The National tribune., 1882-02-04
SEWARD,S DIPLOMACY.

SEWARD'S DIPLOMACY.
A prominent Republican Senator was speak
ing of Seward the other evening and his eminent
fitness for the part he played during the late
war.
"In 1869, while on his trip round the world
said the Senator, "Mr. Seward stopped for a
week at San Francisco. The night previous to
his departure it was my large privilege to be one
of the invited guests at a dinner-party given in
his honor. 1t was felicitous occasion. To my
mind, the champagne corks had never popped so
merrily; "reminiscences of army life were resur-
rected, bon NETS were freely exchanged, and an
air of genuine enthusiasm pervaded the entire
scene.
FINALLY Mr.. Seward spoke I'll tell you, said
he, "a chapter of unwritten history that will
show you how narrowly on one occasion we
avoided complications with France and England
1t was at the most critical period of the civil
war; our troops beaten and driven back at every
point; the army of the Potomac rent with jeal-
ousies and dsaffection; traitors in the rear fur
nishing encouragement and assistance to their
friends in the field. feeling of gloom seemed
to have settled over the whole land. We at
Washington were sending out messages of good
cheer to the country, but it was with heavy
heart and an affectation of confidence we were far
from feeling.
zone day received an autograph letter from
Louis Napoleon. He began by stating his per-
sonal regard for me- and his kind remembrances
of America. But, he went on to say, his mills
and factories were standing idle His peasantry,
the most thrifty in the world, were suffering for
want of employment, owing to the blockade of
the Southern ports. He concluded by saving
that if the war had not ceased at least practically
within ninety days. he should consider it his
duty to interfere, and recognize the belligerency
of the South. This act, he contended, would be
followed by similar move on the part of Eng
land and possibly Germany.
"'I answered the letter at once spent no time
in fattering the Emperor of France, or in finding
excuses for the North. Plunging boldly into the
subject / told him that this was family quarrel:
that the good sense of the South was against
secession, but that it had been overruled by
INSCRIPTIONS leaders, backed by the hot blood of
their young men and the pernicious influence of
the doctrine of State rights
awe of the North, continued, are somewhat
divided as to the methods that were to be en-
plOyeu III SttLlluS tllt DIOOUy question: out once
foreign power interferes and we become as one
man, with one common interest, In moment
The history of the past century has emblazoned
on it's pages, in letters of living fire. the valor and
patriotism of the American freeman. Beware
how you rouse us to action, else it may be worse
for both England and France than you wot of
"'Thus far, we have conducted the struggle in
the most humane and considerate manner, recog-
nizing our enemies as gallant sons of one great
family; but let foreign power interfere and we
will turn loose the dogs of war with fierceness
that will not only depopulate but devastate every
portion of the South from the Ohio to the Gulf
There was more in the same strain added Mr.
Seward, but what have repeated embody the
main points,
1.-The next day telegraphed for Henry Ward
Beecher, Archbishop Hughes, and Thurlow Weed.
The conference resulted in sending them all to
Europe. Mr.. Beecher went to Protestant Eng
land the grand old prelate to Catholic France;
and Mr. Weed to Germany. Speaking daily to
crowded houses, they placed our situation before
the people of those countries in so clear and
favorable light, that never again did the ghost
of foreign interference arise to fright souls
Mr.. Seward sailed for Mexico the following
morning. and have never seen him since, but
the remembrance of his impassioned speech will
remain fresh in my memory should l live an
hundred years.