, 1873-01-25
SEWARD AND NAPOLEON.
An C,,1rrittcn Chapter OF t..c sscbcll-
lUx7s

An C1.,rrittcn Chapter OF t..c sscbcll-
From tie San Fr1neisco Eu1le::;h.
Tho death OF thu ex-EInperor Napoloou re-
calls au incident OF the great Southern Rebellion,
which has not hitherto been made public. 1t is
well known that the lute Emperor Of tia French
was Ill active and earnest sympatlizeE with the
South that more than once no eeriouEly
,nedi.atcl moral Intervention in it's behalf; that
the invasion Of Mexico and tue eathrcnemeot OF
aIaximilian i'll the scat OF tho MontczunRs was
o part Of a deliberate plot to break up The
American Union. But to what length he
rroceoded-l.ow resolutely determined ho was
to carry his fell dcsign into cxccution-has
never been fully known outuids Of a narrow
official circle. Thc story Of hia purpose is
short Int suggestiye, aud was told b. lr.
Seward 70 few personal friends at &
of this article. No one who was present will
crer forget the intense carnestuess aud aulma-
tion OF tho great statesman as he related tho
n,oncntous incident. The exact words, so prog;
nant With eloquent meaning-so solemn and
impaEsiored-we cannot II every INSTANCE repro
duee, bnt the general import is given below:
sslt wae,' Eaid Mr.. Seward, 'in the darkest
Days Of the Rebellion. Disaster upon disaster
hal bcfa1lcn tho Union armies. Treason was
nctiyo and bold-frontca at Washington, in the
their allies we're plotting against US over tho
Canadian border. Our foreign relations we're
most critical. Rebel cruisers were being fitted
out III Britlehports and sent to prey upon our
commerce; Germany was coldly neutral; the
Smaller European States we're indifferent snecta-
tors of tlo conflict; Russia WAS tho only friend
wo bad among the Powers OF the earth.
a. In this desperate emergency received an
autograph letter from the Emperor Of the
French. 1t was marked private and coni1den-
gard for u1ylof, anl pain as the spectacle Of the
great Republic III the throes OF dissolution.
Personally said Napoleon, 7 could wiah the
cause OF tito Union to succeed. But the welfare
OF Frapeh an0 the force OF popular oplnton arc
paramount to individual sy1npathies. Our com
metcialinterests arc seriously suffering from the
prolougatioa Of your war. Ny subjects appeal
10 mo to arrest the blood: eona.ct.- must
I oboy't the voico OF france at whatever cost. lou
cannot put down the Rebellion embrace tho
eariest opportunity to mako. terms with tho
South. II you fail to do this, aha1l feel com
PEELED, in tho interests Of my countly,-ln the
interests OF civili=atiou.-to intervene with ali
tLo power at my comraand.''
"I answered Na1>olecn'a insulting letter I'M
mediatelr. 7 did not waste words in compll-
E,c1,ts. said: This ;s family quarrel. No
p-opose to settle it in our oWn way and in our
oa11 time. We do not wish the assistance OF
o1tsiders; we will not brook interference. The
Alnericsr, Uuicu is 10 be preserved. It ehall be
presei; I'd if it taEos twenty years to do it. Tho
| war is hardly commenced yet; the people arc
| lust beginning to warm to the work. We wish
to bo on good terms with our eighbors-wo wish
| especially to be on good terms with Trance, our
ancient friend and ally. But Eou must Keep
! lands OF. It you presume to Interfere, We ylll
| show you What a. free people battling for M
| tional existence are capable OF. Hitherto We
have conducted tllc war lumancly, in accordance
with the codes that govern tho most Christian
i States. Interference on your part Will bo tho
| signal for war OF conquest mud destruction.
| Wo will free the negroes; We will put arms in
! their hands. and send them forth to rayagc aud
| rluuder. We will make the South waste and
4 dcsolatien. Raise 4 hand against us, anu
horrors Torsc tlnn those Of San Domingo will
be seen from ono end Of the South to the
other.
"Tho lotter was sent by the frat steamer. Tho
| Gano d.; tclog7apAel to Thnrlow. Weed, Arch
bishop Hughes, mud Bishop Simpson to meet me
at the Astor House tic morning following. That
evening loft for New York, and explained to
these eminent gentlemen the objects OF the CON
forcnce aud tho nov danger that threatened tho
Union cause. told them that they must at
once 20 to Europe. to labor unoihclaliJ with the
| Government and ruling classes il England and
| on the Continent, to represent the 'Sickedness,
danger, and folly Of foreign interference. In
| less than week they wero On their journey,
| reached Europe at most opportune moment
| NIason and Slidell had just been seized-Eng-
| land was III white heat Of rage) aud did much
towards convincing Europe that the proper thing
| aud the only thing to do WAS to leave lis alone.
And the mission cost the Government less than
ct nm