The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-19

friends IN the North would soon Vindi-
cate " ct aTmis. / not only acquiesced
in al the exsravsgaut pretensions Of the
Rebel crew, but appeared to be one Of
the most Jealous of their number. This
led to my being treated with much conf
dence by several Rebel functionaries, aud
enabled me to acquire The information
propose to present to your readers.
Many Northern journalists aud states
men appear TO think that the Rebel lea
ders have ceased to expect . speedy re-
eOgnatiOn of the COnfcderacy by foreign
Powers. But can assure you that their
hopes IN this respect have never tagged.
True they have so far failed to inVeigle
John Ball into any schemes Of interFen-
lion or recognition, but they confidently
expect By their recent change Of diplo-
matte tactics, by manifestations Of IN
dignation, and threats Of resentment
when their independence has been estAb-
lished, and Cotton is once more King, to
induce the msrcenary Johnny to regard
their claims to nationality with greater
favor.
just after the rebel rams in the Mer-
sey were arrested, I heard wr. Seddon,
the Secretary Of War, say to Wm @.
Rives, Member Of Congress from the 7th
District Of Virginia, that, st must nov
be obvious 70 everybody that the only
way to influence the English people, or
the British Government is through argu-
DlelItlnl al cg1menam they must be
convinced, if they sre not already, of
the determination and ability Of the
Confederacy to achieve her Independence,
and must be reminded by Congress that
when success has crowned our efforts,
we shall erj0y the monopoly Of cOttop,
and shall, in our commercial treaties and
dealings give preference to those coun-
tries that during our struggles for hber-
ty showed Us the most sympathy and
favor. Let Great Britain be made to be-
IieVe that we can gain our independence
without her assistance, and understand
that when We have succeeded in doing
SO, we are determined to punish her for
want of sympathy for US, and her par
tiality for our enemy, if she perseveres
in her course, and you may depend upon
it we shall soon fad her the most zeal
Gus friend we have in Europe. II is for
Congress to open her eyes"
The rebel officials have an abiding
faith in the manifestations Of friend
ship, and the constaDey Of Napoleon III
Although there appears to have been an
understanding between the French and
EDglish Governments, that neither would
take any action in regard to our dOmes
sic contest without the cooperation Of
the other, the rebels encourage them
selves with the argument, that the agree
ment, if agreement it can be called, be-
tween these Governments, was made up
on the assurances e Mr.. Seward, that If
the belligerents were left to themselveJ
the authority of the United States would
soon be restored; and that as those as
surances have not been verified, and the
war has lasted 80 much longer than Ell
ther Governments contemplated when
the agreement took place, without any
material Improvement in the prospects
Of q speedy triumph for the North, the
consideration Of the agreement has who'll
ly failed, and the Emperor of the French
does not feel in any way bound to it,
and will soon recognize the COnfeder-
acy.
About the middle Of November, I was
present sc an interview between the Rebel
Secretary of war and Gov. Lubbock of
Texas. The latter expressed himself
quite despondingly at FIRST, but left, feel
ing much elated. Mr.. SeddOn assured
him that "the policy and purpose of the
Emperor was no longer matter Of doubt
or speculation, but was Well-defned, and
would soon take substantial grounds"
He went on TO say, "FOr my part, new
er shared in the apprehension Of some Of
our people that the Emperor would fol-
low the example set by England out of
fear of the United States. The position
of the French and British Governments
/ in respect to our enemy are very differ
eat. If the Federal Government should
possibly succeed in subjugating as, or If
upon any compromise or terms we should
return 10 the Union, or if with the inter
vention or recognition Of foreign P0R Rers,
including Great Britain, we were TO at
tain our Independence, Earl Russell and
other heads of that government know
that the United States, out Of vindic-
tiVeness, would, before disbanding her
armies, find excuses, if not reasons, TO
ezpel all British authority from every
province in North America. Therefore,
England has reason to fear and be eau
tiOus. On the othsr hand, the interest
the Emperor has at stake in Mexico
must prompt q very different course on
the part Of France. If by cOmpulsiOn
OF compromise we were to return to the
Union Whist would become Of the Ffenth
srmy, and NapOleon's schemes in Mexi-
co lie knows, as we know, that the
Federal Government would crush them
with little ceremony, and that the result
in France would be very dispsraging 70
the Emperor, if not make his very throne
tOtter under him. Therefore, the En-
perer's interest is identical with cur
own; but we must be patient and leave
him to yindicate and enforce his policy
in his own way. We know we can de-
pend on him. Before the first Of April
his government will recOgn.zs our na-
tionality."
Whether the hope INDUCED by the
Rebel leaders will be realized or not re-
mains to be seen; bat l have heard and
seen more than enough 10 satisfy me that
if that fond hope we're expelled, both the
leaders and their starving followers
would in despair lay down their arms
The gunboats and iron-clads In Rich
mond are all, with one exception, com
pleied, and ready for service; and al
though their number and dimensions are
not sufficient to constitute 3 very form
idabls armads, they are capable Of doing
much mischief, il not closely watched.
On the 18th ultimo they we're ordered 10
make demonstration against the yes
sells in the lower part Of the James river
and Hampton Roads, but after proceeding
as far IS 3 signal station about three
miles below DreWFy's Buff, the order
was cOuntermaHded. II ths Union naval
commanders ia these waters do not exsr-
else much vigilance aud caution, some
fns night the new Morrimae and others
will come upon them as suddenly As the
nightmare. You may depend upon il,
the Rebels have not spent so much money
and labor on those vessels without the
expectation Of efecting with them some
valuable results.
Il will be interesting 70 your readers
70 know that il has been decided 70 re-
move OF change the Rebel capital from
Richmond to Columbis, s. G. I say de- {
cided, bat perhaps / should have said
aifsost decided-the President and MS