Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-13
, others Of Steiner chAfac.

Hoaally, replaced ~ others OF ssesnef charac-
ter AID patriotism.
ina.s be aiiowrd ,osay. also. that u. Drsuyl
d. d mt, sasse 3. e
iitlkal eepse, no North ana south, no Soa.herh'
ard Nof:hcrn Sfates. We hAvs an t1snrreo.;
and adjacent "a the shore Of tke0ulf OF Nexic0.
and We have. Oh the other hand. oyalpeople,
who constitute not only Northern SAFE. but
also Eastern, Middle, Western, and Southern
States.
have on many occasions heretofore submit
ted to the French Government the Pres dents
views OF the interests, and the ideas mora effec-
tive for the time than even interest, which lie
q: the bottom Of the determination Of the Amer.
ican fovernmfnt and people TO MAINTAIN tho
Federal Union. The President has done the
same thiRg in his messages and other public
declai a'ions. refrain, therefore, from review
ing that argument in connection with g exist
Mr. D,ouyn de rHuys draws to his aid the
confersn.es which took place between the Col
opes and Great Britain, in our Revolution try
war. He must allow us to assume taat acdon
in the crisis OF a nation must accord with its
necessities. and therefore can seldom be con.
formed 10 preccdcnts. Crest Britain, when en-
tering on the egotiation, had nantes ly come
t. ntt rtain doubts of her ultimate success; and
IL il certain uiat the Councils OF the Colonies
could not tail to take new courage, II not to
gain otner advantage, when the parent State
ccmpl oms. SO far as to treat Of peace on the
terms Of ooncedlng their Independence.
1t is trGe, INDEED, that peace must come at
81 me time, and that conferences must attend,
If they are not allowed to precede the pacilca.
ton. There is, however, better form for
snch conferences than the one M. Drouyn de
IHu8s suggests. The latter would be palpabiy
IN derogaton of the Constitution OF the United
atcs, and would carry no weight because
destitute of the sanction necessary to bind
eth' the dis loyal or the loyal portions OF the
people. On the other hand, the Congress- OF
the United States furnishes q constitutional
forum fer debates between the alienated par
ties. Senators and Representatives from the
loyal portion OF the people are there already,
freely empowered to confer; and seats also are
vacant, ard inviting Senators and Represen-
tati,es OF the discontinued party who may be
CT nstitutionally sent there from the Stairs in
vOlHed in the instruction. Moreov yer, thu con-
t:ences which can thus be held in Congress
have this great advantage over any that could
be organized upon the plan Of NJ. Drouyn de
IHuys, namely: that the Congress, il it were
thought wise, could call a national convention
10 adopt its recommendations, and give them
all the sci. mnity and binding force of organic
law. Such conferences between the aliena ed
parties may be said TO have already begun
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and
MlssOurI-Srates which are claimed by the in
surcents-are already represented in Congress-,
and submitting with perfect freedom, ami in a
proper spirit, their advice upon the coursr hest
calculated to bring about, in the shortest time,
finn, lasting, and honorable peace. Repre-
scnIativts have been sent, also, from Louis.
isna, and others are understood to be coming
fr'm Arkansas.
There is preponderatng argument in favor
OF the congTe> sional form con terence over that
which is suggested by NJ. Drouyn de rNuys.
namely: that while an accession to the latter
would bring this Government into a concur.
renee with the insurgents in disregarding and
setting aside an important part of the Const.
tuition OF the United States and so would be OF
pernicIsus example, the congressional confer
ence, on the contrary, preserves and gives new
strength TO that sacreD writing which must
continue through future ages the sheet anchor
of the Republic.
You will lie at liberty to read this dispatch to
NJ. DronyD de PHuys, and to give him a copy,
if h. shall desire il.
To tie end that you may be informed Of the
whole case, transmit copy OF NJ. Drouyn de
fHuys's dispatch
am, sir, your obedrnt servant,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.