Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-06

the Offensive.
specialcorrsspondenoe Of the Chicago Tines -rr
wAsHIssToS, March 81
have come facts this morning which form a
startling commentary on the views of the Times
In regard TO the critical CONDITION of our rea-
tons with Mexico. ne expressed in a recent edito
rial article IL is stated by those who have &C
cess 70 the secrets u the State Department. tbat
the French Minister nas communicated TO Mr..
Seward proposal from the Emperor Napoleon.
which is 80 insulting 70 our national pride that
no European Sovereign would dare TO make it to
any other President than 70 Abe Lincoln. IL is
nothing less than proposal that the President
shall recognize AaximiIiian as the Emperor Of
Mexico as soon as he shall ascend the Mexican
throne; or, in other words, that be shall trample
the Monroe doctrine under his feet in order to
Die Sc Napoleon. In return for this concession
on our part, the Emperor will agree that France
will not recognize the Independence OF the South
ern Confederacy, and that Mexico will not form
aav alliance with the South. But in case Mr..
Lincoln refuses compliance with this demand,
for il is nothing less. Napoleon gives him to IN
ders,and that he will recognize the South AS
an independent power, and that both France and
Mexico will Immediately form an alliance, often
size and defensive. with the Southern Confeder-
acy.
/. In making this proposition the French Empe
ror appeals directly to the sentiment of hatred
towards the South which is entertained by Mr..
Lincoln and those who control him; a sentiment
which. owing To Mr. Shdell. is perfectly well IN
derstood at the French court He reasons that
the same feeling of hatred towards the South
which induced Mr.. Lincoln to truckIe and fawn
10 England IN the matter OF Mason aud Slidell.
will now lead him to abandon the most cherished
and the most settled principle OF American foreign
policy. And 1t H. not too much to say that, If
MIR. Lincoln dares to do so. he will sccede to the
base proposal He is eager to do so, and is ex-
cessiyey irrtated at the fact that, if he does it,
it will probably greatly damage his chances
Presidential candidate
learn the above facts from private letters that
have been received here from eminent Americans
now in Paris; and these letters State that il is be
lieved and understood there that the Emperor
only makes this proposal in order to have it re-
jected. and in order that be NAV have pretext
for i'm mediate and active interference i'm behalf
of the South Whether this be SO or not your
readers may be assured that. sooner or later.
Napoleon will recognize and afford material aid
to the South; and this he will do when he thinks
the time for doing so has arriyed-snd he will
not wait for pretext when that time comes.
But the proposal puts old Abe in o sad diem
ma and he really don't know what to do If he
complies with the demand. il will raise such a
storm about his ears tina. il will ruin his pros
poets for eelect;on; for Fremont's friends will
Immediately rally under the cry of The Monroe
doctrine forever and ia the presidential race
Lincoln will be left far behind. If he refuses to
comply, will at once be involved in a war
with France; and then farewell to all hopes of
"conh>catng. "co1queting," and 'suhiugating"
the South. With France, Mexico, and the South.
all lighting Us at once, we shall run some risk of
being conquered and subjugated ourselves Once
involved in such a war. we shall not get out of il
until we have lost forever. not only the Southern
States. but good portion of our southwestern
territory besides. To such humiliating posi-
ton have we been brought by the weakness and
the wickedness of Abraham Lincoln.
stated in nv last letter, that General Grant
had insisted on the reinstatement of General
Mcclellan 10 a position of active service in the
army and that the President had reluctantly
consented but still had consented | am now
| informed on good authority, that the position
which General Grant desires General Mcclellan
| 10 take. is not simply to have charge
of the de'enses of the Capitol, as has re-
Gently been stated-although Mr. Lincoln tried
hard to compromise on that-but that il is no
thing short of the position from which he was so
uniustly and unwisely removed in November,
1862 namely: the command of the Army of the
Potomac
Gen. Grant has taken pains to ascertain the
wishes Os the army on this point during the last
few days; and he has found that there is unani-
nous desire. on the part Of officers and men. for
the restoration of their beloved chief He sees
that the army is in the highest state of efficiency
| 1t is impossible for him to lead that army in per
son, and he has never seriously thought of doing
so, no matter what may be said to the contrary.
| He is determined TO direct the movements Of all
| the armies. AMI he only do that with his at
tenton fixed equally all. The only question
| for him 10 decide was under what General can
make the Army of the Potomac most efficiently
and be did not hesitate a moment for the answer
1t was bitter pill for Mr.. Lincoln TO swallow TO
consent to restore Gen Mcclellan to his COM
mand But. unless | rnisinormed he has
consented. IL this Information il true il is of
the highest Importance For not only does il
Indicate that Gen Grant is power in the State.
but IL also indicates that he has wisdom enough
to select the very man best fitted to fill certain
places With Mcclellan in the East and Sher-
man in the West (unquestionaby our hest two
Generls.) the most important military results
may be looked for.
III Gen Grant has acted in the m,nner thu.
indicated. he has probably saved the country
from y great disaster For tits vitality important
not only that the Army of the Potomac should
be modified Immediately, but that it should take
the initiative against the enemy. 1t this il not
done and done quickly, the rebels will steal n
march that will throw the defensive
Unless my Information l. AT fault the opening
OF the spring campaign will tie -ignalized bv
offensive movements on large scale on the part
OF the rebels, both in the East and at the West