Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-13


and Atlantic coast and by the shores of the
Cults of st. Lawrence and Mexico. together
with the free and common navigation of the
Rio Grande, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Ohio, st. Lawrence, Hudson, Delaware, Po-
tomac and other national highways, by which
this land, which to them is at once land of
inheritance and a land of promise, is opened
and watered. Even if the agents of the
Americanpeople, thus exercising their power,
should through fear or faction fall below this
height OF national virtue, they would be speedi-
ly yet constitutionally replaced by others of
sterner character and patriotism.
L must be allowed to say, also, that M.
Drouyn De L'Huys errs in his description of
the parties to the present conflict. We have
here in political sense no north, no south,
no northern no southern states We have an
insurrectonary party, which is located upon,
and is chiefly adjacent to, the shores of the
Gulf of Mexico; and we have, on therother
hand, loyal people, who constitute not only
northern states, but eastern, middle western,
and southern states | have on many occa-
sions heretofore submitted to the French gov
eminent the presidents views of the interests
and ideas which lie at the bottom of the deter
ton of the American government and people
to maintain the federal Union. The president
has done the same thing in his messages and
other public documents. l refrain, therefore,
from reviewing that argument in connection
with the existing question.
M. Drouyn De LHuys draws to his aid the
conferences which took place between the col
onies and Great Britain in our revolutionary
war. He will allow me to answer, that action
in the crisis of nation must accord with its
necessities, and therefore can be seldom con-
formed to precedents. Great Britain, when
entering on that negotiation, had manifesty
come to entertain doubts of her ultimate sue
cess, and it is certain that the councils of the
colonies could not have failed to take new
courage, if not to gain other advantages, when
the parent state compromised so far as to
treat of peace on the terms of conceding their
independence 1t is true indeed that peace
must come some time, and that conferences
must attend, if they are not allowed to pre-
cede the pachcation. There is however a
better form for such conferences than the one
which M. Drouyn De LIIuys suggests. The
latter would be palpably in derogation of the
constitution Of the United States, and would
carry no weight, because destitute of the
sanction necessary to bind either to the loyal
orsdisloyal portions of tn people.
On the other hand, the congress of the
United States furnishes a constitutional forum
for debates between alienated parties. Sen
ators and representatives from the loyal peo-
pie are there already, fully empowered to
confer, and seats are also vacant and inviting
the senators and representatives of the discon-
tented party, who may be constitutionally sent
there from the states involved in the insurrec-
ton. Moreover, the conferences which can
thus be held in congress have this great ad-
vantage over any that could be organized on
the plan of NJ. Drouyn DE L'Huys, viz. that
congress, if it thought wise, could call a ma
tional convention, to adopt its recommends
tiOus and give them all the solemnity and
force Of organic law. Such conferences be-
tween the alienated parties may be said to
have already begun. Maryland, Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Mssouri-states which are
claimed by the insurgents are already repre-
scented in congress, and are submitting with
perfect freedom and in proper spirit, their
advice upon the conrse best calculated to
bring about, in the shortest time, a firm, last
ing, and honorable peace. Representatives
have been sent also from Louisiana, and 9TH
ers are understood to be coming from Arkan-
sas. There is preponderating argument in
favor of Tfle congressional form of conference
over that which is suggested by M. Drouyn
DE L'Huys, viz THAT while accession to the
latter would bring the government into con-
currence with the insurgents in disregardng
and setting aside an important part of the
constitution of the United States, and so
would be of pernicious example. The CON
gressional conference, on the contrary. pre-
serves and gives new strength to that sacred
instrument which must continue through fu-
ture ages the sheet anchor of the republic.
You will be at liberty to read this dispatch
to NJ. Drouyn De L'Huys, and to give him a
copy if he shall desire it. To the end that you
may be informed of the whole case, | trans
init copy Of M. De L'Huys dispatch.
| am, sir, your obedient servant,
WIN. ii. SEWARD.