Daily national Republican., 1863-04-07
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Lord Lyons's Remarkable Dis.
m patch to Earl Russell
t no Ventilated. rrs

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II .H .H H.H...
The following able letter from the pen Of a
distinguished American statesman and dlplo.
matlst applies the dlSsoctlng knife to Lord
Lyons's copperhead letter to Earl Russell with
a skill and grace quite refreshing in these days
Of trashy@etter writing; .,,rs
va =. r New YoRK, April4.
Lord Lyons's extraordinary letter Of Nov. nth
continues to be fruitful topic OF conversational
and newspaper discussion, and the more II IL ex-
Amined the worse IL appears. II not only oonviets
theleaders OF the Democratic party, who are now
80 hercely ,aasailing our own Government, Of .
purpose Of seeking foreign aid for the disnember
ment Of the Union, but It IL an ofoial confession
by the representative OF the British Government
Of willingness to confer with them on the sui
jeet, and to aid in promoting their views. The
only points at which either party stick, relate to
the time when foreign Intervention would bo most
eiieetuAl to accomplish their ends and the doubt
expressed by the leading Democrats, whether II
would not be more prudent for Great Britain to
conceal her own agency in the matter and to place
France so prominently In the foreground that the
natural democratic prejudice against Great Britain
should not be awakened and alarmed. These minor
difficulties are thrown in as suggestions in the
viz: foreign Intervention, is kept constantly in
view in the discussions, and is dealt with a.
coolly as If It were not high crime against the
Government to which one party owed unqualified
allegiance, and to which the other was accredited
as the friendly representative OF friendly PoweTl
It seems something strangely new, indeed, that,
at a moment when the nation Is engaged in strug
gle for Its very existence, a foreign minister
should be found engaged in holding conferences
a.
which foreign interference might be most effectu-
ally introduced. 1t has been generally supposed
that the limit Of his authority with reference to
all foreign relations was to hold intercourse with
the Government itself through It's Constituted
executive authoritiesJ and for this purpose he IL
allowed an access to the State Department At all
times, not only the most free, but protected by
guarantees Of confidence the most sacred. lIl l.as
ISitto be permitted, then, by any rule Of propri-
ETY., that he may appeal nom that Department TO
the secret eouncii chambers Of leading Democrats,
from Washington TO New York; from Mr. Seward
to Brooks, Wood, and vaIlAndig CHAM, for the on
cal nformatioa which he iS to send to his Govern
ment In Earope, by which its decision is to be
guided the question Of Intervention, or its time
or its mode in our national affairsl
niH 10 be nOtieSd that Lord Lyons says, with
great frnnknesH, TINT he couldn't get much useful
information on this subject In Washington, and II
was necessary for him 10 come to New York for itl
lie talks with the President, and gets nothing
satiSfactOry-for, probably, the President, in his
republican simplicity considered that the topic OF
foreign intervention was n6t ter At to be TALKED
about; and that IL that kind OF mischief was pro-
posed, IL hhOuld come In the solemn form Of an
authentic missile fromthe Government desiring or
| oontemplatngith hlr. seward was equally retieent,
and, probablyy for similar reasons. But in New
York he foundthe mine Of material out Of which
this most remarkable dispatch was worked. Mark
his Language ilnhIilW --H 4sF ..
"Atiwashington have had fewer opportunities
than had at New York OF AscertAlning the present
views OF the chiefs of the political parties. At the
interview which | hNd with Mr.. Seward the day
after my arrival he showed no disposition to en-
expect or desire to receive from me any special
Communication from Her Msiesty's Government.
The President, when Iwaited upon him, talked to
me only on ordinary t0pics l, for my part, gladly
Stunned all alluslon to foreign Intervention, my
principal object being TO avoid saying anything
which might embarrals me in carrying out any in
atructlons on the subject which may receive from
your LorlshiP. All things considered, my own
opinion certainly Is that the present moment is
not favorable one for making an offer Of media
tion II might embaTrass the peace party" ~ o.
"FeSer oPPorillRniss'' at Washington Why, then,
was the President and all the members OF his Cabi-
net, who may fairly be considered a ohisfs - Of
political party but IN their presence he "gladIy
Stunned. AlIuslon to foreign interyention." And,
pray, with what other " chiefs " did he hold com.
| munionl Not n single Republican, or supporter
of the Government, either approaeheS him or is
sought by him, 1t Ia with the Democratic leaders,
alone, that he is cossted, and from them alone he
draws the valuable information to be transmitted
to his Government, and which constitutes the sta,
pie of his letter.
Neither the President nor Mr.. Seward, nor any
other Republican, speaks one word to him on the
subject OF the condition OF our country and yet,
after reoitipg the representations Of Democratic
leaders, he has the courage to sum up his own
Judgement in the bold declaration that all hone Of
a recOHSUciiOn Of the Union appears be fdding apaV
eDen from the minds Of th0Ss 0hO mOSt drdenay desire
hP' Of course, Lord Lyons intended to tell the
truth, as he understood IT. but 1t is equally true
that his associations are exclusively with Demo-
cratic "chiefs" who hostile to the Adminlstra-
ton, that he has not the means OF getting accurate
information upon this most grave topc-the in
divisblity Of the Union. There is no other posi-
BILE charitable excuse for so monstrous and mis-.
chievous Misrepresentation of the Union feeling
Of our people.
Lord Lyons Is, without doubt, most respe Able
person, and faithful servant of the Queen; but
he is also LORDi and the British aristocracy have
no love for our republican form of government,
and look with hatred and Jealousy upon the marvel
Gus growth of our country to wealth and power
under the benehcent auspices Of the UnioAi and 1t
would be too much, perhaps to expect that he
can diyest himself Of the prejudices Of his rank.
These tend very naturally to throw him into the
intercourse which he describes, with the Demo
cratic chiefs who are 80 vFulent In their hostility
to the efforts Of our Government to maiutain its
supremacy and integrity. To them he gives his
ear and his confidence, and from them he derives
his valuable information and impressions. Wheth.
er there is diplomatic propriety in this, and in
the use which he has made OF 1t, let those Judge
who have mattera Of diplomacy properly in charge
But whether It manifests friendly disposition OF
friendly purpose on his part and the part Of his
Government, and whether 1t does not convict
"DemOoFAtio leaders" Of holding traitOrous com,
munioAtons with an agent OF foreign Govern
meRt, the people OF the United States are oOmpe-
tent TO decide for themselves.