Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward
Sir: Your despatch No. 342 has been duly received. This paper communicates the answer of the President to the proposition of this government to join with it and other powers in certain proceedings adopted at Paris, with a view to the exercise of a moral influence with the Emperor of Russia in reference to the affairs of Poland. So soon as this despatch was received I went to the foreign office and communicated the same by reading it to Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys at length. He said he was not at all disappointed in the result of their application to us, and more especially was he not so in view of the precedents cited by you, illustrating the history and showing the past practice of our government in respect to questions of intervention. He said, indeed, that the application to us had been made rather as a matter of “homage” and respect than otherwise. In answer, I told him that it was quite evident from your despatch that the conduct of France in the premises was justly and kindly appreciated by the government of the United States, and here our conference on this subject ended.
You will have seen from the public journals that the insurrection in Poland has not been suppressed as promptly as was anticipated. Indeed, it is somewhat questionable now when it will be suppressed, and to what it may lead. Still, I do not suppose it will involve any general disturbance in Europe.
I should add that the French government is much engaged just now in its arrangements for the election, which comes off on the last day of this month and the first of the month following. The government has its known and designated candidates, and instructs its prefects throughout the empire to support them, and it at the same time points out officially those persons whom it desires to defeat. It makes war most actively especially on Mr. Thiers, who is supposed to represent or sympathize with the Orleans dynasty. If the opposition in the chamber shall be able to increase its number from five to fifteen or twenty, it will be considered as a great triumph—more especially if Mr. Thiers should be elected as one of the number.
Mr. Mason, commissioner from the rebel States at London, came over to [Page 742] Paris day before yesterday, and he is now here. The French papers, connecting this with Mr. Roebuck’s late speech (urging instant action for recognition of the south) at a large public meeting held at Sheffield, England, and the reverse, as it is here called, of Hooker’s army at Chancellorsville, imagine that his (Mr. Mason’s) visit is to urge a like recognition upon this side of the channel. As yet I have had no intimation that such is the purpose of his visit, except from the journals.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.