Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-06
dQlOrtester Daily SPY.
THE DAILY SPY.
France ana the United states.

The Courier DIES Etats Unis receives from
its Paris correspondent so much of the an
nual publication of the diplomatic correspon-
dence, made by the French foreign office as
relates to American affairs. We obtain from
this summary, aided by some translations in
the London Telegraph, enough to furnish an
idea of the general drift and direction of NJ.
Mcrcer's labors during the past year.
The report Of NJ Thouvenel, preceding the
correspondence, states generally the attitude
maintained by the French government toward
the American. We extract Il
The year just ended has unfortunately
produced no solution of the crisis through
which the United States are passing. The
struggle is carried ON with alterations of sue
cesses and reverses which threaten to be eter.
nal. At the same time the suferings imposed
on other countries by the blocking up of one
or the most productive countries in the world
are being multiplied and aggravated. As far
as we are concerned, the distress felt by our
cotton industry is well known.
The emperorS government, therefore,
watched with increasing solicitude the course
of the events which had already attracted its
serious attention during the past year twas
especially anxious to cOnciliate the mainten-
ance Of friendly neutrality with the duty of
protecting its own countrymen, which every
day became more imperative.
1t has not neglected any one of the oppor.
tunitieS which authorized it to explain its
opinions to the federal government on the
dangers and difficulties of the situation; but
while speaking with all sincerity, it was GER
tain to give its observations the most friendly
form, and it is happy to say that full justice
has been done to its sentiments at Washing
ton. After having, till quite recently, con
fined its communications with the federal gov
eminent to a kind of confidential exchange Of
ideas, circumstances induced it to believe that
the moment was come to try a more decided
step.
1t is thought that after two years of so dis
astrous a struggle, the season when military
operations are of necessity suspended could
not lie suffered to pass Without sumo effort to
turn it to the advantage Of peace and compro-
mise.
The emperor's government was not DESTROYS
to act alone, 1t, therefore proposed t.
the Russian and English governments to Join
it, so that together they might bring about an,
armistice for SIX months between the federal
governments and the confederates of the south.
The answer of the two courts is already
known. While declaring that they shared the
feelings which led us to make the proposal,
they declined coming to the understanding
suggested.
We certainly regretted this determination;
but we were conscious of having obeycd the
dictates of humanity and sound policy We
are convinced that our proposal, presented
collectively, might have contributed to prevent
useless bloodshed, and to hasten the moment
of reconciliation, the conditions of which
were, Of course, to be left entirely to the free
choice of the belligerents.
There is evidently no sufficient ground
for us to resume alone the initiative Of pro.
ject which, as we thought from the first, ought
to be undertaken with the concurrence of our
allies; but we have taken care to let it bo
known at Washington that we were quite
ready, if it should be desired to facilitate,
either alone or collectively, in any form that
might be indicated, the work of peace in which
we had wished Great Britain and Russia to
join us
The correspondence extends over fourteen
columns of the Moniteur Its two topics are
Butler and mediation, or mediation and
Butler.
A dispatch of NJ. Thouvenel, dated March
G, 1862, inquiries of NJ. MERCER whether, after
the recent success obtained by the federal
arms in Kentucky and Tennessee, the moment
has not arrived for the Washington cabinet to
examine ''it the exclusive method of coercion
is, after ALL the best for remedying the evil
already done, and that which can be easily
foreseen if the war be continued" All Eu-
rope will, with satisfaction, see the federal
government seeking itself the basis of some
transaction destined to drive away (conjure,)
all troubles, and avoid further complications,
(which will too early arrive during the pres.
ent crisis if its prolongation would render
more heavy than they are already, the sacri-
fees suffered by commerce and industry in
Europe.
M. MERCER replies to NJ. Thouvenel, March
81, 1862, that, according to his instructions,
he had held an interview with Mr. Seward,
and was awaiting the news of the fate of New
Orleans. The French minister afterward re-
ports conversation which he had held with
influential personages, and who, in answer to
his remark that the war increased daily the
bitterness between~the north and the SOUTH
said 1--WE do not expect to re-unite (ratta-
Cher) the south with us against its will, but
we hope that after having relieved it from the
influence of its present leaders, and having
given it severe lesson, it will return to the
right path. We are resolved to carry on the
test to the end, and if afterward the majority
of the states persist in separation, We wiU let
them hare IT," NJ. MERCER believes that this
is the ruling opinion in the north; that the
mass OF the public is beginning to get tired Of
inc war; Dut IlltI ltS CONSERVATIVE instinct still
binds 1t strongly to the Union, and which it
hopes to see preserved by a melange of victo-
rieS and concessions.
a dispatch bearing date April 18th throws
a little fight upon the journey undertaken to
Richmond by Baron MERCER. and which ere
ated much excitement at the time IT. anpears
that he undertook it at the suggestion of Mr..
Seward himself, who then believed in the
speedy re-establishment of the Union. and
without having previously informed the French
government of his intention. Before his de-
parture NJ. Mercier came to an understand
ing with Lord Lyons, and repeated to Mr..
Seward that the object of his journey was
not connected with the recognition of the
south, but only en- attempt to bring about an
ARRANGEMENT. The, secretary charged FiaS to
state at Richmond that the north waS actuated
By no sentiments Of rerenge, aid that great
satisfaction a0ould be Afforded to the tnhGbi-
tants by the sight Of such senators as the
south might consent to send.
Of the many conversations which NJ Mer-
cier mentions to have had at Richmond with
several important personages, that with Mr..
BENJAMIN deserves to be noted. That gem
tleman said that the south had reckoned too
much upon Europe and the power of the COM
mercial interests in suspense; but that, new
ertheless, the whole population was unani-
nous in desiring separation. The south
had suffered much, but was resolved to suffer
still more to reach that goal. "We do not
dssembe from ourselves" added Mr.. Benja-
min, THAT the tederalists are possessed of re-
sources much mere considerable than ours,