Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-01-29
sRWARD.NAPOLEON.
An URWritten Chapter in the History
Of The Rebellion.

An URWritten Chapter In the History
Of The Rebellion.
From the San Francisco Bulletin, Jan. II.
The death Of the ex-Emperor Ma
poleOn recalls an incident of the great
Southern rebellion which has not
hitherto been made public. tits well
known that the late Emperor of the
French was an active and earnest
sympathizer with the South; that
more than once he seriously medita-
ted material Intervention in its be-
half; that the invasion of Mexico and
/ the enforcement of Maximilian in
the seat of the Montezumas was a part
of deliberate plot to break uD the
| American Union. But to what length
/ he prOeeeded-hOw resolutely deter
mined he was to carry out his fell de-
sign-has never been fully known
outside of narrow official circle
The story Of his purpOse is short but
suggestive, and was told by Mr.. Sew
ard to few personal friends at din
ner party, among whom was the wri-
ter of this article. No one who was
present Will ever forget the intense
earnestness and animation of the
great statesman as he related the mo-
mentOus incident. The exact words,
so pregnant with eloquent meaning
so solemn and impassiOBed-we
cannot in every instance reproduce,
but the general import is given be-
low:
at was,r said Mr.. Seward, ain the
darkest days of the rebellion. Disas-
ter upon disaster had befallen the In
ion armies. Treason was active and
bOld-frOnted at Washington, in the
North and ia the West. Rebel ennis
saries and their allies were plotting
against over the Canadian border
Our foreign relations were most eriti-
Cal. Rebel cruisers were being fitted
out in British ports and sent to prey
upon our commerce; Germany was
eOldly neutral; the smaller European
States were Indifferent spectators of |
the conflict; Russia was the only
friend We had among the powers on |
earth.
"ln this emergency / received an |
autograph letter from the Emperor of |
the French. 1t was mar ked private |
and confidential Il began with ex-
presSiOns of personal regard for my
self, and pain at the spectacle of the !
great Republic in the thrOes of dissO-
luton. Personally said Napoleon,
u could wish the canse of the Union /
to succeed. But the welfare of France |
and the force of public opinion are /
to individual sympathies.
Our commercial interests are serious
ly suffering from the pTOlOngatiOn of
your war. My subjects appeal to me
to arrest the bloody conflict. / must
obey the voice Of France at whatever
cost. You cannot put down the re-
bslliOn embrace the earliest oppOr-
tnnity 10 make terms with the South.
If you fail to do thi>, ! shall feel COM
PEELED, in the interests of my country (
in the interests of civiliZatiOn-tO
intervene with all the power at my
II answered NapoleOn's insulting
letter Immediately. l SAID This is q
,amily quarrel. We propose to settle
t in our own way and in our own
lime. We do net wish the assist anSe
If outsiders we will not brook inter-
ierence. The American Union is to
Je preserved. II shall be preserved.
+ it takes twenty years to do it. The :
var is hardly commenced yet; the
1EOpAc are Just bG5AuuAAS " MdIm 10 ,
he work. We wish to be on good
erms with our neighbors-we wish
specially to be on good terms with 4.
france, our ancient friend and ally.
But you must keep hands of. If YOU 8
resume to interfere, we will show q
Ou what free people battling for s
National existence are capable Of q
Hitherto we have conducted the war /
in accordance with the 5
ode that governs the most Christian
tates. Interference on your part will B
G the signal for a war of conquest h
nd destruction. We will free the ne 8
roes; We will put arms in their u
ands and send them forth to Tavage 9
nd plunder. We will make the h
Outh waste and desolation. Raise
hand against US, and horrors worse
lan those Of San Domingo will be 5,
'en from one end of the South to the a