The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-02-06
An improbable Story About Mr.. Sew
ard and Napoleon Ill
TFrom the Sam FRANCISCO Bulletin. ]


The death of the ex-Emperor Napoleon
recalls an incident Of the great Southern re-
bellion which has not hitherto been made
public. 1t was well known that the late
i E.apasar- # shs Ersnsh. was an active and
earnest syi.tpatl'iiizcr wiSK tina, South that
more than once he seriously mcditated' ma
teral intervention in its behalf; that the in
vasion Of Mexico and the enthrcnemcnt Of
Maximilian in the seat of the Aontczunas
was part of deliberate plot to break up
the American Union. But to what lengths
he proceeded-how resoutcly he was deter
mined to carry his fell designs INTO exceu-
ticn-has never been fully known outside Of
narrow official circle. The story cf his
purpose is short but suggestive, and was
told by Mr., Seward to i few persoualiriends
at dinner party, among whom was the
writer. of this article. No one who WAS
present will ever forget the intense earnest
ness and animation Of the great statcsman,
as he related the momentous incident The
exact words, so pregnant with eloquent
mcaning--so solemn and .impassioncd-wc
can not in every instance reproduce, but the
general import is given below.
1T was, says Mr. Seward. ''in the dark
est days of the rebellion. Disaster upon dis
aster had bef;,llcn the Union armies. Trca-
son was active and bold fronted at Washing
ton, in the North and in the West. Rebel,
emissaries 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; Ger
many was coldly neutral; tho smaller Euro
pean States were indifferent spectators OF
the conflict; Russia was the only friend We
had among the powers OF the earth.
I'm this desperate emergency L received
an autograph letter from the Emperor OF
the French. s. 1t was marked private and
confidential. 1t 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,
i could wish the cause Of the Union to sue
coed. But the welfare Of France, and the
force Of popular opinion are paramount to
individual sympathies. Our commercial III
terests are seriously suffering from the pro.
longation Of your war. My subjects appeal
to me to arrest the bloody conflict | must
obey the voice of France at whatever cost.
You can not put down the rcbcllion embrace
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 interest Of civilization, to
intervene with all the power at my COM
mand.'
II answered Napolcon's insulting letter
Immediately. did not waste words in COM
pliments. | said: This is a family quarre!
We propose to settle it in our own way and
our own time. We do not wish the assist
ancc OF outsiders; we will not brook inter
ference. The American Union IS to be pre-
served. 1t shall be preserved if takes twenty
years to do it. The war is hardly commenced
yet; the people are just beginning to warm
to the work. We wish to he 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 you'
hands Off If you presume TO interfere, We
will show YOU what free people battling
fer national existence are capable OF. hIlh'
erto We have conducted the war humancly
in accordance with the code that govern Tho
most Christian States Interference on youl
part will be signal for war of conquest anC
destruction. Wewlll free the negroes; VIC vii
put arms in their hands, and send them fortl