Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-25
THE REVELATIONS OF A
CABINET.
The Emperor Napoleon and the
Southern Confederacy
Letters from SlidelI, Benjamin and
Others-Mexico and Texas-A Brit.
ism Spy.

Letters from SlidelD, BENJAMIN and
Others-mexico and Texas-A Brat.
ism Spy.
The Commune of Paris, when it found
itself in possession of the private papers
of the Napoleonic Court, commenced an
attempt to blacken the reputation of the
fallen Emperor by printing variety of
the documents, chiefly such as referred
to private or personal scandals which had
long been sufficiently notorious among the
class of persons who care to interest
themselves in that sort of knowledge.
Consequently the publications quite failed
of their desired effect. Before the Com
munists had taken up the more serious
papers of the curious and interesting coli
lection which had fallen into their hands
they found other and more pressing work
to do, and finally, before the publication
could be resumed, the Commune had
passed away. But the documents had
not. They pertained TO what was called
''Ghe Cabinet of the Emperor, in which
it would appear that every paper of what
his majesty was carefully filed away. A
considerable number and assortment of
them have been collated and forwarded
by the Paris correspondent of the New
York Herald.
CONFEDERATE STATES DIPLOMACY.
Some interesting points of Southern
diplomacy are developed. In presenting
the Emperor with large map of Viz
ginia, for which he had expressed wish,
dated January Is, 1866, Mr.. John Slidell
gracefully remarks that ''none can better
appreciate the genius of Lee than the
historian of Cesar" and then takes oc-
casion to suggest that "from the 4th of
March next the government of Washing
ington will present itself in new aspect
before the world. Mr.. Lincoln, at his
first election, WAS chosen President in
accordance with the forms of the Con-
stitution, and foreign powers were neces-
sarily obliged so to consider and treat
him. All this will be changed, and Mr..
Lincoln will claim to be President of the
United States, while eleven of the States
| which participated in his first election
have taken no share in the second. To
| the sagacious and comprehensive mind OF
the Emperor, any attempt to develop this
| idea would be superfluous. 1t is offered
TO the consideration of his Majesty on
the hypothesis that reasons may pre-
sent themselves for modifying the policy
heretofore pursued by France towards
the Confederate States"
On April 10th, 1868. Mr.. Sidell writes
concerning the steamer Japan or Virginia,
which was then reported as having lett
Greenock believed for the Confederate
service, to ask that if she be compelled to
put into a French port for repairs, the
| Emperor may command all necessary IA
cilities to be extended her; and then he
goes on to cortend for an ell in addition
10 the initial inch. He writes: sit is
further submitted that the fitting out of
ships for the service of one belligerent is
not violation of neutrality under the
laws of nations so long as the same priVi-
lege is equally accorded to the other. as
the undersigned is informed, no special
legislation on the subject exists in France,
and consequently either the Confederate
or Federal government may, without
violation of the municipal or public law,
freely build and equip in France vessels
of war. About the year 1888 the Chilean
government, then at war with Peru, caused
to be built and equipped for war purpo-
ses by Mr.. Arman, the well known con-
structor at Bordeaux, q large frigste.
The fact becoming known TO the Peruvian
minister at Paris, he made formal rep
resentation and protest to the French
/ .,,l -ar,,4trnI thof the ahin
should not be allowed to proceed to sea.
, The answer to this protest was that the
sailing of the ship would be permitted;
that Peru could not complain of any
breach of neutrality, inasmuch as she
was free to build and equip in French
ports all such vessels as she might desire.
The frigate accordingly Eailed from
France under the French flag, with 8
French crew, and was delivered to the
Chilean government, fully armed and
equipped, at the port of Valparaiso. The
undersigned had this statement from
gentleman of high standing at the minis
! try of foreign affairs, and it has been
. fully confirmed to him by Mr.. Arman.'
, Mr.. SliGell encloses and submits q re
port made to him by Caleb Huse, Majol
, Confederate States artillery, and purchas
ing agent in Europe of military supplies
in which that gentleman gives list Of
the vessels regularly engaged in running
| the blockade with Confederate Govern
. ment property. Major Huse writes:
, "The names of the steamers that have
been used are as follows: Steamers Her
aid, Leopard, Nashville, Nassau, Kate
| Cecile, Giraffe, Cornelia, Hero, Micsh'
, and Columbia. Other steamers have ruI
between Charleston and Wilmington snl
I | Bermuda and Nassau. The above, how
3 ever, are the only vessels on board which
there has been Confederate States Govern
ment property. OF the above the COlum
bis has been fallen in with at seq, wheI
. only few hours out from Nassau, by
: vessel of the United States-nOt, how
ever, belonging to the blockading squad
, ron. The Columbia has since been re
\ captured by the Confederate States force
off the coast of North Carolina. TIT
Nassau was unnecessarily given up whe1
: she was in sight of the pursuing ship
and actually within hail of the sentrie
at Wilmington. II is generally believe,
that the master was bribed by the enemy
| None u IO6 OlueI NSSsClS lhAG nav
named had, up to the latest dates, bee
captured. During the year 1862, there
It fore, the only vessel with munitions
IS war on board for the Confederate State
re Government actually captured while run
:, ming the blockade was the steamer Mas
e sau, and, as l have stated, it is believe
o that she was treacherously given up b
e the MASTER
n The purpose of the above documer
!. was to show the ineffectiveness of th
Il blockade, and here the Herald CORE
If pondent remarks that if any of the Bri
/ ish claims for damages which may be pr
!e in under the treaty of Washington shoul
e be based on the performances of one
d another of the above ships, the preseI
y document may be sufficient ground fl
their disallowance.
On March 2, 1865, one month befol
Appomattox, Mr.. Shdell writes the 70
lowing letter: