, 1880-02-29
LOUIS NAP0IE0N'S HOSTILITY TO THE
UNITED STATES.


In a recent number of the Nort1, American
Rcutelv there appeared very remarkable
article setting forth the hostility Of Louis
| Napoleon to the Government Of the United
States during the first two years Of the War
| OF the Re&llion, and his persistent effort to
induce Englalld to join France In recog-
milton of The Southern Confederacy, as well
| as the disinc}ination Of Lord Russell to join
| the French Government in any such scheme.
| The facts set forth In tint article showed con-
clusively that Louis Napoleon wns in confer
euce with Slidell, Lindsay, an English ship
| builder and 3,:ember Of Parliament, Disraeli,
and members OF the French Cabinet to pro
duce such result, which was 1hwarted by
several causes, among them the repeated sue
cesses Of the North, the unEopularity Of the
Mexican expedition, the complications on the
| Continent, and the stubborn adherence Of
| Lords Russell and Palmerston to the "wait-
| Ing policy" The evidence submitted was
sufficient to show that, as compared with the
! intrigucs Of Louis Napoleon, the English
| Government, notwithstanding its hostility,
observed fair neutrality.
The statements in this article now find
confirmation in work recel,l(y written by
Nassau William Senior, an Er-lish Master
in Chancery and political ecnrtmist, contain
ing his conversations with distinguished men
in Paris during the first two years Of our
War, which show TINT Louis Napoleon was
not the only antagonist Of the North, many
other prominent French statesmen sharing
his malignity. The New York Herald has
printed several columns Of extracts from
this work, the most salient features of which
we reproduce. These conversations took
place during the very crisis Of our Civil War.
In March, 1861, just before the fall Of Sum-
ter, he talked with N. Guizot, who regretted
the separation, not FROM any particular love
for the North, but because liz thought
England would have the preference over
France in her business relations with
the Southern Confcderacy. Count Charles
de Renlusat, afterwards Foreign Min
lister under NJ. Thiers, and NJ. Thiers
himself, regretted the separation, and spoke
of it as misfortune to France; but these
views were not shared by other promi-
nent Frenchmen, as will be seen. a very III
teresting feature Of the work is his converse
tion with Mr.. Hotze, who was in England as
an Ambassador FROM the Confederacy, and
who ascribed the separation to Incompatible
ity Of temper between the North aud the
South. He urged upon England that the
War would last fifty years unless Europe i'll
terfered, and that the moment it did Interfere
the North would be discouraged. Mr.. Slidell
also took the same view, and told Mr. Senior
that he had found French opinion favorable
to the dissolution, except among the Orlean-
lists, and declared that England would
like the South because it would estab-
lisl1 no custom-houses, and would be
the true Republic, whereas the North
would be ruined by anarchy. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Slidells gloomy picture,
"There were no safeguards to freedom in the
North, and as soon US the finances were
ruined anarchy would come. Then the army
would take the law into its own hands; and
out OF the anarchy which came from this
there would be military despotism," hence
" this consideration alone ought to show to
Europe the madness Of allowing the War to
continue" Mr.. Senior was impartial in his
conversations, for he talked with Union men
as well as with Secessionists. Thurlow
Weed was very communicative; and at this
distance from the War, and remembering
that at the time of the conversation the War
had been in progress only q year, his views
are unusually interesting. We quote from
the Herald correspondent:
When Mr.. Weed wis asked what ho would do
groes and the millions Of whites whose property
free, he answered: " This is question which
we choose not to examine. They have been
guilty of the most wicked rebellion. that history
crous terms Of reconciliation, their r11iD even
their blood, be on thei1. own heads" Mr.. Weed
lands sand and estates Of Rebels and sell or Erant
them to loyal Northern men. or that they would
become rewards for the army. The veteran
he drew picture Of the North treuting the
South as Wtillinm the Conqucror did England,
dividing 1t into territories, making military men
Governors, giving the estates to Notwithstanding
officers "A million Of slave-owncrs," said Mr
Weed, when he had finished this fancy picture
wi! be ruined and they will deserve to be ru-
Resumfng his conversations with French
men, we find that the veteran Changarnler
did not think at all favorably Of the cause of
the North, looked upon Beauregard as bet
ter General than Mcclellan and in command
of better troops, and did not believe it was
possible for the Federal army to advance
upon Richmond. II. Guizot, in convetBa-
tion subsequent to that Of which we have
spoken above, bitterly assailed our Govern
ment for its treatment Of Mexico, declaring
in bitter terms: "They 1.-THE United States1
have no scruples, no public morality, no
fears. They are horrible neighbors. 1 am
glad the Atlantic is between u.s." Adolphe
de Circourt, the friend of Lamartine, and |
during the Republic Of 1913 Ambassador |
from France to Germany, who was pres
ent during the talk with N. Guizot.
was equally bitter. speaking of the United |
States as not only the natural enemies Of En-
gland but OF all Europe. lie spoke Of !" the
arrogant habits Of fifty years Of |