The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-25
Seward ausl Napoleosa--An Unwrttteis
Chapter of Che Rcbellion.

The death Of the cx.Emperor Napoleon
recalls an incident Of the great southern re-
hcllion which has not hitherto been made
public. 1t is we'll known that the late EN-
pcror OF the French was an active and earn
est sympathizer with the South; that more
than once he seriously meditated material in
tcrvcntion In it's behalf; that the invasion Of
Mexico and the enforcement Of Macmillan
in the seat of the MontczuIna3 was part of
= deliberate plot to break up the American
Union. But to what length, he proceeded
how ItSolntcly determined lie was to carry
his fell dcsicti into cXec,uiou--has never been
fully known outside Of :, narrow official Cir
Gle The story vt his purpose is short but
slgge .tive, and was told by Mr.. Seward to a
few personal friends at dinner party,
among whom was the writer Of this article.
No one who was present will ever forget the
intense carncstness and animation of the
great statesman as he related the momentous
incident. The exact words, so pregnant
with eloquent mcaning.--so solemn and inn
nls>ioncd-wc cannot in every instance re-
produce, but the general import is given be-
low:
az was" said Mr.. Seward, sin the dark
est DAYS of the rebellion. Disaster upon
disaster had befllen the Union armies.
| Treason was active and bold-frontcd at
| Washington, in the North. and in the West.
| Rebel cmiS>arics and their allies were plot
| tin, against IL over the Canadian border.
| Our foreign relations were most critical.
| EcbcI cruisers were being fitted out III
British ports and sent TO prey upon orr
| commerce; Germany was coldlF neutral
| the smaller European States were indifferent
| spectators Of the conflict. Russia was tho
only friend wo had among the Powers OF tic
earth.
.sIn this desperate emergency I received
| an autograph letter from the Emperor Of the
French. Ii was marked private and conf
! DENTAL II began with expressions of per-
SoDal regard for myself. and pain at the
| spectacle OF the great republic i'll the throrS
If dissolution. Personality said Napoleon,
Il could wish the cause of the Union to
succeed. But the welfare Of France and the
| force Of popular oriuion are paramount to
individual sympllics. Our commercial in
terc>ls are seriously suffering from the pro.
Ion"a,iou Of your war. My subjects appeal
to me TO arrest the bloody conflict. mist
obey tie voice of France at Whatever cost
You cannot put down the rebellion; en-
brace the earliest opportunity to make terms
with the South. If you fail TO do this,
shall feel compelled. in the interests OF my
country-in the interests of clyillzatlon-to
intervene with all tile power at my conf
mand.'
81 answered .Napoleoa'S insulting letter
Immediately. ! said 'ThiS is family guar.
rel. We propose TO settle it IN our way ano
in our own time. We do not wish the assist
aucc OF outsiders we will not brook inter
ference. The American Union is to be pre-
served. 1t shall be preserved il it takes
twenty years to do it. The war is hardly
commenced yet the people are Just begin
ming to warm TO the work. We wish TO ht
on rood terms with our ncighhors- wish
especially 10 be on good terms with France
our ancient TREND and ally. Bat you mus
. keep bands of. IL YOU presume to lnter!e!t
we will show YOU what Il free people battiln!
| for national cXiSt'uce ;t1'c capable OF. Hiim'i
I 10 we have conducted the war humanely, II
: accordance with the codes that govern tn
!, most Christian states. Interference on you
4 part will be the signal for war OF conquCs
, and destruction. We will free the negroes
. we will put arms in their hands, and sent
+ them forth to ravage and plumber We vii
make the South Il waste and dcsolatlon
Itai>c u hand against us, and horrors wors
r than those of sun Domingo will be seen from
e one end of the South to the ether
Tie letter was sent by the first steamer
Z The same day | trlegraphcd to IhnrloN
i Weed, Archbishop Hughes, aud Bisi'nl
; Simpson. to luc%t me at the Astor House th'
! morning following. That evening left fp
" New York, and explained TO these crniucn
: gentlemen ihc objects of the conference ant
: The new danger that threatened the Unlo!
! CAUSE | told them that they must ut one;
: 20 TO Europe TO labor unoilicially with th'
, "uvcrrmrmis and ruling CLASSES in EngEnt
! and on the continent. 10 represent the wick
etlucss. danger, and folly Of foreign inter
+ terence. In less than Il week they were OF
! their journey, reached Europe ut most OF
} FORTUNE moiN"nt-I Mason aud Slidcil haC
{ lust been sczcd--En2land was in Il whit
heat Of ragc)- and cid nit'cii toward con
yn,'nS Europe that the proper and tEc OIL.
thin. 10 d. was 10 leave lis alone. And tn
81 mission cost :ll' Government less than sever
. thousand rnl9r-.-- San Francisco Bulletin
January IL.