The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-02-13
SEWARD AND NAPOLEON.
[F,om the San Francisco Bulletin

LFsom the San Francisco Bulletin
The death of the ex Emperor Napoleon
recalls an incident Of the great Southern
rebellion, which has not hitherto been
made public. 1t is we'll known that the
late Emperor of the French was an active
sympathizer with the South that mere
than once b. seriously med;tated moral
intervention In its behalf that the inva
sion OF Mexico and The enforcement Of
Macmillan in the seat of the Montezumas
vas part Of deliberate plot 10 break
up the American Union. But to what
length he proceeded how resolutely de.
termined he was to carry his fell design
into executiOn-has not been fully known
outside of a narrow Official circle. The
story OF his purpose is short but suggests
i've, and was told by Mr.. Seward to few
personal friends at a dinner party, among
whom was the writer of this article. No
one who was present will ever forget the
Intense earnestness and animation of the
great statesman as he related the momrn-
tnus incident. The exact words, so preg
nant with eloquent meaning so solemn
and passioned-we cannot in eyerv
instance eproduce, but the general import
is gwen below:
cit was" said Mr.. Seward, Gin the
darkest days of the rebellion. Disaster
upon disaster had befallen the Union ar
MES Treason was active and bold. front
ed at Washington, in the North and in
the West. Rebel emissares and their
allies were plotting against us over the
Canadian border. Our foreign relations
were most critical. Rebel cruisers were
being fitted out in British ports and sent
to prey upon our commerce Germany
was coidly neutral the smaller European
States were Indifferent spectators of the
conflict; Russia was the only friend we
had among the powers of the earth"
"In this desperate emergency received
an autograph letter from the Emperor Of
the French. 1t was marked private and
confidential. II 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, / could wish the cause OF
the union to succeed. But the welfare Of
France and the force of popular opinion
are paramount to individual sympathies.
Our commercial interests are seriously
suffering from the prOlon0atlon of YOUR
war My SUBJ ects appeal to me to arrest
the bloody conflict. I must obry the voice
LOT France at whatever cost. You cannot
put down the. rebellion embrace the
earliest opportunity to make terms with
the South. If you fail to do this, Ihall
feel compelled, in the interests of my
cOuntry,-in the interests of civilization,
to intervene with all the power at my
command"
II answered Napoleon's insulting letter
Immediately. l did not waste words in
compliments. l said: This Is q family
quarrel. We propose to settle it in our
own way and i'll our own time. We do
not wish the assistance of outsiders we
will not brook interference The Amer
lean Union is to be preserved. It shall
be preserved, if it takes twenty years to
do it. The war is hardly commenced yet ;;
the people are just beginning to warm TT
the work. We wish to be on good terms
with our nelghbors-we wish especially
to be OF good terms with France, our an
cient friend and ally. But you must keep
hands off. If you presume to interfere,
we will show you what free people bat.
Ting for q national existence are capable
OF. Hitherto we have conducted the war
ANAA@A0lyB ia dSCbIuduCc WILD Lue COISS
that govern the most Christian States.
Interference on your part will be the sig
nal for a war of conquest and destruction.
We Will free the negroes we will put
arms in their hands, and send them forth
10 ravage and rlunder. We will make
the South waste and desolation Raise
d hand against US, and horrors worse than
those of San Domingo will be seen from
one end of the South to the other
"Fhe letter was sent by the first steamer.
The same day telegraphcd to Thurlow
Weed, Arch bishop Hughes and Bishop
Simpson to meet me at The AstOr House the
morning following. That evening I left
for New York, and explained to these
eminent gentlemen tho objects of the
conference and the new danger that
threatened the Uuion cause. told them
that they must at once go TO Europe, to
labor unofficially with the Government
and ruling classes in England and on the
continent, to represent the wickedness,
danger and folly of foreign interference
In less than week they were on their
journey, reaching Europe at most OPP
perfume moment-( Mason and Slidell
mad just been seized-EngIand was in a
white heat of rage) and did much towards
convincing Europe that the proper thing
and the only thing to do was to leave US
alone And the mission cost the Govern
IN Mt Less than S7 000