The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
FRANCE AND THE SOUTHERN CoNFED-
ERICr.
Negotiations Between the French Minister
md q Confederate Conrreaannn.

and Confederate Congressman.
Prom L,av ~ ne Hon. jams Lyons Qr Richmond Cb1
Magruier Of BALTIMORE
l will relate a conversation l had at my
house. Laburnum. near Richmond, with Count
Mercer. the French Minister, in tho month Of
May or early part Of June. 1862 He. 1t will be
recollectcd. visited Richmond by permission Of
the Northern Government. but was interdIcted
from holding direct intercourse with President
Davis or any OF his Cabinet and he spent
nearly two days OF his time at my house in
Henrico. In point Of fact. ms the sequel will
disclose. he was sent here tby Mr.. Sewardl with
a view to make peace. In the course OF days
discussion In my library. no asked me great
many questions; among others. tho question;
Can you whip McClelan?" who was then
lying with an army OF 100000 men within six
miles OF Richmond. confronted by Gen. Lee.
/ told him in rcply that felt sure we could
and would. and IL the Emperor Of tho French
would open the ports and keep them open. we
would march to New York. and not ask the loan
OF man or a dollar. With grent animation he
sprang to his feet, and said in French:
3" II such be the temper OF your people you
are invincible. But why do you think you will
whip Mcclellan"
1 answered Because the President and Gen.
Lee tell me they believe we will"
Then he added. " But do you know how many
men are bearing upon Richmond"
" replied. The President thinks there are
100000. Con, Ice, thinks not so many. but
TO which he replied, They are both mis-
taken. There are 225.0O0:" Cen. Burnside's
upon Richmond-sent to Port Royal merely in
the hope. Of inducing Gen. Lee to detach a
War Ollce. and have all tho statistics here"
holding upA paper which he drew from his
a StSPEssd' Can't you come back under the old
said Il suppose that is impossible. for Mr.
| Seward would not permit US TO do so without
the abolition OF slavery. and ii would be useless
| to propose that 10 the mon from the extreme
! To that he replied: You are mistaken. II
| you will only return and acknowledge the flag
Mr. seward Will permit you to return without
WHAT" said I. with the institution of
slayeryg
then said. but there Is yet one thing moro
to be cons idered. To use the phrase which WAS
so much hackneyod with respect TO the north
| the pnst and security for the future. we can't
ask. know. indemnity for the past, but we
live hereafter in the state OF harassment and
| years past"
per lying upon the library table upon tho OPP
posite sides Of which we were sitting, he said:
Mr.. Seward will allow YOU to write your own
l expressed my individual readiness to
consent to those terms. | had been in
| South Carolina proposed through Mr.. Mem
| minger. her Commissioner. believing ms did,
| in which l am now confirmed that II ali
the southern States met in Convention. ms pro-
posed by South Carolina. such guarantees
would be asked Of the Northern peope AZ they
would grant. and which would protect us. and
| in that event there would be no secession. and
certainly did not wish secession II we could be
| tional rights and that believe was the general
sentiment OF he South. believe have givon
you now almost. Il not exactly. verbatim.
my conversation with you. / will add that
| the day following the conversation with the
dlned with him at my House. and he 1eft there
| after 10 O'Clock Mt night in rain. in order. as
he said. to send despatch 70 Norfolk to fire up
spatches. | forget which to New York before
the next Atlantic steamer sailed,
| The battle OF Conl HRrbor and the other bat
ties around Richmond occurred not long after
ward. and had no doubt OF our acknowedg-
much surprised that il did not come.
Some time afterward the French Consul.
Mons. Paul. drove up TO my house on Sunday
afternoon. and very soon entered into CONVEX
| sation about the acknowledgment OF the Con-
| iederate Government by the Emperor OF the
| French aud asked me II We could not pass some
bill for tbs gradual abolition OF slavery In flity
or sixty years Maybe Il might do even u It
| Emperor would Immediately acknowledge us
| but that the French people would not be- salts
Ned without such provision for the abolition
| OF slavery. They did not care how distant Il
was. so tho fact was secured as the price OF
recognition. and the Emperor would be fully
| justified.
depressed my individual willingness TO &C.
| eede to those terms. and promised 10 see the
| President upon the subject next morning when
| went into Congress, and II he agreed with
me would Immediately Introduce bill for the
But" said l. Monsieur Paul. what guaran-
tee can you give us that, If We take so important
H rep f wv yoss noSody cans
antee the Emperor. hut you may be sure IN at
| the, Emperor will do what | tell you he will
| do" which considered as but another mode OF
saying that he had been authorized TO do what
| hs had done.
1t is due 10 Mr.. Davis to say that saw him
next morning. at his own house. before Congress
| him what had passed between the French
| Consul and myself. His answer was: I
should concur with you in Asserting these terms
| mat Congress has no jurisdiction over the sub
| iect OF slnvery." True" said. but that dii-
nculty may be gotten over, in my opinion. with
| out anv violation OF the Constitution. Let tho
| bill providing for the gradual abolition Of sla-
very also provide that 1t shall not take effect I'M
| tl the States have. by acts OF their respective
Legislatures duly passed, approved and rati-
| fed II. which you know will be Just as good as
| II passed beforehand. authorizing Congress to do
| the thing. will not be guilty OF the presump-
| sponsibility. but II / may say that you concur
| with me will introduce tho bill tomorrow"
He then asked me why the French Government
as to avoid all constitutional questions. | told
| him mad put that very question to the French
| Consul, and his answer was. France does not
| know the States but she knows the Confederate
| Government and President Davis"
| Mr.. Davis then said: " Well. must consult
the Cabinet and II they agree with you | will
send for YOU" And there tho matter ended.
/