Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-02-12
FRENCH DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE.

official documents Of the Year under the general name Of
the Expose dc Ia situation Empre aud which contains
besides the several summaries Of the Muisters similar to
the reports of Secretaries selection OF the Diploma
tic Correspondence like that recently published oy pr
SEWARD, We have not seen copy of this important
document but fad in the New York Evening Post CON-
patou OF portion of the correspondence contained in IT.
derived from abstracts given in the Paris correspondence
of several London papers and particularly in that OF M
aardet to the Courier des Etats Uos published in New
York From these abstracts the Pest has prepared quite
au interesting account Of that part OF the Fiench Empe
rors Yellow Book" called which relates to the
affairs of the United States.
The general conduct OF the French Government towards
the United States described 10 the following paragraphs
The year just euded unfortunately produced no co.
luton Of the crisis through which me United States are
passing The struggle is carried on with alteroatious o
and reverses which threaten " be eternal Az
the time the suforngs imposed on other couhtrh
by the blocking up of OF the most productive countries
III the world being multiplied aud aggravated As lar
as we are concerned the distress felt by our cotton indus
try is well known. ~
The Emperors Government, therefore, watched with
socltude the Of the events which mad
already attracted its attention during the past year
1t was especially anxious TO conciate the maintenance OF
friendly neutrality with the duty OF protesting It's own
countrymen which every day became more imp rave
1t has not neglected any OF the opportunities which
authorized it to explain its opnious to the Federal GoV
ernment The dangers aud difficulties OF the situation
Il,
give its observations the most friendly FORM aud happy
10 say that full justice has been done to Its sentiments al
Washington
After having till quite recently, confined it's commu
ncstous with the Federal Government to kind OF conf
dental exchange of ideae circumstances induced 10 Do
leve that the moment come to try more decided
STEP Tt thought that after two years OF so disastrous
struggle the when military operations are OF ne
cessty suspended could not be suffered 10 pass WDou
some effort to to the advantage OF peace ana COM
promise.
..Tba Emperor's Government was desirous not to act
alone 1t therefore proposed the Russian and English
Governments to join it, 60 that together they might orpg
about an armistlce for Fix months between the eder
Government and the Confederars of the South Ine an
sWer OF the two Courts already Known hlo deciar
ing that they shared the feelings which had led us TO make
the proposal they declined coming to the understanding
Eve certainly regretted this determination but we
were conscious Of having obeyed the dictates OF humanity
and sound policy We are convinced .as cur pUpOsa
useless boodshed and to hasten tie moment OF reconca
tiou the conditions of which were OF course 10 DC eb en-
tirely TO the free choice of the beligerent.
Ih.re evidently no sufficient ground lot US 10 re-
sumo aIoGe the initiative Of project which, as we tboueh
FROM the first ought to be undertaken with the concur
of allies but we have taken ca,e 70 et y 10
known at Washington that we were quite ready snoud
be desired 10 facilitate either alone or collectively 10 any
form that might be indicated the work OF peace 10 wnicn
we had wished Great BIitan and Russia TO JOIN u.s.
Next we come to the correspondence, which extends
over fourteen columns OF the MoDeur and which our rea'
ders to say the least will pronounce extraordinary many
respects It's topics Butler and Mediation or Me.
diaton aud Butler
A dssnatcb Of M. THoUvENEL, dated March 9th, 1862
uoures OF NJ Msrcier whether after the recent
obtained by tho Federal in Kentucky and Tennessee
the moment has not arrived for the Washington Cabinet
Ia examine elf the exclusive method 1T coercion after
all the best for remedying tho evil already DONE and that
which can be eatiy oreseen II the war be confnued
All Europe will with satisfaction zee the Federal Govern
ment seeking itself the basis of some transaction desiucd
lriva
compcatlous which will to- early arrive during the pre-
sent crisis it's proongation would render more heavy
than they already the sacrhces suffered py commerce
aud industry in Europe.
NJ MERCER replies to NJ. Tbouvenel March 81, 1862,
that according to Instructions he had held inter-
vie with Mr. Seward aod was awaiting the news OF the
fate Of New Orleans The French Minister afterwards
reports conversation which he had held with Influential
and who in answer to Ills remark that ihe war
ased daily the bitterness between the North aud the
South sand We do not expect to reunite (rataeher)
the South with against its will but We hope that after
having relieved il from the ofuence of its present leaders
and having given lesson, It Will return to the
right pnth We are resolved TO carry the test 10 the
end and II afterwards the msor OF the States persist
M separation toe NIL let them hare IT. M. Mefcier be-
eyes that this y the Iung opinion III ine Nortn nat tne
mass Of tho public beginning to get tired OF the war; but
that its instinct still binds IL strongly u The
Union aud which hopes to see preserved by melange
OF victories aud coDcessous
upon the Journey undertaken chmond by Baron Mer
cier aud which excited much attention at the me 1t
that be undertook IL az the suggestou VI DIT
Seward himself who then believed in lbe speedy reeshb
shIent of the Union and without having previously in
ormoi the French Government Of his intention Before
his departure NJ Mercier came to au understanding with
Lord Lyons aud repeated to Mr. Seward that the object
of his Journey was not eced with the recognition OF
the South but only an attempt to bring about arrange
ment The Secretary charged him to state at Richmond
that the NORTH was acuated by sentiments Of revenge
and that great satisfaction would be afforded to the nhsc
ans by the sight OF such Senators as the scut5 might
consent to send
OF the many conversations which NJ Mercier mentions
having had Richmond with several important personages
that Of DIR. Benjano deserves to be noted down. We
quote frou Mr.. Mercer's despatch
Il tod Mr.. Benjamin (wrtes Mr. Mercier) that the
of my vtit simply 10 learn for myself the real
state of affairs aud that 10 ask his aid 10 attaining
it, lie replied that be would assist with the greatest
pleasure and that he would be charmed arrived at the
truth which, according all he could gather appeared to
be little known n the North.
II give you a summary, M 10 Mnistre, OF what Mr..
Benjamin said TO me- aud what have learned from differ
ent conversations held wbils in Richmond We have q
told) relied too much Europe aod the power OF
commercial int rests bur, however that may be, you will
be convinced that are determined TO conquer ode
pendence at all bsards On this point the sentiments OF
our people unanimous. They have already suffered
much, but they will endure far If necessary, TO ac
complsh their object We do not disguise from ourselves
that the Fedenls possess n6hite superior resources,
aud The command Of tbs that they III the long
make themselves masters Of posts But in captur
4 lug our cities they will find only women, old men, aud
hldren The whole popu,ston capable Of bearing
will withdraw into the interior, beyond the reach Of gun
boats, and, in presence OF such resistance the North
will be obliged TO yield We remember that, n the war
i