The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-14
Fortunate Accident That Helped
Thurlow Weeds Mission to
the French Court
Napoleon Had Determined to Rec
ognize the Confederacy in
Two Days.
His Attention Called TO u Treaty With
England that Led Him TO Change
His Mind.
written for TIE HELENA 1sprprsDrsrl

the civil war. He was received by the captain
with such courtesy as showed that he was
q distinguished passenger. lie was taken
TO a stateroom Immediately. The steam
ship was to sail within five minutes. Very
few of the passengers had seen this man
and none had recognized him.
On the pier was an officer of the custom
house, then a deputy collector, but now
we'll known as en-Postmaster General
James. Colonel James was turning to re-
tire to his Office, when a man rushed up to
him in great excitement and asked hlm II
he had seen Thurlow Weed.
HE has gone aboard the steamer said
Col. James.
1T is Of the highest Importance that see
him. replied the excited man. and then he
whispered in Col. james, ear.
A moment later Col. James crossed the
gang plank in great haste. went to Mr..
Weeds cabin, for he was the tall man who
had been received by the captain, and a
m later reappeared with the oistin-
guished politician.
The gentleman who had sought with so
much earnestness MIR. Weed went half way
up the gang plank to meet him. The
steamers whistle was sounding, the sailors
stood at either end of the plank ready to
pull it ashore. The gentleman gave Mr..
Weed n paper. saying: I'm case a great
emergency arises. go Immediately to the
address which is written on this paper"
There was no time for further explanation.
MIR. Weed returned to the steamers deck,
Col. James and the messenger to the pier,
and then this man'said to Col. James: 1T
is perhaps a fortunate accident that l met
you"
When Mr.. Weed returned to his state
room he opened the paper and saw that it
contained nothing more than the address
of a man living in Paris.
Mr.. Weed had been sent by President
Lincoln with two other eminent men as
special ambassadors to represent the gov
rnmen of the United States at certain Eu-
ropean ports. The object of the mission is
now known, but was not then, to the public.
1t was to do all proper things to prevent
the recognition of the southern confeder-
acy by Great Britain and France.
Some weeks later Mr.. Weed received in
his apartments in q Partisan hotel a gentle
man who brought him news of the most
startling character.
Said this man: Louis Napoleon in a dav
or two is going to recognize the southern
confederacy. He will send a message to
the French legislative body making such
announcement"
Mr.. Weed was thunderstruck He knew
that this man who brought him such knews
could not be misinformed, and he also be-
lieyed that the recognition of the confeder-
acy by France at that time would be d ser
ious blow TO the federal government. Hs
was in despair for q while. He went to the
American minister. who did not credit the
report. He returned to his hotel, and then
of a sudden remembered the address which
had been 30 mysteriously given to him in
New York. 1ntuitiyely he connected that
address with the present emergency, and
calling a carriage drove to the place indi-
Gated in it. There he was received by the
gentleman whose name was on the paper
a Frenchmsn named Ioubat. who was q
warm friend of the United States, and who
by reason of his relation to the Due de
Morny, Napoleon's prime minister, had
peculiar facilities for private information
and also some influence at court.
Loubat declared that the news which NJ.
Weed had received was true. "But,' said
he, cit is not too late to prevent the recoc-
milton of the confederncy by Napoleon"
II appeal to you to show me how" said
Mr.. Weed.
"Take this letter." said Loubat, as he
was writing one, "Go with it to the address
named, ask to see a certain document and
to take a copy of it. Then return here"
Mr.. Weed did as he was directed. The
letter which NJ. Loubat gave him procured
for him special facilities at the office at
which he called. The paper for which rs
asked was placed before him, and when Mr..
Weed read it it seemed to him as though he
could not contain his joy, bnt must arise
and give vent to it by cheers. He took the
copy and within two hou, was back again
at M. Loubat's apartments.
An hour later Mr.. Weed and M. Loubat
were in the presence of the Duo de Morny.
Loubat's influence had secured an immedi-
ate audience with the prime minister. Mr..
Weed was cool, but of pleasant manner, as
WAS his habit. The due was stern and his
face was like a mask. They chatted for q
few moments on general topics, and then
MIR. Weed said: II have reason to believe
that 1t IS the intention of tho emperor
within two days to recognize the southern
confederacy."
1.-THE opinions and beliefs of SO eminen:
n man as Mr.. Weed are, of course, a matter
of interest" the due replied.
They may be not only of interest but
Importance to you" said Mr. Weed.
ANY suggestions of MIR. Weed arc OF
course of Importance, " the due replied.
Thus these two genlusea OF politics fenced
for a while, Weed retaining lis cool, plaus.
Ible and pleasing name the due BEING
frigid bnt courteous. and every emotion
masked behind his inscrutable counteaance.
After O whiie Mr.. Need perce1yine thai
there waa NO other method OF app.onch SAID
TO the duo: here Is no doubt about the
intention of the emperor. He Will proclaim
recognition in his message the day after to-
morrow. Nevertheless. l have called upol
you because l desire 10 ask confidential,
upon what grounds this recognition will bt
given"
IF it is given az you cay it will be-" the
due replied, lit WILL be because the Unitec
States government has blockaded some O!
the southern ports, thereby deprivinl
France of It's and threatening its
prosperity"
You will claim therefore that a neutra
nation, has Il right to recognize Il bellIger,
ent for such u reason, ana that a nation
which Is ut wGr with another mas no ljoA.
TO blockade it's po}ts.'
"IEa Will be the reason" the due re-
Piled, sueaking with great stesuuess.
"BuS France ID surely not going TO make
itsalf ridiculous by self stultlhcation, - MY
Weed replied, "and IL is because sunposet
that the emperor had overlooked certain
things that have called upon YOU. de
sire You to read this paper" aud here MIR
Weed placed before the due the COPY which
he had obtained two hours before.
The due read tins document through witt
tue utmost care. When he finished he wa
very pals. His MN was changed. m,
mask was dropped and the SUGGESTION q
anxiety was npUu his face. He rang "A he'll
Il MESSENGER and sent to th
Office where tho original document from
whiehthe copy was made was filed. 500,
this document WAS LAID before him. and q,
comparison he found the copy was exnct
hen he turned to MFR. Weed and said, =.
think l may assure you that your fears ar
groundless. The emperor will not rscog
nize the southern coniodefacy. At prcgen
at IeaSt -