Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-20
INK REPLY OF Mr.. SEWARD.
ugNOEANuT-,f
DEPARrNFNr on STATE, 7
WASHINGTON, March 10. 1861. /

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WAsHNGTOS, March Is. 1861.
Mr. John FORSYTH, of the State Of Alabama, and Nr.
Martin j. Crawford of the State Of Georgia the lltn
inst through the kind Cfices Of distinguished Sena-
tor submitted the Seer tery Of State their sire for
an unofficial interview TGis request was on the l2.A
inst upon exclusively public considerations, respectfully
dcciued
On the 18th inst. while the Secretary was preoccu-
pied Mr. = D. Banks, OF Virginia called az this d, part
ment and was received by the Assistant Secretary 20
Nhom he delivered a sealed communication, which lie
had been charged by Nesrs Forsyth aud Crawford to
present 10 the Secretary IN person.
In that communication, Messrs Forsyth and Crawford
inform the Secretary Of State that they have been duly
accredited by thc government Of the Confederate States
Of America as Commissioners to the soyerumen, Of the
United States and they forth the Otecis OF their at
tendance AZ Washington. They observe that seven
States OF the American Union in the rcise Of right
inherent u ~ .yce people have wthtr1wn, through
conventions Of their people from the United States, re-.
assumed the attributes OF sovereign pOSer and formed
a government cs Their own, and that those Confederate
States nov constitute Independent nation de Jaco
and q. i,s AID possess gOyerum-n. le-isct in all is
parts aud fully endowed With all the means OF se!sup-
/ port.
Messrs Forsyth and Crawford in their aforesaid COM
muuicaou thersupon proceed to inform the Secretary
that with view speedy adjustment Of all questions
growing or Of the political separation thus assumed,
upou such Of amity and good will ss the respe tive
Interests geographical contguty aud the future welfare
of the supposed nations NJ ght necessary they
are instructed 70 make the government Ct the U.ted
States Oygrues for The opening OF negotiations assuring
this government that toe President Congress aud people
of the Confederate States earnestly desire peaceful So
ion OF these great questions and ttHt il neither TIER
interest nor their wish 10 make any demand which r not
founded u justice, nor 70 DO any ret TO iJare
their late coayederstes.
After making these statements, Nessr7. Forsyth and
Crawford close their communication, they say, in obe
deuce 10 the Instructions OF their government by re-
Yuesiire h. Secretary OF State to appoint early day
as possible in order tina: they may present to the Pres
dent of the United States tue credentials which they bear
and the eli .c,s OF the mission With which they are
\ charged.
The Secretary of State frankly confesses that be I'm
dcrstcnds the eyeut Shicn have recently occurred and
the condition of political sliS which actually exists m
the part OF the uou to WI len his attention has thus
been directed very differently from the aspect in which
they are presented by Messrs. Forsyth and C.aWford
He sees in them not rghttul end accomplished revolu
lion and an independent nation with established gov
ernmeut ba. rather peFversion OF temporary End
partar excitement to the ncOr 5terats purposes Of al
! uuusrhabls aud uuOons.utiOnd aggression upon the
btsaud the authority vested n the Federal G)vornmen.
aud hitherto ben gny 7rciset as from their veT uat4T
they always mus. be 20 exercised ilr the nanteaano'
Of the UnOu the preservation OF liberty and the secur
" peace welfare happiness and aggraud cement oil tbs
American peosle The Secretary of State therefore
avoWs TO Messrs Forsyth aud Crawford that he look
ptrenty but conhdenty ar the cure oi evils which have
resulted from proceedings so unnecessary so siSe 81
unusual and 50 unnatural not to Irregular negotiations
having in view nes and untFicd relations with ageuce
unknown TO sud setting in G5r0gaQn e ha ClnatitHnor
and laws but 70 rNgulaF sud corsidti1e action Of h'
people Of those S.aIes, l. CO operation ~''" 'N' -.
.le other States, through the Corgcess of the Uni
ted States aud such extraordinary conventions if taer
shall he need thereof IS the tederai Constitution con
templates aud authorizes to be assembled
l. is however the purpose OF the Secretary OF Stat
this occasion not TO invite or erg ge 10 any discussion
Of these subjects but simply forth his reasons TO
lining comply with the request OF Aess.s Forsyth
and Crawford.
On the an of March inst, the then newly electe'
President Of the Uuied States, in view Of all the facI
bearing on the present question assumed the execuv
administration Of the government, trs; delivering, II
accordance with early and hon2red cust1m, an nau
gura addres to ths people OF the United States. tn
Secretary Of State respectfully submits copy oi tn
address TO Messrs Forsyth and Crawford
! simple reference to il will be sufficient to sats
those gentlemen that the Secretary OF State guided D.
the principles therein announced is prevented aloge'a
from admitting assuming that the States reierre
TO by them have in law in fact, Withdrawn IRON III
federal Uuon, or that they could DO so in the name
described by MessIs. Forsyth and Crawford, or IN an
other manner than With the consent and concerI OF II
people Of the United Safes to be given through na
tional convention, 70 be assembled ia conformity VII
the provisions OF the constitution Of the United States
sumption or in any way admit that the socaled Conied
crate States constitute foreign power, with whom dPIc
matte relations ought 10 be established.
Under these circumstances the Secretary OF State
whose official duties coufned subject to the direcio
of the President the conducting of the foreign Tel.
lions Of the country, and DO not at all embrace domes
questions or questions arising between the several STATE
ana the Federal Government is unable TO comply VII
he REQUEST of Messrs Forsyth and Crawford TO spPoir
dav on which they may pTese.t the evidences OF tne
authority and The objects Of their vit 10 the FresideI
of the United States On the contrary, be is obliged
s.ate TO Messrs Forsyth and Crawford that he has
authority nor i he at liberty 20 recognise them as cp
matte agents or hold correspondence other commun
cation With them. ~
FINALLY the Secretary OF State would observe tha
although he has supposed that be might safely ahu WI
propreiy have adopted these conclusion Withou' iN
anv reference Of the subject to the Executive YET
strong has been his desire 20 practice satire di'eetne
and to act 10 spint OF perfect respect ana eahuor
wards Nessrs Forsyth and Crawford and that portion
the people Of the Union in whose name they pr. SCI
themselves before him. that he has cheerfay suom'.
this paper to the President who comedies canetAg
the views il eypresses sud sanctions pe SeeretAys d
eisiOn declining Official intercourse with MesSrs Ors
and Crawford.
April g. 1861,
, The foregoing memorandum was Sled in this iepar
nent on the III Of March ias delivery Of the SAINT
hoseFer TO Aessrs Forsyth and Crawford was delayed
as was understood with their consent. They have no
through their Secretary communicated their desire for
defaiive disposition Of the subject. The Secretary
State therefore DIRECTS that dly verified ecpy of Il
!, paper b, nov delivered
w seward Assistant Secretary of State of the Unit
ssaies on April 8, 1851 at AIS 10 blank snvslcP
. Iass,' J. T. PICKETT,
Secretary 10 the Commissioners.