Year: 1861

This Union has been faithful. 1t would b


deplorable that, after so conclusive an expe
rience, the United States should be hurrie


into breach of the solemn compact which
up to this time, has made their power, il


spite of the diversity of their constitution
and of their interests, and perhaps even be


cause of this diversity, Providence seems tt
urge them to draw closer the traditiona
bond which Is the basis and the very condi
tion of their political existence. In an
event, the sacrifices which they might I'm
pose upon themselves to maintain it, are be
yond comparison with those which disso-
luton would bring after 1t. United they
perfect themselves. Isolated they are par
alyzed. The struggle which unhappily has
just arisen can neither be indefinitely pro
longed, nor lead to the total destruction Of
one of the parties.


Sooner or later it will be necessary to
eoue to some Settlement, whatever it may
be, which san cause the divergent interests
now actually in conflict to co-exist The
American nation would then give proof of
high intellectual wisdom in seeking in COM
mon such settlement, before useless ef-
fusion of blood, a barren squandering of
strength and of public riches, and acts Of
violence and reciprocal reprisals shall have
come to deepen an abyss between the two
parties Of the Confederation, to end definite
ly in their mutual exhaustion, and in the
ruin, perhaps irreparable, of their CONNER
cial and political power. Our august mas
ter cannot resign himself to admit such dee
plorable anticipations. His Imperial Majes-
ty still places confidence in that practical
good sense of the citizens of the Union who
appreciate SO judiciously their true interests.
His Majesty is ha ppy to believe that the
members of the Federal Government and the
| Influential men of the two parties will seize
all occasions and will unite all their efforts
TO calm the eferVescence cf the passions.
There are no interests SO divergent that it
may not be possible to reconcile them by
laboring to that end with zeal and perse-
verance in spirit of justice and modera-
ton.


If within the limits of your friendly rels.
TORS your language and your counsels may
contribute to this result. you will respond,
sir, to the intention of his Majesty, the EN-
peror in devoting to his personal influence
which you may have been able to acquire
during your long residence at Washington,
and the consideration which belongs to your
character as the representative of a sovereign
animated by the most friendly sentiments
towards the American Union. This Union
is not simply in our eyes an element essen
tial to the universal political equilibrium.
1t constitutes, besides, a nation to which
our august master and all Russia have
pledged tie most friendly interests, for the
two countries; placed at the extremity Of
the two worlds, both in the ascending period
of their development, appear to have nat
ural community of interests aud of sympa-
thies, and of which they have already given
mutual proofs to each other. do not wish
here to approach any Of the questions which
divide the United States. We are not called
upon to express ourselves in this contest.


The preceding considerations have no
other object than to attest the lively solci-
tude OF the Emperor in the presence of the
dangers which threaten the American Union,
and the sincere wishes which his Majesty
entertains for the maintainance of the great
work, SO laboriously raised, which appeared
SO rich in it's future Tt is in this sense, sir,
that | desire you to express yourself, as well
to the members of the Government, as to in-
fuential persons whom you may meet, CIV
ing them the assurance that in every event
the American nation may count upon the
most cordial sympathy on the part Of our
august master during the important crisis
which it is passing through at present
Receive, sir, the expression of very deep
consideration.


(Signed) GORTSCHAKOFF.


The Secretary of State has delivered to
Mr.. Stoeckl the following acknowledge
ment:


DEPARTMENT OF STATE,


WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 1861.


The Secretary Of State of the United