Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-02-26
ATTITUDE OF FRANCE TOWARDS THE UNI.
TED STATES

The New York Times, in its number of the 10Th
instant, avows the conviction, to which it has come
"with reluctance" that the French Emperor has
determined to open our ports for the export of cot
ton before the first of April next, and that he will
welcome rather than deprecate war as the conse-
quence of that act if events can be SO shaped as to
give him the prospective control Of cotton-grow-
ing district the borders Of the Gulf Of Mexico.
In confirmation of this conclusion our contempo-
rary cites the language of certain newspapers in
Paris. "The tenor Of the Moniteur, the general
tone Of the Ministerial journals, and the recently
changed language of the liberal press, combine"
says the Times, " to show that this is the policy
which the French Emperor has resolved to carry
out"
We do not share these apprehensions, and, be-
fore sharing them, we would require something
more substantial than the intimations which have
wrought this conviction on the part Of the New
York journal.
We cannot perceive that the French Emperor
has betrayed any "persistent purpose to inter
fere in our unhappy difficulties, such as the Times
imputes to him. 1t is indeed well known that in
the month of October last he proposed to the Gov
ernments of England and Russia joint offer Of
mediation, which, however, was widely different
thing from proposing any Interference in our
affairs" But even that offer of mediation he
withdrew the moment it was pronounced inoppor-
tune by the friendly Powers whose counsel and CO.
operation he invoked. And in making the recent
proposal for conference between the parties to
our war he held, with regard to the offer of media
tion, the following frank and explicit language:
I'VE fater ourselves that in proferng to place our.
selves at the disposal Of the belgeent parties facilitate
between them negotiations, the basis of which abstain
from prJudgng We have manifested to the patriotism of
the United States all the considerations to which it is
titled now perhaps still more than ever after such
proof Of moral force and energy We none the less
ready amid the wishes which form in favor of peace
to take into account all susceptbtes of national feeling
and zoe do not at all question The right of the FeeraI Cor
ernnent to decline the cooperation c0ncors) of the great
maritime PoDers Of Europe"
We cannot discern in such style of speech the
evidence Of that persistent interference" which,
in the opinion Of the Times, has marked the con-
duct of the French Government towards this coun-
try in the present crisis of its fate
To us it seems that another of our New York
contemporaries, the Commercial Advertiser, has
more happily comprehended the present attitude
of the Emperor towards the United States when
inerpets his recent conduct and his latest words
as follows
ne has never ntertered and never gone beyond
quest to other Powers to unite with him in friendly offer
OF mediation, and moments further investigation will
show that even in that be did persist but quickly
abandoned IT, and further than ever from such in
reference. He neither asks others nor proposes
himself to interfere. or TO mediate, to offer mediation
but SIMPLY retres from that prominent attitude saying
regret that my prosred good Offices are declined and
simply suggest to you method by which, without my
interference or mediation, any eses you may pcs
siby arrange your difficulties Certainly, if my offers of
service are dlstasteu to you far be it from press
them upon you but trust you will do your bcst come
to an understanding among yourselves
This is undeniaby the Emperors present position to-
wards so far as it known beyond his own ast and
bis own Cabinets and it beyond comprehension how
the Times can see in it any persistent effort interfere
in our AFFAIRS"