Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-23
THE REPLY OF. Mr.. SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,


Mr. John Forsyth, of the State of Alabama, and
Mr. Martin J. Crawford, of the State of Georgia,
on the llth nst through the kind offices of dstin-
guished Senator submitted TO the Secretary ofState
their desire for an unofficial interview. This re-
gust was on the 18th inst, upon exclusively public
considerations, respectfully declined.
On the 18th inst, while the Secretary war preoc-
cupied, Mr. A d. Banks, of Virginia, called at this
department and received by the assistant secre-
tarv to whom he delivered a sealed communication
which he had been charged by Messrs. Forsyth and
Crawford to present to the secretary IN person.
In that communication Messrs. Forsyth and Crsw-
ford inform the Secretary of State that they have
been duly accredited by the Government of the
Confederate States of America commissioners to
the government of the United States, and they set
forth the objects of their attendance at Washington
They observe that seven States of the American
Union, in the exercise of right inherent in every
free people have Withdrawn, through conventions
of their people from the United States, reassumed
the attributes of sovereign power, and formed a
government of their own, and that those Confede-
rate States now constitute independent nation de
fdco and de jure, and possess government perfect
IN all its parts and fully endowed with all the means
of selfsuppoFt.
Messrs Forsyth and Crawford, in their aforesaid
communication, thereupOn proceed to inform the
Secretary that with a view to a speedy adjustment
of all questions growing out of the political separa-
ton thus assumed, upon such terms of amity and
good will as the respective interests geographical
contiguity and the future welfare of the supposed
two nations might render necessary, they are in
structed to make to the government OF the United
States overtures for the opening of negotiations
surfing this government that the President Congress
and people of the Confederate States earnestly de-
sire peaceful solution ef these great questions and
that it is neither their interest their wish to
make any demand which is not founded in strictest
justice to do any act to injure their late confed
crates.
After making these statements Messrs. Forsyth
and Crawford close their communication, as they
saw in obedience to the instructions Of their Cow
ernment, by requesting the Secretary of State to
appoint as early day as possible, in order that
they may present to the President of the United
States the credentials which they bear and the OBJ
jects of the mission with which they are charged
The Secretary of State frankly confesses that be
understands the events which have recently occur
red and the condition of political affairs which ac-
tually exists in the part of the Union to which his
attention has thus been directed, very differently
from the aspect in which they are presented by
Messrs. Forsyth ard Crawford. He sees in them
not a rlghtful and accomplished revolution and an
independent nation with an established government
but rather a perversion of temporary and partisan
excitement to the lnconslderate purposes of an un
iustiable and unconstitutional aggression upon the
rights and the authority vested in the Federal Gov
ernment and hitherto benignly exercised, as from
their very nature they always must be so exercised
maintenance of the Union, the preservation of lib
erty and the security, peace, welfare, happiness
and aggrandizement of the American people. The
Secretary of State therefore avows to Messrs. For
svth and Crawford that he looks patiently but con
fdently for the cure of evils which have resulted
from proceedings so unnecessary, so unWlse so un
usual and so unnatural, not to irregular negotla
tons having in view new and untried relations
with agencies unknown to and acting in derogatior
of the constitution and laws, but 10 regular ano
considerate action of the people of those States
cooperation with their brethren in the other States
through the Congress of the United States and suct
extraordinary conventions, if there shall be neeC
thereof as the Federal Constitution contemplatei
and authorizes to be assembled.
1t is however, the purpose of the Secretary o
State on this occasion not to invite engage in any
discussion of these subjects, but simply to set fort
his reasons for declining to comply with the reques
| of Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford.
On the 4th of March instant, the then newly elect
ed President of the United States in view of all thu
facts bearing on the present question, assumed tn
executive administration of the Government, hrs
delivering in accordance with early and honore'
| custom, an inaugural address TO the people OF tn
United States. The Secretary of state respectull
| submits copy of this address to Messrs Forsytl
! and Crawford.
simple reference to it will be sufficient to satis
| fy those gentlemen that the Secretary Of Stat
guided by the principles therein announced, IS pre-
| vented altogether from admitting or assuming tha
the States referred to by them, have. in law or IL
/ TACT, WlLlQPaWH from FeueFdA OulOn, w VII.
they could do so in the lmanner described by Messrs
| Forsyth and Crawford, or in any other name
| than with the consent aud concert Of the people
| the United States, to be given through a nationa
convention TO be assembled in. conformity with III
provisions of the Constitution of the United States
Of course the Secretary of State cannet act upo
the assumption or in any way admit that the SC
| called Confederate States constitute a foreig
power, with whom diplomatic relations ought to
| established.
| Under these circumstances the Secretary of Stat
whose official duties are confined, subject to the
rection of the President, to the conducting of tn
foreign relations of the country, and do not at a
embrace domestic question or questions arising b,
| tween the several States and the Federal GoverI
ment, is unable to comply with the request
Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, to appoint day Q
which they may present the evidences of their Al
thority and the objects of their visit to TIE Pres
dent of the United States. On the contrary, he
obliged to state to Messrs. Forsyth and Crawfor
that he has no authority nor is he at liberty 70 =
cognize them as diplomatic agents, or noia eorFe
pondence or other communication vita {pem
Finally. the Secretary Of State wculd oosert ,
that although he has supposed that ne might saiei
and with propriety have adopted these conciusioi
without making any reference Of the subject TO u
/ has desire DFaCt