Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-11
NJ. lIereier,s visit TO richmond.

| Ne meEGlGE6 WISH TO Richmond.
The following is literal translation of
the dispatch from NJ. Mercier to NJ. Thou
venel, giving an account of the circum-
stances under which the formers well
known visit to Richmond last Spring was
made:
MONSIEUR LIE ssMrHIsrRE: In'the last
conversation which I had with him (Alr.
Seward, under the impression Of the sat-
factory news which he had received from
the West, he laid before me all the reasons
which he believed went to prove the ap-
preaching re-establishment of the Union.
Gas we we're talking, the'remark escaped
me as if by chance, that 1 regretted much
not being able to assure myself Of the con-
dition Of things at Richmond. Mr.. Seward
replied to me at once, that could very
easily 60 thither; that all had to do was
to send for one of our ships, that it might
carry me to Norfolk, and that he was en-
tirely willing to give me pass for this
visit. Having had no intention Of calling
out this response, and notIhaving foreseen
it, said to him that I would reflect and
soon bring him my answer.
HTsking all things into consideration,
concluded that from the moment took
this voyage, with the aeuuieseenee SO
thorough Of the Secretary Of State, almost,
as It seemed, in compliance with hisdesire,
it would be easy for me, by the exercise of
a little prudence, to prevent any inconve-
nient result, and that on the other hand,
beside the advantage Of furnishing me the
opportunity TO collect precious informa-
ton, it could have that Of preparing the
way for recourse to good offices as a means
Of facilitating the pacific arrangement Of
which we experienced so strongly the
need decided then to accomplish #. but
judged it indispensable not to leave nv
colleague the Minister of England, in ig-
norance Of my departure, and took pains
to announce it to him-declaring to him
that, in informing Mr.. Seward Of my de-
termination, | Should take care to tell him
that had not definitely taken it until after
conversation with my colleague. then
repaired to Mr.. Seward, and told him that
the Emperor, being always disposed to
lend his good offices to the Federal Gov
ernment, l believed that was faithful to
his sentiments in deciding, the Secretary
Of State seeing no Inconvenience in the
proceeding, to depart for Richmond. 1t
was natural, moreover, that should have
the desire, under the present Circumstance
es, to put myself in Communication with
our Consuls, in order to judge for myself |
Of the situation, while using the recogniz-
ed right of Foreign Ministers residing in
the United States, to visit all points in the /
territory Of the Union.
GAS to the language that 1 should hold. |
it was easy to divine it. As the war in
volved considerable injury to our interests,
l should go in order to assure myself of |
the chances that might exist, that its end
would soon be reached. If, while on this
subject overtures were made to me relative |
to the recognition of the Confederacy Of
the South, I should answer that it ought |
to be understood that in my position l |
could only speak Of the re-establishment |
Of the Union-that our general interest |
had always made Us look upon separation |
with regret, and that our interests at the |
moment ought to make us wish before |
everything else, the end of the war which |
interrupted our commerce. That in the I
disposition in which the population Of the /
North seemed to be, recognition would not |
decide the Federal Government to raise the |
blockade. That for US peace was the only |
prayer we could form, and that we should |
be consequently disposed to do everything |
which depended on us, in order that it |
might be made as soon as possible in the |
Of both parties. !
at was understood, besides, that I |
should report TO Mr. Seward only what I !
was authorized to repeat to him. Mr.. |
Seward said to me that l might add, if |
found an opportune occasion, that in his |
opinion the North was animated by no |
sentiment of vengeance, and that for him
self he should with pleasure find himself |
again in the Senate in the presence of all !
those whom the South thought it fit to send |
thither. |
After this conversation, wrote word |
by telegraph to the commander Of the Gas |
sendi who was at Fort Monroe, TO beg him |
to come and take me at the earliest possible |
moment on board his ship at Alexandria |
or Annapolis, and begged Mr.. Seward to
take the trouble to expedite the delivery Of |
the dispatch. MERCIER." |