The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-01-31

-tssWtest"s ~ AAgStXt&14si says. The death
or ehe ex. Emperor, Napoleon recalls an
incident 81 the great Southern rebellion
which has'not hitherto been made pub.
ic. II is. ven known that the late Em.
peror OF the French was an active and
earnest sympAthizer with the South: that
more than on6a he seriously meditated
material Intervention in its behalf that
the invasion Of Mexico and the snthrone.
ment pf. Me4lmilian in the aaas,cf the
Montezumas Was Q part Of q deliberate
plot to break. up the American Union.
But to what lengths he proceeded-how
resolutely determined he was to carry
.hiBfell design into execution--has never
been, fully known outside OF D narrow
official circle. The story OF his purpose
10 short; but Suggestive, 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
earnestness and animation OF the great
statesman as he related the momentous
incident. The exact words, 30 pregnant
.sh eloquent meaning -sc solemn and
reproduce. but the general import is
given below.
'It was" said Mr.. Seward, s.in the
darkest days OF the rebellion. Disaster
upon disaster thad befaiien the Union
armies. Treason awas active and bold
frOnted ct Washington, in the North and
IN the West. Rebel emissaries and
their, allies were plotting against US over
the Canadian border. Our foreign rela-
tions were most critical. Rebel cruisers
were being fitted ont in British ports
and sent to prey upon our commerce;
Germany was coldly neutral; the smaller
European States were Indifferent specta-
tors of the conflict. Russia was the only
friend We had among the powers of the
EARTH,
.1n this desperate emergency I re-
ceivedian autograph letter from the EN-.
peror. OF the French. It 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 dissolh-
tion.. s. .Personally," said Napoleon, Il
succeed. But the welfare of France and
the force Of popular opinion are para
mount to individual sympathies. Our
commercial interests are seriously suffer
ing from the prolopgation of your war.
My subjects appeal to me to arrest the
bloody conflict. I must obey tho voice
OF France at whatever cost. You can
not put down the rebellion; embrace the
earliest opportunity to make terms with
the South. If you fail to do this, I
shall feel compelled. in the interests OF
my country-in the interests of ciyiliza-
tion-to intervene with all the power at
my command.
,:'"I anawered ,NapoIeon's Insulting let
ter Immediately. T aaid: This is q 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 Ame-
rican Union is to be preserved. It shall
be preserved, if it takes twenty years to
dc. 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. our ancient friend and ally.
But you must keep hands of. IF you
what free people battling for, national
have conducted the war humanely, in
accordance with the codes that govern
the most Christian States. Interference
on your part will be the signal Of war
of conquest and destruction. We will
FREQ the negroes; We will put arms in
their hands, and send them forth to ra.
yags and plnnder. We will make the
South waste.and desolation. Raise
q hand against Us. and horrors worse
than those Of San Domingo will be seen
from ono end OF the South to the other.
''The letter. was sent by the first
steamer. The same day I telcgraphed
to Thurlow Weed, Archbishop Hughes
and Bishop Simpson, to meet me at tho
Aetor the morning following. That even
ing lett for New York, and explained
to these eminent gentlemen the objects
Of the conference and the new danger
that threatened the Union cause. I told
them that they must ut once go to Eu-
rope to labor officially With the Govern
ments aud .rnlipg classes in England and
on tue Continent, to represent the wick
odEess, danger, mud folly of foreign in.
terierence. In less than week they
were on their, journey, reached Europe
at q most opportune moment (MusOn
and Slidcll had just been soizcd-Eng-
land was in q white heat of ragc)-and
did much toward convincing Europe
that the proper and the only thing to do
was to leave us alone. And tho mission
A..