THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT AT MONTGOMERY.

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all those who had reflected upon the subject expected the President to giveextensive authority for making treaties. The views held by the chairman werethat the commissioners should be authorized to propose to Great Britain ,France , and other European nations, upon the conditions of recognition andalliance, that the Confederate States for twenty years would agree to lay nohigher duties on productions imported than fifteen or twenty per cent, ad val-orem ; that for this period, no tonnage duties would be laid on their shipping,entering or leaving Confederate ports, but such as should be imposed to keepin order the harbors and rivers ; that the navigation between the ports of theConfederate States for the same time should be free to the nations enteringinto alliance with the Confederate States, while upon the productions and ton-nage of all nations refusing to recognize their independence and enter intotreaty with them, a discriminating duty of ten per cent, would be imposed.He believed, moreover, that they should be authorized to make an offen-sive and defensive league, with special guarantees, as was done in 1778.Here was a direct and powerful appeal to the interests of foreign nations,especially England. Would any British Minister have dared to rejecta treaty offering such vast advantages to his country? And if so, whenthe fact became known to Parliament , could he have retained his place ?

Up to September, 1862, the UnitedStates Government was committed,both by diplomatic dispatches and bythe action of Congress, to the declara-tion that the war was made solely topreserve the Union and with the pur-pose of maintaining the institutions ofthe seceded States, unimpaired andunaltered. Hence, at this period, theissue of slavery had not been injectedinto diplomacy, and was no obstacle tonegotiating treaties.

When Mr. Yancey received the ap-pointment at the head of the commis-sion, Mr. Rhett conferred with him atlength, and found that the commis-sioner fully concurred in the viewsjust mentioned. But he surprised Mr.

Rhett by the statement that the Presi-dent had given no powers whateverto make commercial treaties, or to giveany special interest in Confederate trade or navigation to any foreign nations,but relied upon the idea that “ Cotton is King.” “ Then,” rejoined Mr. Rhett,“ if you will take my advice, as your friend, do not accept the appointment.For you will have nothing to propose and nothing to treat about, and mustnecessarily fail. Demand of the President the powers essential to the successof your mission, or stay at home.”

JOHN H. REAGAN, CONFEDERATEPOSTMASTER-GENERAL.