The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-02-18
SEWARD AND NAPOLEON.
An Unwriiten Chapter Of the Re.
- be1I1OU.

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I. : U,xx-,,...,, .,,,n, 49,
beiiion.
From the San Francisco Bulletin.
The death of the ex.Emperor Napo-
leon recalls an incident of the great
Southern rebellion, which has not hith.
erto been made public. It,is well known
that the late Emperor OF the French
was an active and earnest synpathizer
with the South that more than once be
seriously meditated moral Intervention
in its behalf; tina. the invasion of Mex
leo and the enforcement of MaximiI-
ian in the eeat:of the Montezumas was
3 part OF d deliberate plot to break up
the AUericah Union But to what
lengfds he pro 5ceede how Hfafefy
determined be was to carry his fell de-
sign into execution-has been fully
known outside of narrow, official cir
Gle The story of his purpose is short
but suggestive. and was tod by Mr..
Seward to few personal friends at a
dinner 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 momentous
incident. The exact words, so preg-
nant with eloquent meaning-so sol.
emn and impassioned-we cannot in
every instance leproduce, but the gen.
eral import is given below:
'.It was" said Mr.. Seward, sin the
darkest days of the rehelion. Disaster
upon disaster had befallen the Union
armies. Treason was active and bold
fronted at Washington, in the, Nor b
and IN the West Rebel emissaries and
their ailies were plotting against us
over the Canadian 2 border Oar for
elsn relations were moss critical kehel
cruisers were peing htled out IN British
ports and sent to prey upon or COM
merce; Germany was coidly neutral
the smaller ma European States were lndlii-
efeht spectators OF the conninlct; Russia
was the oniy Trend we mac among the
powers OF the earth -
IN TINS desperate emergency re-
ceived an autograph letter from the
emperor OF the French: II was mark
ea private ana conhdentlali II began
with expressions OF personal regard for
myself, and pain at the spectacle OF the
great Republic in the throes OF disso-
lutlon. personally, said Napoleon, i
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 G commercial interests are seriously
suffering from the prolonsation, OF your
war. Ny subjects appeal TO me to ar
rest the bloody conflict. l must obey
the voice Of France at whatever COST
You cannot put down the rebellion; EN-
brace the earliest opportunity TO make
terms with tue oyutn II You iall 70
90 THIS, shall rteel compelled In the IN.
terests q my country,-ln the lateres,
Of ,clvillizyatlon,-to intervene with al
the power at my command:
y, :" answered Napoleon insulting let.
ter Immediately dId not waste worcs
In compliments. l said: This IS fam
lily quarrel We propose to settle 1t II
our own way and In our own time. we
DO not wish the assistance OF outsiders
we VIII NOT brook interference. Inc
American Union is to be preserved. Il
snail De preserves, II It takes twenty
wears 70 DO II; Ihe war IS hardly com
menced yet; the people are JUST neg'n
mng 10 warm TO the WORK. we WISH te
be on good terms with our nelghbors-
we wish especially 20 be on good terms
WIN FRANCE our ancient irlend ana any
but You must keep hanos on, IL yol
presume 70 interfere, we Will show yot
what ifee people batting ior nation
al existence are capaoie or Hitnert'
we nave conducted the war humaneiy
IN accordance with the codes that gov
ern the most Christian States Inter
ference on your part will be the sigma
Tor war OF conquest and destruction
We will free the negroes; we will pu
arms in their hands, and send then
forth to rayage and plunder. we will
make tle South a waste ana Q oesoiaa
tion kalse q hano against US, ana nor
rors ltrs worse than those OF San looming
will be seen from one end OF the Soutl
"Tha letter was se,t nv tbe fra
steamer. The same day I teleeraphet
To Thurlow Weed. Archbishop Hug ,e