The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-02-17
FROM FRANCE.

The Correspondence betceen the French authori
ties and the Lincoln authorities.
The Paris correspondence of the London Tele-
graph says that the following is analysis of what
occurs in the "Yellow Book" concerning America,
and which book is usually distributed to the
French Congress, but has been withheld this year:
"alercier informs the Minister of Foreign
Affairs that in his correspondence with the q. s.
Government be had endeavored to word his re-
plies in such manner to accustom that Govern-
ment to the recognition Of the South by France,
in case hostilities should continue without any
marked result in favor of the North. At the same
time Mercier wrote to Seward on the subject of
loss to French subjects by reason of the absolute
impossibilty of corresponding with the popula-
ton of the Southern States. These losses are
represented to be S3,OO0,O0O in New Orleans
alone.
Mercier demanded that French Consuls in the
Confederate States should be permitted to forward
business correspondence Seward referred the
matter to Lincoln, stating that the demand was
of the highest moment.
On 9th February, 1862, Thouvenel asked
Mercier to deny, as he had previously done, the
recognition of the Confederate Government by
France, she intending to remain strictly neutral;
but, on the 9th of March, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs wrote Mercier, stating that success by the
Federal army in Tennessee might end the
campaign without the honor of the Government
at Washington suffering, and that France greatly
desired to that Government endeavoring to
solve the difficulty peaceably. Thouvenel added !,
that the Cabinet at Washington alone could lay
dozen the basis fcon,promise, necessity for achtch
is felt more keeaIy eoery day
This was the beginning of the efforts which
terminated in the note of Drouyn de PHuys to
England and Russia When Mercer communi-
tod n; 70 rd bo ]od tl,o
on the part of neutral Powers wauld only result
in complicatng the difficulties MERCER, in his
letter informing Ihougenal of this conversations
added, that "nobody pretended to e-connect the
South to the Union against its will, but only to
give it lesson, and to withdraw It from the in
fuence of it's present leaders, so that it might re-
turn of its own accord. The Federals are deter
mined to carry the trial to the end and if
after that the majority of the Southern popula-
ton persist in wishing to separate from the Union
well, it will be suffered to do So"
a dispatch, bearing date April 18th, saws that
Mercier's visit to Richmond was undertaken at
the suggestion of Seward who then believed In
the speedy re establishment of the Union Mer-
cier came to an understanding with Seward that
his journey should not be connected with recoqni-
ton of the South, but only an attempt to bring
about an arrangement. Seward charged Mercier
to state at Richmond that the North was not ac-
tuated by sentiments OF revenge, and that great
satisfaction would be afforded the North by the
sight of Southern Senators in Washington. Mer-
cer mentions that the most important converse
ton he had was with Mr. Benjamin. That gen
tleman said that the South had committed fauc
pas by relying too much on foreign interference;
but the illusion had been dispeiled. The South
people were unanimous In their determina-
ton to separate, and would fight to the bitter end
After relating this conversation IN ertenso
Merc:er adds in his dispatch that everybody held
the same language, and nobody hesitated to declare
that the re-establishment Of the Union was i'm