Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-13
TO MR.. DAYTON.
mo. 2s7.l DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAaHIAaTnN 9Th Fen. IS6l

to NIX. DAfTON.
mo. 2g.1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, 9th FEB, 1863.
SIR: The intimation ri ven in your d:spat h
OF January 18th, No. 255, that might expect n
special visit from Mr.. MERCER, has bean re-
allied. He called on the Sd instant, and n We
me a copy of a dispatch which 10 had ju It then
received from M. Drouyn de riiuys under the
date Of the 2ist OF January. 1 have taken the
Presidents instructions, and now proceed TO
give you his views upon the subject in ques-
ton. -
I,has been considered with seriousness result.
ing from the reflection that the PEG pie Of France
are known to be faultless sharers with the
American nation in the misfortunes and ca
fanatics of our unhappy civil war; nor do we
on this, eny more than on other occasions, for
get the traditional friendship OF the two coun-
tries, which we Enthusiastically believe has in
spired the counsels that M. Drouyn de fHuys
has impaired. ...... --.-.-I t
He says olhe Federal Government does not
despair, we know, of giving more active i'm
pulse to hostilites;" and again he remarks,
'.the protraction of the struggle, in a word, has
not shaken the confidence (Of the Federal Gov.
ernment) in the definitiye success Of its ef-
forts" These passages seem to me to do I'M
intentional injustice to the language, whether
confidential or public, in which this Govern
ment has constantly spoken on the subject of
the war. 1t certainly has had and avowed
only one purpose-a determination to preserve
the int gritty Of the country. So far from ad-
hitting any Iaxity Of effort, or betraving any
dependency, the Government, has on the cou-
trary, borne itself cheerfully in all vicissitudes
with unwavering confidence in an early and
complete triumph Of the National cause Now,
when we are, in a manner, invited by friend
ly Power to review the twenty -one months
history Of the conflict, we find no occasion TO
abate that onfidence. Through such an al
formation OF victories and defeats as Is the ap-
pointed incident OF every war, the land and
laval forces Of the United States have steadily
advanced, reclaiming from the insurgents the
ports, forts and pOs's, which they had treach-
erously seized before the strife actually began,
n on zen tafn
So many OF the States and districts which the
insurgents included in the field of their pro-
1ected exclusive slayeholding dominions, have
already been re- established under the flag of
the Union, that they now retain only the States
OF Georgia, Alabama and Texas, with half of
Virginia, halt of North Carolina, two. thirds
OF South Carolina, half of Mississippi, and
one.third respectively OF Arkansas and Louis
lana The National forces hold even this small
territory in close blockade and siege.
This Government, if required, does not hest
tate 10 submit its achievements TO the test of
comparison: and it maintains that in no part of
the world, and in no times, ancient or modern,
mas nation, when rendered all unready tor
combat by the enjoyment of eighty years of
almost unbfoken peace, SO quickly awakr ned
ri Tie alarm OF seditiOn, put forth enerL ieS
vigorous, and achieved successes 50 signal and
effective as those which have marked the
progress of this contest on the part of the
Union.
M. Drouyn de rHuys, fear, has take1. other
hght than the correspondence of this Govern
temper and firmness. He has robably read of
divisions OF sentiment among those who hold
tht mselyes forth organs of public opinion
mere, and has given to them an undue i'm.
portance. 1t is TO remembered that this is a
nation OF thirty millions, civilly divided into
forty.one States and Territories, which cover
an expanse hardly less than Europe, that the
people are pure democracy, exercising every
where the utmost freedom Of speech and suf.
frage; that crises necessarily produces
vehement as well as profound debate, with a
sharp collisions of indi vidual, local, and sec.
tional interests, sentiments and am 5itions, and
that this heat OF controversy is increased by the
intervention OF speculations, interests, preju.
dlcss and passions from every other part Of the
civilized world. 1t is, however, through such
debates that the AZ reempnt Of the nation upon
amy subject Is habitually attained, its reso.
lntions formed, and its policy established
w lille there has been much difference of popu-
lar opinion and favor concerning the agents
who shall carry on the war, the principles on
winch 1t shall be waged, and the means with
which 1t shall be prosecuted, NJ. brown de
IHuys has only to refer to the statute book OF
Congress and the Executive ordinances to
learn that the national activity has hitherto
been, and yet is, as efficient as that OF any Other
nation-whateYerits form of government-ever
was, under circumstances of equally grave
rapport TO 1t lts peace, safety, and welfare
Not one voice has been raised anywhere, out
OF the immediate field OF Instruction, in
favor OF foreign Intervention, OF mediation, of
arbltratlon or compromise with the relinquish-
men OF one acre Of the national domain
or the surrender OF even one constitutional
franchise. AT the same time, II Is manifest to
the world that our resources are vet abundant
and our credit adequte to the existing emer.
gency.
What NJ. Drouyn de rHuys suggests Is that
this Government shall appoint commissioners
to meet on neutral ground, commissioners of
the ins urgents He supposes that in the con-
ferencPs to be thus held reciprocal com pIaints
could thus be disc used, and in place Of the &C.
cusations which the North and the South now
IN mutually cast upon each other, the conferrees
yxyifh n
trests which divide them. He assumes, farther,
that tho commissioners would seek, by means
OF well-ordered and profound delioer alton,
whether these interests are def1niti vely ire.
concilable, whether separation is an extreme
that can no longer be avoided, or whe her the
memories OF common existence, the ties Of
the South one whole Fsderate State and have
borne them on to SO high a degree Of prospect.
~, are not more powerful than the causes
whlch nave placed arms In the hands Of the
two populations
The suggestion Is not an extraordinary one.
and ii may well have been thought by the En-.
perof OF the French, in the earnpstness of his
benevolent desire for the restoration Of peace, a
feasible one. But when NJ. Drouyn de rHuys
shall como to view 1t in the light in which il
m ust necessarily be examined in this country.
l think he can hardly tail TO perceive that i,
amounts to nothing less than proposition III At
while this Government is engaged I'm amp
pressing an armed insurrection, with the pur.
pose OF maintaining the constitutional National
@utbOIlty, anu preserving the Integrity OF the
country, It shall enter into diplomatic disous.
sion with the insurgents upon the question
that authority shall not BE- renouncsd, and
whsihsr the country shall not DO dell yered over
70 disunion. TO BE- quickly followed by ever In.
cre*stng anarchy.
II II were possible for ths Government Of
the United States TO compromise the National
authority 20 far ~ TO enter into such dobatss
1t 10 not easy 70 perceive what good results
could b obtained BY them.
The commissioners Must agree In recon-.
nending either that the Union shall stand. or
bbat IL shall Be voluntarily dissolv we'd or else
hey nnnst leave the, vital question ansettIed.
o abide at last thA fortunes Of the war. The
3ovefnment has not shut ont knowlsdes OF the
present temper, any moro than Of tho past pur. |
roses Of tbs tRsargsnts There II not the feAst |
sround to suppose that the controlling actors |
would b persuaded at this moment, 81 auy |
which ths National commissioners |
could o9er, TO forego tbs ambition that has I'm,
PEELED them to tho disloysl position they are |
occupying. Any commissioners who shouid |
Be appointed by these actors, or through their
dictatisn or influence, must enter tho confsr. |
ence imbued with tho spirit, and pledged 70 |
The personal fortunes OF the insurgent chiefs, !
The loyal people In the insurrectiOnary State |,
10 nd I