Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-01
SEWARD AND NAPOLEON.
An UnwrItten Chapter of the COnfed-
crate War.


crate War.
From the San Francisco Bulletin, Jan. IL.
The death of ex Emperor Napoleon re-
calls an incident of the great Southern re-
bellion which has not b therto been made
public. 1t is well known that the late En-
peror of the French was an active and earn
est sympsthizer with the South; that more
Than once he seriously meditated material
intervention in its behalf; that the invasion
of Mexico and the enthronement Of Maxi
MILAN in the seat of the M0ntezumas w2s
a part of deliberate plot TO break up the
American Union. But to what lengths be
proceeded-how resolutely determined he
was to carry his fell design into execution
has never been fully known outside of a
narrow official circle. The story of his pur.
pose is short but suggestive, and was told
by Mr.. Seward to a few personal friends at
a dinner party, among whom was the writ
er of this article. NoOne who was present
will ever forget the intense eArnessness and
animation Of the great statesman as he re-
lated the momentous incident. The exact
words, so pregnant with eloquent meaning
so solemn and impsssioned-we cannot
in every instance reproduce, but the gener-
al import is given below:
'lL WAS Salu uAIs CCNaiAs IL LA4O
darkest days of the rebellion. Disaster up
on disaster had befallen the Union armies.
Treason was active and bOld-fronted at
Washington, in the North, and in the West.
Rebel emissaries and their allies were plot
ting against Us over the Canadian border.
Our foreign relations were most critical.
Rebel cruisers were being fitted out IN Brit
ish ports and sent to prey upon our COM
merce; Germany was coldly neutral; the
smaller European States were Indifferent
spectators OF the conflict. Russia was the
only friend we had among the powers of
the earth.
'Gn this desperate emergency received
an autograph letter from the Emperor OF
the French. 1t was marked private and
confidential It began with expressions Of
personal regard for myself, and pain at the
spectacle of the great republic in the thrOes
OF dissolution. Personally said Napoleon,
Il could wish the cause Of the Union 10 sue
ceed. But the welfare of France and the
force of popular opinion are paramount to
individual sympathies. Our commercial
interests are seriously suffering from the
prolongation of your war. My subjects ap-
peal to me to arrest the bloody conflict.
must obey the voice of France at whatever
cost. You cannot put down the rebellion;
embrace the earliest opportunity to make
terms with the South. II you fail to DO
this, l shall feel compelled, in the interests
of my cOuntTy-in the interests Of clyiliza-
tion-to intervene with ali the power at my
comma ld.'
81 answered NApoleon'S insulting letter
immediately. said: This is family
quarrel. We propose to settle it in our own
way and in our own time. We do not wish
the assistance Of outsiders; we will not
brook interference. The American Union
is to be preserved. 1t shall be preserved if
it takes twenty years 10 do it. The war is
hardly commenced yet; the people are Just
beginning to warm to the work. We wish
to be on good terms with our neighbors-
we wish especially to be on good terms with
France, cur ancient friend and ally. But
you must keep hands of, II you presume
to interfere, we will show you what free
people battling for national existence are
capable of. Hitherto We have conducted
the war humsnely, 10 accordance with tie
codes that govern the most Christian
States. Interference on your part will be
the signal for war Of conquest and de-
struction. We will free the negroes; we
will put arms IN their hands, and send them
forth to raYage ana punuer. we WI make
the South a waste and desolalion. Raise
a hand against US, and horrors worse than
those of San Domingo viii be seen from
one end of the South to the other
~The letter was sent by the first steamer.
The same day l telegrsphed to Thurlow
Weed, Archbishop Hughes and Bishop
Simpson, to meet me at the Astor the
morning following. Thai evening l left for
New York, and explained to these eminent
>pentlemen the obi 3cts Of the conference
and the new danger that threatened the
Union cause. [ told tHem that they must
at once 90 to Europe to labor unothclaliy
with the governments and ruling classes Id
Eogland and on the Continent, TO repre-,
sent the wick9dness, danger and folly ol
foreign interference. In less than week
they were on their Journey, reached Europe
a. a most oppoFtuue moment-(M Mason ana
Sliiell had just been -seized-Eugland was
Ia a white heat of rage)-and did much TO-
ward convincing Europe that the propei
and the only thing to do was to leave US
alone And the mission cost the govern
ment SIS than seven thousand dollars"