, 1863-11-03
TIE RREHCH TOBACCO PLOT.
ktrAnxe Charges Against Mr.. Seward.

The Spirit Of TIE Times makes some quee
revelations in regard to Stewards Frencl
policy, which NO cannot believe to be true
If the facts are - the Spirit statea them, it Il
the duty of the Preaideut to remove him frou
the Cabinet without delay. But ws suspect
th.t investigation would tail to tastea til.
quilt of this transactlon On Sc Rard. tn.
Spirit Of the Times u prejudiced against th.
Prime Minister, and makes htm out to be =
woree man than he really is. 4 portion o,
the statement Of the Spirit IL is follows:
The late Richmond papers aaJ, that i
French agent has recently arrived In that
ci,J, to negotiate wita the Conf.dcracy fQ{
the e1portetion of some ten millions' worth
Of toh1cco, which il aaeumed to bo tho special
property Of the French Government. We are
futther told BY the Richmond papers, that
this agtnt represents that the Federal Gov
erpmtnt (~hich means Mr.. Seward, has con
sen,td to the e1portasioa Of said tobacco,
provided tie French Government send either
1uen:ut war for 1t, or merchant ships attend
Cd b Large convoy Of French fdgases.
1h.re has been much doubt EXPRESSED
amcpg loyal men, If such relinquishmen of
The whole gureton of blockade could really
be contemplated by our Stats Department;
and the operation Is 80 in Keeping with all the
etraDEe ctDctsefons Of Mr. Seward to the
Frereh Legation. that we do not really regard
the statement with surprise The strongest
testimony in support Of the Richmond ,tory
IS. however, that OF the Courier des Etq{s Uni5.
al~a}s well posted in matters of French pol
icy, and, to some extent, regarded - the or
gan in this country of the French Legation,
The CouTitT, in referring to the matter. ssvs
that the negotiations Of the French agents for
the release Of The tobacco, began about four
months ago: that they obtained the consent
81 the Federal Government and Of the Con-
fede racy without auY difficulty; and that the
only condition the Federal Government I'm.
postd vas, that England b required not to
regard tbis favor to France. H a relIu9utsh-
n.ent Of our blockade in EnglAnd's favor also.
TIE Courier further states. that this conces-
French; ff1gates {noT in our harbor) were
here to convoy the Tobacco over; but fust as
they were about to eau for City Point to gu
pesIntend its embarkatIon the Washington
Administration suddenly Withdrew it, con,
sent.
Such Is the statement Of the Courier des
k7afs V1.ts, and VIC have no doubt 1t Il cor
rect. The Courier has the best optortuni-
ties Of Information On it, own side, and the
rhole sffa1r agrees with Stewards French
policy, upon the other. Il accords with bis
granting supplies to the Franco-Mexican in-
yation in tie ports OF New York and Nen
Orleans, while he denied the Same privilege
to the Minister Of Mexico; it agrees with bis
rettoIation Of nearly q million Of money to
the Confederate army agents In Louisiana,
~hlch had been EelZed by General Butler, be.
csnEe demanded Of us By traitorous French
CoDtul; and It Is also in keeping with bis
appointment Of Mercier, the French Minister,
as qnasi Feseral Commissioner to Rich.
mond, to beg Toombs; Hunter, Wigfall,
Davis, "aua the rest" to come back to fheir
positions in the Senate.
The Courier, In giving its narrative Of the
aHsir, e1prettcs much surprise that It 80 sud.
d<nly fcll through, and coDfesses It cannot
acconnt for the unexpected change in the at
titude ct the Washing ton Government. There
ts Eo puzzle, hos sver, In this latter circuu-
stance to Us. It ia clear that Iii, Lincoln
discovered the transaction or that, lust In
time to save the country from this lifting of
the blockade, he has put his foot dswn upon
the precious operation. What will be the
conrEe Of the Emperor's Government on this
tern nation Of the affair." It Is difficult to say.
Il m1aJ be used ae PIetext for the initiation
o. his suspected hostile programme against
the Federal Government, On the score that
he has been made the victim of lsrce outlays
snd false hopes; but, whatever course lis
disappointment may inspire, nothing, We ore
su1e, which he might effect, can be 81 tnfurf-
oua to the Federal Government Is to yiolate
Its OWN blockade, and contribute too, at the
came time, such mighty revenue to its do
nestle enemy: Nobody, surely, but Mr..
course as this !; but, ~ We said before. our
wonder has been long ago forestalled, By sim
ilar transactions Of bis, In favor Of the Con
federates. From the date Of bis Welding m
the Georgia muskets, down to his INSURANCE.
In public document, that the rebel States
should not be subjected by force Of arms.
there Is long and continuous agreement.