Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-31

III ~ THE WESTERN HEMIsPHERE-PowER
AND DISPOSITION or FRANCE. &c.
Paris. August 7. 1863.
The most recent intelligence from America
refers to the petition Of the French planters Of
louisiana. begging Napoleon III to protect them
against the emancipated blacks. They assert
that their lives and property are endangered; that
they are incapable of defense: and that with the
southwest delivered over 10 the Federals, they
desire to be attached to the Empire. This docu-
ment has aroused a fierce response in the bosoms
of all European secessiOnists. "The Southern
Confederacy is beaten" say they; "it has failed
20 sustain itself; its end is approaching; but rather
than live citizens of the United States, we will
become subjects of a foreign despot. Vice Ia
France"
So far as I can read the sentiment Of the times.
| believe that there is a growing dependency on
the part Of the SHAREHOLDERS of the Southwest to
join themselves with some powerful ally of Eu-
rope. England's lukewarmness in the matter of
intervention and the abolition proclivities of her
people. have lost her the favor which she origin
ally possessed with the rebels. France. more
ambitious, daring and energetic. has won herself
a position to afford substantial help to the revolt
Her successes in Mexico, at irst obnoxious to the
South. are now applauded and encouraged. In
the last result, Davis and Napoleon will strike
hands. New France will extend from the lsthmus
of Panama to the Potomac and the Ohio, and the
United States will find herself enclosed between
two powerful and hostile races-the Saxon on the
North and the Gaul on the South.
We do not know, indeed. that this is not the
unfolding of an old and cherished design, pro-
pounded by Slidell in the i~ncipient DAYS of the
revolt. Throw your armies into Mexico; mask
your ultimate intent with specious pleas of mon
eys withheld and claims denied; when you have
firmly established yourself the South will have
tested its strength; if it fails, you lose nothing,
but gain a rich province and our friendship; if the
South loses, we will elect ourselves subjects of
France, and demand your b~ayonets to protect us;
but meanwhile propose to your maritime rival to
intervene in our behalf; such courtesy will soothe
the jealousy of England, and she will make no
opposition when the crisis comes"
Nav not Il programme such as / have stated be
developed from events which have occurred al
readyI Is it probable that the civil and military
leaders of the rebellion will prefer capture, exile
or sentence from the authorities of the power
they have defied, TO safety and welcome from the
foremost power in the world? | remark that the
Sou,herners in Paris ale uniformly loud in their
acclaims of the genius of the Emperor and the
character of his Government Almost daily l
hear the remark: al wish to God We had such a
system in the Statesi' United with France the
South will seem TO be the leading power in
America. Her Institutions will be secured; her
staples protected; her powers feared. The event
of Instruction or overthrow here would grant
Louis Napoleon a haven in the New World, such
as his uncle vainlv sought. and such as the ex
tinct dynasty of Portugal found in Brazil. The
tri color would float at New Orleans and upon
the Mississippi.
The reign of the third Bonaparte would have
been marked by a conquest oumaming the most
glorious of this century, and the South would
laugh at our calamity, and joining its scattered
forces with the armies of France. stand ready
both to repulse and to invade us. Nothing is so
Olear to my mind as the fact that the Conieder
ate States will form any alliance, howeve: dis
graceful or unnatural, rather than return to the
family Of sovereignties which it has foresworn
and fought The question then arises, admitting
it to be true that the rebellion is extinguished
and that the Confederates are ready to take The
desperate step l have submitted. will France
make war upon the United States for the sake of
the South? Has she the means to meet us by
land and by sea? Is the prize worth the hazard,
and has she no fear of the terror of our name and
history?
The navy OF France consists of Ats vessels, in
GLIDING ninety four iron clads, carrying in all
5000 guns, and from 40 900 to 100 600 (war
footing) men. Her army is composed at present
Of 400 600 men and 500 900 horses. The girri-
son of Paris alone consists of $4,000 men, ex
elusive of 5000 national guards. 1t will thus
be seen that the standing garrison of Paris is
larger than any army we have in the field, but in
the emergency of war three millions OF men can
be mustered from the empire to obey the behests
of their sovereign. In three months after a
declaration of war. Napoleon could open the
blockade of every Southern port. close the har-
bors of every Northern city upon the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts. and throw "A hundred thou
sand men into Texas and Louisiana. / know
of cases. in my own district of PARIS, where
Southern men have taken the oath of allie
glance TO the Empire and mediate entering
the French army.
From all that / can hear. read and infer, /
repeat that the South is convinced of the folly of
holding out single-handed against tie North,
and now seeks to be absorbed into the bosom of
France. Ii there is much that is coujecfural or
sensational in this statement, let il at least be
~pOndered and weighed. France has an idle army
and navy. sustained at immense expense. In a
war with the States she need fear no loss save
that of conquering. Her remote territory could
not be invaded; she has few colonies OF value to
lose. and the chances of success are ~aattering as
the success itself would be brilliant and material.
Upon all sides we are ~imperiled therefore. THE
delicate tissues OF events are woven with the
fingers of ubiquity."
All the powers of earth and the shades seem to
have c~onspired for the dismemberment of the
only great Republic of modern times France,
whose timely aid assisted US to win our first vic
tory, may yet he the power which shall tear US
asunder. May il not be wise to pause ere we 60
onf Can we wage unequal war with whatever
allies the fury of the South may call to lis sup
port? Have we no relic of our grand nationality
to conserve? Is not the whole, sole. mighty
North a heritage worth preservation, or must we
in one mad clutch for the dominion of all, lose
all in the welfaref
Yours, truly, BouT DE LA WILLIE.