The new North-west., 1880-04-02
eaEELY IN ,sss.
HOW NEAR HE CAME TO BEING ARRESTED
FOR MEDDLING IN STATE AFFAIRS.

HOW NEAR HE CAME TO BEING ARRESTED
FOR MEDDLING IN STATE AFFAIRS.
The following from the "a" Journal oi
Henry ]. Raymond" appears in the March
Seribner: Mr.. Seward talked very freely Of
our foreign relation. At the outset of the
war, he said, every foreiga minister at
Washirgton, except Baron Gerolt, the
Prussian miRister, sympathized with
secession In one way and another. Their
views had been changed, until now they
were all solicitous to avoid giving us any
offense, and anxious to maintain the most
friendly relations. France had withdrawn
her feet from the mouth Of the Mississippi,
and had dismissed her consul at New Or
leans, who had made himself offensive to
us by aiding the rebels. England evinced
in various ways her kindly feelings, and
now asked as favors concessions she had
hitherto demanded A. rights. As an
instance of this he mentioned that an OH
Ger of the Blitish army, Maj. Winnie, bad
been taken at Point of Rocks coming into
our lines without authority. He was in
prison, and was to be tried BY courtmar-
tial as rpy. Lord Lyons had urged bis
release several times, but this had been re-
fused. He had finally promised to put .
stop 10 the frequent visits Of English offi-
GERS to the rebel armies, and In considers
tIon OF this Mr.. Seward had agreed that
the officer should be tried, but immediate-
" pardoned. He recited several other In
stances illustrating the changed disposition
of the English 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 understand that intervention
IN any form will not be tolerated, MIR.
Greeley comes forward, holds private inter.
views, and opens correspondence with
the French minister to persuade them that
the people would welcome mediation
which should terminate the war Mr..
Seward showed great deal Of indignation
at this mIschevious interference with our
foreign relations, and expressed fears that
1t might produce serious and injurious ie-
suits. Mr.. Greeley, he said had rendered
himself clearly and unmistakably liable to
the penalties of the law forbidding all such
intercourse with foreign ministers; but bis
own personal relations with him would ien-
der it impo ssibls for him to take any steps
in the matter, as it would be charged to
personal hostility on his part. Secretary
Usher (of the interior Department. thought
this consideration ought not to interfere
with bis 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 viola
tions Of law and all departures from loyalty
with impartial vigor. Mr.. Seward iniulged
in good deal Of lively ridicule Of Mr..
Greeley's proposition to make Switzerland
the arbiter Of our destiny-a republic bali
Prussian and kalf French, half Catholic
and half Protestant held together only by
outward pressure. and represented at
Washington BY consul general who kept
"hour and feed store" near the capitol,
and knew no more Of the necessities and
conditions Of our national existence than
he did OF the politics Of ths moon. Mr..
Bancroft, who had fallen asleep during the
more serious part Of the secretary's e1posi-
tion, awoke at this sally, and expressed the
opinion that it would be much better to
ridicule Mr.. Greeley out Of bis crotchets
than 10 send him to Fort Lafayette. Tho
rest of the company, however, thought
the matter ono of too much gravity for
such treatment. Mr.. Seward said that Mr..
Mercier (the French ministel) knew Mr..
Greeley as very prominent and influential
supporter of the administration, IS having,
in fact, almost dictated its policy upon
several important subjects, and it would
be very natural for him to receive Mr..
Greeley's representations as proofs that, In
spite of the assurance Of the Secretary OF
Staue, the people would not be wholly
averse to foreign intervention.