here by the foreign dplo
mats that Sidell will at the fine opportunity
o0erod by The proposition oil Mr. Seward to admit South
esnrcprescnta 70 Congress- and that he will induce
Napoleon 70 his influence with South and cause
Chem 70 accept tho chance thrown in their way,
once send proper persons TO Washington
Te result would be that In both large majority
0e reduced 70 naught at The would
chen mako with the South woud allow i'm
ediAe and permanent reconstruction Union There
VII be urged against Napoeon's acceptance OF Mr. Sew
the fact that France wishes the dsmember
nent Of the Union, and that Engand govcrnmen, de-
sres the same result, they would lend favor to n
schcme which wonld surely bring peace between
ths North and south. In this II may be re.
marksd that, although France and England undoubtedly
Ia ears md hat tha hay
70 dread from continuance Of present struggle than
from ,ructon Of tho Union. All over Europe
revolutionary spirit rife which Napoleon especially
breads, and which endangcrs tho and prosperity
Of England to extent fully appreciated by her states
men.
Napoleon has miseraby failed in his Mexican expedi-
ton and must have been taught by this venture what
would be the nsurmountable obstacles his way should
he force US to declare against him. He might make
great show OF concession TO wishes, were we re-
united, by gracefully backing out from the Mexican
pedition ccouut. He l. well that would
lend the Mexcans money TO pay any just cl he might
mako against them, were we out OF present
troubles, and th.t thus he might abandon the
grand scheme he boastfuly put forth in
General Forcy, and which he BY this fully
aware Will neither benefit himself the Latin race,
which he solicitous 1t is thought by the To-
reign diplomats here that taking into consideration the
Immense which the consumption places at
ths disposal President Lincoln the European Powers
will understand that shall surely reduce tho South
the struggle must be continued. and that, Of the
dreaded results TO themselves Of the duration Of the
American rebellion. they would, jointly with Napoleon,
rge upon South the acceptance OF Mr. Scwards Of
hr.
We arc not by any means inclined assert that Mr.
Reward had idea that his proposal would be
.9ssA upon; but thng evident should the South
6oocisde representatives TO Congress according
% che letter Mr. rewards PROMISE they would have
oe admitted u may become evident at some future
time tha MIR. Lincoln aud hts Prime Minister were fully
hliyo 70 the consequences Of which, f carried
ey che South in all human probability the
cation Of the and the consequent reconstruction Of the
nlou. say nothing Of the relief would afford TO Prosi
dent Lincom by ridding him Of his present abolition in
nubus. conservative majority in congress thus OBJ
hAined the vexng questions between North and South
would be settled the satsfae Of all parties,
ossrt those who favor OF the scheme. Tmo will
6how whether they right. As It is The matter
&ith Napoleon.
The shallow Pacd radical journals Of New York have
entirely misconceivcd the matter question. One Of
chem iuisone attempts to smooth the French
Empcror's annoyance which supposes VIII be over
thelmiug when he receives Mr.. Stewards reply 70 VI.
Drosyn de Lhuys. The Journal in question also iawns
upon Mr. Mcrcicr, Nspoleons Minister here. The other
radical organ quite silly and shallow the 1rst
rerred to- grand and dctatoral tone, and hec
both Napoleon and hts Minister, Mr.. Mercicr These
bundcrs however, not TO be wondered at these
radical organs ever astray upon all questions,
however simple, lot alone the present intricate
subject, which Il eagerly discussed here Neither
che adulation Of tho the beratings Of the
other viii influence the mind Of the Emperor Napoleon
uho never OF these Journal. but any
conversant with cunning and farsightcd policy may
well expect that the advantages TO result TO France Tor
prompt action upon Mr Sewards proposal VIII be under
stood by Napoleon should the and turmois q his
present position him TO overlook the chance given
10 tho South BY our Secretary Of State, sdel will not
fail 70 comprehend the matter at glance and he will
surely develop to Napoleon all It's results
Those who imagine that the South would be will
ng to accept such chance know but e u the fearful
condition OF the people the contederscy The leaders
or the rebellion would find quite impossible
pressure OF The great Powers OF Europe, should they
Jointly advise Mr Sewards proposal should DO acted
npon besides which, the southern people would insist
upon fair trial step which might lead 10 peace Il
may thus be readily understood how momentous arc the
Consequences which may result iron the dgnhed reply
addressed by our secretary Of State the French Minis
Ger Of Foreign Affairs Are TO take it for granted
Ahas this matter mas accidentally assumed such great i'm
ortancc or that President Lincoln and Mr seward
quite IA as,utc in their way Napoleon 10 h' To the
abolition party leave the solution OF the problem.
AMENDMENTS TO THE TAX BILL.
The amendments reported by the Committee of Ways
md Means TO the Tax bill numerous. Among them
40 the following One simply striking out the valuation
prices Of tobacco as the basis Of the tax, aud
pnersasng the tax on smoking tobacco made
Pscausveiy Of stems from three 10 hve cent?.
pn rolled copper and yellow shealhng metal,
n rolls or sheets, one pcr csntum al valorem. On
HsaAy made clothing or atces OF dress for mcns wo
Ass's or chdrcns wear, not including hats cars or
thrce PER cenum ad valcrem provided that dress
eots and shccmakers making 70 order fr cusomcrs and
hot Tor sale generally, shall TO the amount q, a GOO be
exempt and iot any excess beyond that amount nav
aty Of three Ter centum nd vaorem. On iron not other
wise provided for $50 per ton: provided there
be Deducted from duties assessed upon railroad