Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-21
Greeley in 1868.

The following from the Journal of
Henry J. Raymond" in the March
Scribner, will be news to some OF our
readers: MIR. Seward talked very
freely Of our foreign relations. At tho
outset of the war, he said, every for
eign minister in Washington, except
Baron Gerolt, the Prussian Minister,
sympathized with secession in one way
and another. Their views had been
changed, until now they we're all 40
licitous to avoid giving US any offsnse,
and anxious to maintain the most
friendly relations. France had with
drawn her feet from the mouth OF the
Mississippi, and had dismissed her
consul at New Orleans, who had made
himself offensive to us by aiding the
rebels. England evinced in various
ways her kindly feelings, and now asked
rs favors concessions she had hitherto
demanded as rights. As an instance OF
this he mentioned that an officer of the
British army, Mayor Winnie, had been
taken at Point of Rocks coming into
our lines without authority. He was
in prison, and was to be tried by court
martial as spy. Lord Lyons had
urged his release several times, but
this had been refused. He had finally
promised to put stop to the frequent
visits of English off, to the rebel
armies, and in consideration of this Mr..
Seward had agreed that the officer
should be tried, but Immediately par
doned. He recited several other in
stances illustrating the changed dis
position of the Esglish Government
And now (said Mr.. Seward), just when
we have with great difficulty established
these relations with foreign powers and
given them most distinctly to under
stand that Intervention in any form will
not be tolerated, Mr.. Greeley comes
forward, holds private interviews, and
opens correspondence with the French
Minister to persuade Linn that the
people would welcome a mediation
which should terminate the war! Mr..
Seward showed great deal of indig-
nation at this mischievous interference
with our foreign relations, and ex
pressed fears that it might produce
very serious and injurious results. Mr..
Greeley, he said. had rendered himself
clearly and Enthusiastically liable to the
penalties of the law forbidding all such
intercourse with foreign ministers but
his own personal relations with him
would render il impossible for him to
take any steps in the matter, as it
would be charged to personal hostility
GU his part. Secretary Usher (of the
Interior Department. thought this con-
sideration ought not to interfere with
his discharge Of public duty. He
said the arrest of Mr.. Greeley would
do great good by satisfying the people
that the government meant TO punish
all violations OF law and all departures
from loyalty with impartial yigor. Mr..
Seward INDUCED in good deal oi
lively ridicule of Mr.. Greeley's propo-
sition to make Switzerland the arbiter
of our destiny-a republic half Prussian
and half French, half Catholic and halt
Protestant, held together only by out
ward pressure, and represented at
Washington by Consul General wlo
kept " -four and feed store near the
Capitol, and who ksew no moro of the
necessities and conditions of our ma.
tional existence than he did of the poll
tics of the moon. Mr.. Bancroft, who had
fallen asleep during the more serious
part Of the secretary's exposition, awoke
at this sally, anu expressed the opinion
that it would be much better to ridicule
Mr.. Greeley ont of his crotchets than to
send him to Fort Lafayette. The rest
Of the company, however, thought the
matter of too much gravity for such
treatment. Mr.. Seward said that Mr..
MERCER the French Minister) knew
Mr.. Greeley IS a very prominent and
influential supporter of the administra.
ton, as having. in fact, almost dictated
its policy on several important subjects;
and it would be worry natural for him to
receive Mr.. Greeley's representations as
proofs that ia spite of the assurance of
the Secretary of State, the people would
not be wholly averse to foreign inter,
yention.