The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-12-09
(F. W. u. in the Sunday News. }

m"ni To Recognize the Southern Con
fcdcracy.
tF. W. u. in the Sunday News.)
| return now to the proposition in re-
lation to the recognition Of the Confed.
eracy which was made on behalf of the
Emperor Napoleon. The date was not
given me, but L imagine that it must
have been at about the time that the
Federal Government was in the straits
which Mr.. SwintUn has described. 1t
was probably i'll May or June, 1861. The
story, as 1t was given to me, is as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Slidell had had II pleasant ac-
Quaintance with NJ. Mocquard, the pri-
vate secretary Of the Emperor Napoleon,
who came to him at last with Il mes
sage from his imperial master. NJ.
Mocquard told Mr.. Slidell that the En-.
peror considered it for the interest of
France to assist the Confederate States
to obtain their independence, and that
nc was anxious to give his assistance to
that end. "But," said NJ. Mocquard,
"Engand is unwilling to act with sus,
and the opposition to slavery, whether
tho opposition be sentimental or not. is
SO strong that the Emperor feels that he
cannot, especially when acting alone,
take step that would have the effect Of
establishing government which has
slavery as basis If, however," con-
tlnued NJ. Mocquard, "thc Confederate
Government will, by treaty with France,
consent to the gradual emancipation of
the slaves, no matter what longth of
tlmo be taken to complete the operation,
the Emperor will officially recognize the
Confederate States as an independent
nation, and order the Immediate release
OF the lrOnclads Which have been built
Tor the Confederate Government.
Mr.. Shdcll was astomdcd at this
proposition, but proceeded to explain to
M. Mocquard that slavery was matter
over which the COnfcdcracy had no con-
troll, as the States alone had authority to
deal with their domestic institutions, and
that each State would have to decide for
llScIi whether to agree to what had been
proposed. Mr. Slidell, at the same time,
expressed the opinion that the States
forming the Southern COnfGderacy
would not consent to abolish slavery.
NJ. Nlocuuard murmurcd his regrets and
departed.
\ few days later the Empcror's private
secretary made his appearance again,
and told Mr.. Shdcll that he had Il new
suggestion. "Thc Emperor" he said
Twill not question what you say about
the powers of the Confederate Govern
mcnt, but will be fully satisfied if you,
on behalf of your Government, will sign
such 4 treaty as was outlined in the first
interview "But," said Mr. Slidcl, Il
have not the power; L have not The au-
thouty to make any such treaty. II
would hc nuthing but waste paper.
"Ncvcr mind ihut," said NJ. Mocuuard
"hccnuac, before any disavowal can talk,
place, the Corfcderacy will have beer
recognized by France, the Confederate
| lr0ncIadS will have raised the bluckad
o1 The Southern ports, and those VIII,
then question Frances action must b,
prepared for war;" Mr.. SliGclI iusistct
that he could not dream of taking so In
preccdcntcd step, and, after some OK
postulntiOn, NJ. Alocquard took hi
leave. With him the last hope Of the
COnIcdcracy had vanished.
1t strikes the ordinary Confederate,
who Wiri not II diplomatist, that MIR.
Slidcll could very well have accepted the
offer which was mudo to him when he
knew that by doing SO he would have
secured the freedom of his people.
What II hC had been rcprimnndcd? ?
What if he had been accused of treason? ?
What II he had been taken out by Il
Richmond mob and swung to Il lamp
post? One life, even Mr.. Shdcll5 life,
would have been an insignificant price
TO pay tor the iruitiOn OF all our hopes,
winch Frances action would have in
surcd. But Mr.. Slidcll moved by rule
and lime, and, had he been in the army,
would have refused, no doubt, to have
defeated the enemy at all, unless he
could have dcfcated them in strict nc
cordancc with the theory Of war ns given
by JOmlni and other writers on military
strategy.
How came it to be known that such a
proposition wua made? Mr.. Slidcll re
ported it to his Government. 1t was
usual to send ull dispatches in duplicate,
because OF the risk OF loss in running
tho blockade. One Of the dispatches
was sent always to the Confederate agent
ut Nassau. In hS temporary absence,
the dispatches Of Mr.. Slidell were de
llVcrcd to the friend who had been
chosen us his representative. 1t was OK
pcctcd that the dispatches should bo
opened and read, i'll ordor perhaps, that
an additional copy might be retained
Among the dispatches which came into
the hands Of the temporary agent of tho
Government at Nassau was the dispatch
covering the narrative which has been
given here.
Some months ago | mentioned this to
Mr. John Bigolow, who was consul gen
oval mt Paris during the civil war. Mr..
BIgGlOw WIS confident that no such
proposition as that which is attributed to
NJ. Mocquard wm ever made, as he
would have been sure 70 have heard of
it. ] can fancy that there were many
things i'll French diplomacy during the
war that were not dreamed Of by either
Minister Dayton or charming Mr.. Bige-
JoY.