, 1863-04-02
A CURIOUS DOCUMENT,
A Letter from Lord Lyons On our
Conservatives"
WHAT He THOUGHT OF the SlTUA-
TON FIVE MONTHS AGO,
HOW THE COPpERHEADS FELL
INTO 4 TRAP.

AAe :" AAA NOI AltoGa40 Z LII
INTO 4 TRAP.
LORD LYONS TO EARL Russell.
WARRINGTON, November II, 1862.
Mr. LonD:-In his dispatches Of the 18th
h1r. Stuart reported to your Lordship the re-
Enlts Of the elections for members Of Con-
Eress md State officers which have recently
taken place in several Of the most important
States Of the Union. Without repeating the
details, it will be sufficient for ME to observe
that the success Of the Democratic or {as It
now styles itself) the conservative party, has
been SO great as to manifest change in pub
lie feeling, among the most rapid and most
complete that has crer been witnessed, even
In this country.
On my arrival ut New York, on the 9Th in
stant, found tie conservative leaders exuIt-
ing In the crorning success achieved by the
party in that State, They appeared to rejoice
above all, in the conviction that personal Lii.
erty and freedom Of speech had been secured
for the principal State of the Union. They
believed that the Government must at once
desist from exercising, in the State of New
York, the extraordinary (and is they regarded
them) Illegal and Unconstitutional powers
which 1t had assumed. They were confident
that, at all events, after the 1st of January
next, on which day the newly elected Cover
nor would come into Office, the suspension Of
cally maintained. They seemed to be per
suaded that the result Of the elections would
be accepted By the President rs ! declaration
OF The viii Of the people; that he would in
crease the moderate and conservative element
in the Cabinet; that he would seek to termi-
nate the war, not to push it to extremity;
that he would endeasor to effect reconcilia-
ton with the people Of the South, and re-
nounce the idea Of subjugating or e1termina-
ting them.
On the following morning, however, intel
Igence arrived from Washington which dash
cd the rising hopes Of the conservatives. 1t
was announced that Gen, Mcclellan had been
dismissed from command Of tho army OF the
Potomac, and ordered to repair to his home;
That re had, in fact, been removed altogether
IRON active service. The General had been
regarded as the representative Of the conserya-
11;v 1iye Pr principle il ip the army. Support Of
MN lat been made one Of the articles Of
the conservative electoral programme His
dismissal Nas taken Is q sign that the Presi-
dent had thrown himself entirely into lie
arms Of the radical party, and that the attempt
to carry out the policy Of that party would be
persisted in. The irritation Of the Conserve
tiEes at New York was certainly very great;
it seemed, however, to be not unmi1ed with
CONSERVATION and dependency.
eevefal Of the leaders Of the Democratic
party sought interviews with TIE, both before
and after the arrival Of thu intelligence of
Gen. McClellau's dismissal. The subject up.
pernlost in their minds while they we're
speaking to me was naturally that OF foreign
mediation beTeen North and South. Many
Of them seemed to think that this mediation
must come ut last; bat they appeared to be
very much afraid Of its coming too soon. It
Was evident that they apprehended that pre-
mature proposal Of foreign Intervention
Tiyiug the violent wnr spirit, and Of thus de-
feating the peaceful plans Of the conscrva-
tiyes. They appeared to regard tho present
moment rs peculiarly unkayorable for such an
offer, and, indeed, to hold that it would be es-
scntial to thu success of any proposal from
abroad that it should be deferred until the
control of the executive government should
be in the hands Of the conservative party
gave no opinion on the subject. did not
say whether or not myself thought foreign
Intervention probable or advisable; but I lis
tened with attention to the accounts given me
Of the plans and hopes Of the Conservative
party. 1t the bottom I thought I psreeired a
d.re to put an end to The raT, eren a! the risk If
losing Tie Southern 4stat.s altogether; but it was
plain that it was not thought prudent to ayow
this desire. Indeed, some hints Of it, dropped
before the elections, were 60 Ill received that
q strong declaration in the contrary sense was
deemed necessary by the Democratic leaders
At the prcscntmoment, therefore, the chiefs
Of the Conservative party call loudly for a
more vigorous prosecution of the war, and
reproach the Government with slackness as
well rs with want Of success in Its military
measures. But they repuaiate all idea Of in-
te,tcring with the inEtitutions Of the South
ern. people, or Of vaging : war Of
suhius:tion or extermination. They main
tain that the object Of the military
operations should be to place the North in
| position to demand an drnaistice with honor
and with effect. The armfstice should {they
hold) be followed by a convention, in which
such changes of the Constitution should
be proposed as uould give the South ample
security on the subject Of its slave property,
and would enable the North and the South 10
rcnnite and to live together in peace and har-
mony; The conservatives profess to think
that the South might be induced to take Part
In such convention, !xnd that the restoration
Of the Union would be the result. The more
| sngacious members Of the party must, how
ever, look upon the proposal Of q convention
merely IS Last experiment to test the posi-.
bility Of reunion. They are no doubt, well
aware that the more pro6uble consequence Of an
d7raixtice uoud be The establishment IF Southern
| independence; but they perceive that if the
South is so utterly alicnatcd that no possible
concessions will induce it to return volunta-
rily to the Union, it Is wiser to agree to sspa-
ration than to prosecute cruel and hoMless Har.
! It is with reference to such an armistice rs
| they desire to attain, that the leaders Of the
| conservative party regard the question of for
| eign mediation. They think that the offer of
| mediation, If made tu 4 radical adrninistra-
tion, would be rejected that If made ut an
unpropitious moment, it might increase the
| viiulence with which the war is prosecuted.
| If their own party we're in power, OF virtually
| controlled the administration, they would ra-
| ther, if possible, obtain an arnli.tice without
tue aid Of foreign governments; but they
would be disposed to accept IN offer Of medi-
alton, If It appeared to be the only means of
putting 4 stop to hostilities. They would de-
Sire that The offer should conc from the great
Powers Of Europe conjointly, anu In partlcu-
lar that as little prominence Us possible
should be given to Great Britain.
At Washington llIve had fewer oppotu-
mites than had at New York OF ascertaining
the present views Of the chiefs Of the politi-
ca1 parties. At the interview which I had
with Mr.. Seward, the lay after my arrival, be
showed no disposition to enter upon political
matters. He did not appear to expect or TO
desire to receive from ME any special commu-
nication from her MajestyFs government The
| President, when I waited upon him, talked to
me only on ordinary topics. !, for my part,
gladly Stunned I'LL alluson to foreign inter
ventfon, ny principal object being to avoid
saying anything which might embarrass mo
in carrying out any instructions on the sub.
jcct which may receive from your lordship.
All things considered, my own opinion Ger
tainly Is That the present moment is not a
favorable one for making an offer of media
tion. It might er,,barrdSs the pace party, and
| cven ob}ige them, In order to maintain their
| popularity, to make some public declarations
against it, and this might make it difficult for
| them to accept = similar offer at moro pro-
| pitfous time. It would IN all probability be
rejected by the President, who appears to
bare thrown himself into the arms Of the
radical party. The views Of that party are
clear and definite. They declare that there Is
| no hope Of reconciliation with the Southern
people; that the war must be pursued, pe,
.Jas aut A.tas, until the dis1oyal men OF the
South are ruined and subjugated, If not o1ter
minated; that not an inch Of the old te77itorz
of The R.pnh'ic must Be gilea up; that foreign
Intervention, i'll a,iy ahape fnHst b Ttiect<d AMI
reansfd. This party would desire to turn au
Offer Of mediation to account, for the purpose
of intlaming the war spirit and producing .
reaction against the Conservatives.
1t Is probable, too, that tho government
would urge, in answer to an Offer Of media
ton, that It has By no means abandoned the
hope of putting down the rebellion within q
reasonable time; that, ut all cyents, this /.
not a moment ut which it can reasonably be
called upon to put a stop to hostilities: II
| would observe that the armies Of the United
States are everywhere advancing, and that
expeditions are prepared against Texas, as
well Us against Charleston, Mobile and other
points on the coast. It would point out that
it had equipped considerable number Of WAT
vessels, iron-clad as well as Others, ut vast
expense; that the season had Just arrived
when the autumn rains would render the
river. nayigable By armed vessels, ,;and when
The southern coast would be free from cpl.
dtnic disease. It might even represent an
advance Of the Army Of the Potomac to
Richmond as probable event. The expert
,ience Of the past is certainly not calculated
to inspire any great confidence In the results