Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-02-20

S63.
I ternational are not those alone which fu
nish. examples Of tho useful character
mediation. We tlatter ourselves, beside
| that in profsriDg to pluco ourselves at th
disposal of tho belligercnl parties TO fncilital
between their negotiations, tho basis of whlc
We abstain from prejudging we have man
fcf,tcd 10 tho patriotism Of tho United State
all tho considerations to wh;ch it is entitled
now, perhape, still moro than ever ai.nr nuc
nov proof of moral forco and energy. "
arc mono In. loss ready, amil the miahe
which wo form in favor Of peach, to take int
account all The susceptihilitien Of nAIicna
feeling; aud wo do not al all questIo
The right Of the Federal Government t
decide the cooperation (conc6nrs) Of tho groa
maritime Powors of Enrope. But thin co
operation, il it not tho only moans which OF
fors itself TO the Cabinet Of Washington to has
ton t he olos, f the war? And if it bellows
that it ought to repel any foreign interven
ton, could it not honorably accept tho idc;
OF direct (pomparlerg informal conference
with tho authority which may represent tn
Ssatcs Of the So Tho Federal Govern
mont does not despair, we know, Of giving
more active impulse to hostil!tios. Its sacri
fees have not exhausted its resources, etil
less its perseverance and it's stoadfastoess.-
The protraction of tho struggle, in word
has nos1shahen It's confidence in The dclinitiN
SUCCESS oi its efforts.
But The opening Of informal Conferences
between the belligvront parties docs not ne
cessarily imply tho immediate cessation o
hostilities. Negotiations about peace ART
not always the consequence of o suspension
of warfare. Thoy precedo on tho contraly y
moro often the establishment Of truce
How many times have We not Seen plonipo
tentiaries meet, exchange communications
agroe upon all tho essential provisions q
trsaties-rosolve, in fine, the question evei
Of peace or war-whilst the leaders Of ar
mics continued tho strife, and endeayored
even to the latcnt mulnent to modify by
force of arms the conditions Of peace. Tc
recall only one memory drawn from tho his
tory of tho United Ststog tile negotiations
which consecrstcd their independence wUr,
commenced long before hostilities had ceased
in tho New World, and tho armistice was no
established until tho act Of tho 30lh Noyenl
Der, 7S2, which, undor the nalno Of provi
sional articles, embraced in advance tho pIin
cipal clauses Of the detlnitiye treaty Of 1883
Nothing, therefore, would hinder the govern
msnt Of tho United Statos, without renoun
chg the advantage which it believes it Car
attain by the continuation Of the war, from
entering upon informal conferences with the
Oonfederstes of the South, in case they should
show themselves disposed thereto. Repro
sentatives or commissioners of the two par.
ties could assemble at such point AZ it shoult
bs deemed proper to designate, aud whicl
could for this purpose DO declared Neutral
Reciprocal complaints. would be examined
into at this meeting.
In place of the accusation1 whlch North ant
South mutually cast upon en2h Other st thi'
limo, would be subs!itutsd anu argumenta
two diEIcuaaOn of tho interents which dividi
thsm. ThSy would seok out by neanD 0
we'll ordered and profound deliberations
whether thubs interests ara definitely IL
recoEcileable, whether separation ii' AT
extreme which call no logger be avoided
or whether tha memories If comm IN exist
ence, " whetbsr tho ties of any kind wh;cl
have made of the North and of tho South onI
borne them on to 30 high degree OF proaper
ity, are not more powerful tLan tho causci
which hsvo placed arms i'll the hands Of Tho
two pop ,lations A negotiation, tho objec
Of which would be thus determinativo, woul,
not involve aoy of the objections raigct
against the diplomatic intorvo ton of Europe
and, without giving birth to the same hopo
as the immediate conclusion Of an armistice
would exercise happy ipfue'ce on tn,
march of events. Why, therefore, shoulc
not combination, which respects all th'
relations of the UuIed States, obtain the ap
probation of the Federal Government Por'
suaded on our past that it ia in conformity
with their true interests, We do not hesitate II
recommend it to their attention, and, not hay
ing sought in the project ola mediation Of thl
maritime Powers of Europsa any vain display o
influence, wo would applaud with entire free
dom from all susceptibilitics Of self esteem
tho opening of negotiation which would Ill
vite the two populations to dscuss, without
the CO. operation of Europe, tho solution o
their differences.
requcat you, sir, to give this asauranct
to the Cabinet at Washington, while com
mending to lis wisdom counscls dictated by
most sincere intere in tho prosperity o
the United States. You are, however, au
thorized, if MIR. Seward expresses the wish
to leave with him copy Of this despatch.
Accept, sir, the assurance ofmy high con
siderat; on. DRouYN De LlIUYs.
To MIR. mrRcIER, Minister Of France at Wash
ington.