The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-20
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS
Recognition Of the Rebels as Hell.
lkgorents.
Mr.. Separd to Mr.. Dayton.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, June Il, 81.

tives abroad, since the recent change Of
Administration took place, has expressed
our profound anxiety lest the disloyal citi
zens who are engaged in attempts to over
throw the Union, should obtain aid and
assistance from foreign nations, either in
the form of recognition of their pre-.
tended sovereignty, or in some other and
more qualified or guarded manner. Every
instruction has expressed our full belief
that, without such aid or assistance, the
instruction would speedily come to an
end, while any advantage that it could
derive from such aid or assistance could
serve no other purpose than to protraci
the existing struggle and aggravate the
evils it is inHicting on our country and
on foreign and friendly nations. Every
instruction bears evidence of an earnest
solictude to avoid even an appearance Of
menace or of want of comfy towards for
eign powers but at the same time it has
emphatically announced, as is now seen
to have been necessary, our purpose not
to allow any one of them to expect to re-
main in friendship with us if it should,
with whatever motive, practically render
such aid OF assistance to the insurgents.
We have intended not to leave it doubt
full that concession of sovereignty to
the insurgents, though it should be indi-
rect and unofficial, or though it should
be qualified SO as to concede only bellig-
erent or other partial rights, would be re-
garded as inconsistent with the relations
due to us by friendly nations. Nor has
it been left at all uncertain that we shall,
in every event, insist that all these Uni
ted States must be considered and dealt
with now, as heretofore, by such nations
as exclusively sovereign for all purposes
whatsoever in the territories over which
the Constitution has been extended. On
the other hand we have not. at any time,
been unmindful of the peculiar crcum-
stances which might excite apprehension
on thezp Of commercial nations for the
safety of their subjects and their proper
ty, in the conflicts which might occur up
on sea as well as on land between the for
ces of the United States and those Of the
insurgents.
The United States have never disclaim.
ed the employment of letters of-marque
as means of maritime war. The insur.
gents early announced their intention tc
commission priyateers. We knew that
friendly nations would be anxious fol
guarantees of safety from injury by that
form of depreciation upon the national
commerce. We know also that such ma.
tions would desire to be informed wheth-
er their flags should be regarded as pro.
tecting goods, not contraband of war, o.
disloyal citizens found under them, and
whether the goods not contraband, or sub
iects Of such nations, would be safe from
coniscation when found in vessels Of dis
loyal citizens of the United States. Tn.
Administration, free from some of the
complications of those which had proceed
ed it, promptly took up the negotiations
relating TO the declaration of the Con-
gress of Paris, just at the point where
they had been suspended by President
Buchanan. We found it just and HUI
name in itself, SO far as it goes, and tina,
it had only failed TO be accepted BY the
United States, because foreign nations
had refused to accept an additional prin
ciple proposed by this Government, vel
more just and humane than any which il
does contain, namely, that the propert,
OF private citizens, not contraband, shouls
be exempted from confseation in mari
time war. While still willing and desir
Gus to have that further principle incor
porated in the law of nations, we never
theless instructed you, and all our repre-
seHtatiFes ia foreign countries, to waive it
if necessary. to stipulate, subject I,
the concurrence of the Senate of the Uni
ted States, our adhesion to tile declaration
Of the Congress of Paris as whole an,
unmodi6ed. This was done so early as tn
10Th day of April last, long before tn,
date of the instructions which Mr.. Msr
cier proposed to submit to us. We have
ever since that time. been waiting for thu
responses of foreign Powers to this high
and liberal demonstration on our part
We have, however, received no deci
siye answers on the subject from thos.
Powers
IL was uu0tf tucse clrcuSI1nceS That
on the 18th day of June instant the Min
lister from France and the Minister from
Great Britain, having previously request
ed an interview, were received by me-
Zach OF them announced that he wu,
charged by his Government to read dis
patch to me and to give me copy if
should desire it.
! answered that, owing to the peculiar
circumstances Of the times, / could mol
consent to an official reading or delivery
Of these papers without first knowing
their characters and objects. They con
fdently and with entire frankness put
the dispatches into my hands for an infor-
NAL preliminary examination Having
thus become possessed of their characters.
Ireplied to those. Ministers that | could not
slow them to be officially communicated