Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-02-20
M. se.eara o Mr. Dayton

DEPARTMENT OF FoRRiGs Abrams,
Political Division Paris, Och Jan. 1868.

Washington, February 9Th, 1858. :
William l.. Dayton, Esq Sir; The intimhuon given
in your dispatch OF January 18th, No. 255 that might
expect special visit from MERCER has been realized.
lie called On the 81 inst and gave me copy e. dis
patch which he had just received nom Nj. Drouyn
Lhuys, under the ia 1T The oh uf January have
taken The Prcsdcuts instructions aud now proceed to
give hts ideas upon the subject in question II has
been considered with setiousness resulting from the
Election the people Of France known to be fault
less shafers with the American nation, in the misoftun,s
and caamtes OF unhappy civil war nor do we on
this ANY than other occasions forget the trad
iiona friendship Of the two untries, which We unhcs
tangy believe has inspired the counses that NJ DTouyn
dI.huys has impaired. n sA, the federal govern
does not despair, we know Of giving mofe active
impulse to hostiliues; )" and again he remarks " The
proraction Of the struggle in word, has shaken
the confidence Of the federal government In the dehni
tive success Of its efforts" These passages
to do unintenona injustice the language, whether
confidential or public, in which this government has
constantly spoken the subject OF the war IL certain
y has had andayowed only one purpose, Determination
To preserve the integrity OF the country. SO far from
admitting laXty VI effort, bctrayng any despond
eney, the has, on the contrary borne itself
cheorully in all ycsstudes with unvarying confidence
in early and complete triumph Of the national cause
Now, when in manner invited by friendly power
TO review the twenyone months history Of the cont Ct
fined occasion TO abate that confidence through
which, in alienation Of victories ana defeats, Is
the appointed incident OF the land and naval forces
Of the United States have steadily advanced reeaimng
from the insurgents the ports forts and posts which they
had reacherousy seized before the strife uAy began,
and even before IT was seriously Apprehehded 80 many
OF and districts which the insurgents included
In field Of their projected exclusive slave holding do
minon. have already been established under the Gag
Of the Union that they now retain only the states OF
Georgia. Alabama and Texas, with half OF Virginia,
half Of North Carolina, two thirds Of South Carolina,
half of Mississippi and one third respectively OF Arkan-
aud Louisiana The national forces hold this
small territory in close blockade and siege This gov
eminent, II required does not hesitate to submit its
cheyements to the test Of comparison and IL maintains
that in part Of the world, and in no times ancient or
MODERN has nation, when rendered all read for com
bat by the enj1yments eighty years Of almost
broken peace quickly awakened at the alarm Of sed
puI mil enc ID
signal and effective as those which have mark
ed the progress Of this eon,es, the part Of the Union
NJ. Dfouyn Lhuys, fear, has taken other light than
the correspondence Of this government for his guidance
in ascertaning its temper and ability He has probably
read Of divisions Of sentiment among those who hold
themselves forth Of public opinion here, and
has given 10 them an undue Importance.
II to be remembered that this Is nation Of thirty
millions ciSily divided into forty one states and terrific
ries, which expanse hardly less than Europe,
that the people peace democracy, exercising every
where the utmost freedom OF speech and sutTages that
great crisis necessarily produces vehement as well as
profound debate with sharp collisions OF individual local
aud sectional interests sentiments and convictions, and
that this heat Of controversy increased by the inter
vention OF speculaons, interests, prudiees aud pas
sons from every other part Of the civilized world IL is
however through such debates that the agreement OF
the nation upon any subj is habualy attained its
solutions framed and its policy established While there
has been much difference Of popular opinion and favor
concerning the agents who shall carry the war, the
principles which It shall be waged, aud the means
with which 1t shall be prosecuted A. Drouyn d'Lhuys
has only refer to the statute book Of Congress- and the
has hitherto been and yet eeotus as that Of any
other nation, whaeverits form Of government ever was
under circumstances Of equally grave i'm ort to its
peace safety and welfare voice has been raised
any where Of the immediate field OF the nsuUeoton
in favor Of foreign Intervention, or mediation, or ath
atiOn Of compromise with the REIMBURSEMENT Of one
OF the national domain, the surrender OF even
constitutional franchise, At the time II is man
fest To the world that resources yet abundant
and credit adequate to the existing emergency.
What M. Drou)n lhuys suggests is, that TINS gov
eminent shall appoint commissioners TO meet On deufa
grounds commissioners Of the Insurgents. He supposes
that IN the conferences be thus held reciprocal com
plants could be discussed aud In place OF the AocusS
lions which the North aud South mutually cast upon
each other the conference would be engaged with dis
eussons Of the interests which divide them lie assumes
farther that the commissioners will seek by means OF
well ordered aud profound deliberations, whether these
interests dehnityely iTeeonoable whether separa
ton is an extreme that eau longer be avoided, OF
whether the memories OF common existence the ties
Of every Kind which have made Il the North and ID,
south whole fedeTaye state, and have buTne then
On 70 80 high degree Of prosperity power
fu than the which have placed In the hand.
Of the two populations.
The suggestion Is not extraordinary aud il may
Ne have been thought by the emperor Of the Frehch In
the Of his benevolent desire for the restoa
lion Of peace, a feasible one. But when NJ. Drouyn
dLhuys shall review IL In the light in which Il
ssafily be examined in this country, think he
hardly fail to perceive that Il amounts 10 nothing
less th,n proposition that while this government i