The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-11
DIR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS,
The Protest Of the Secretary of State-His OBJ.
jections to the Belligerent Claims of the
South-The Employment Of Privateers-
The Difference Between War and
Rebellion-The Union Must
Be Maintained,
&C., &c. &C.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MINISTER DAYTON.
DEE AHrMENrr O Sr.lE. WILMINGTON. June IL 1861.

change OF administration took place has expressed our
profound anxiety lest the disloyal citizens who
gagged attempt to overthrow the Union should OBJ
tain aid and assistance from foreign nations either the
form of recognition Of their pretended sovereignty or
some other and more qualified guarded manner.
Every instruction has expressed full belief that,
without such aid or assistance the insurrection would
speedily come to an end, while any advantage that IL
could derive from such aid assistance could
other purpose than to proract the existing struggle and
aggravate tho evils 1t is nnicng on our country and
foreign and friendly nations. Every instruction bears
evidence of an earnest socitude TO avoid oven an ap-
pearsnce of menace OF want OF comfy towards foreign
Powers but, at the same time has cnphaticaly
honnced as now seen to have been necessary pur
pose not to allow any one Of them to expect remain in
friendship with MS If II should with whatever
motive, practically render such aid assistance
10 the insurgents We have intended not TO leave
y doubtful that concession Of sovereignty to
the insurgents, though 1t should be indirect
or unofficial, or though it should be qualified so
TO conccde only belligcren or other parti rights
aoontd be regarded as inconsistent cih tho relations due 70
s BY friendly nations Nor hast bee lt ot al uncertain
that shall, in er1y ert, insist thai these United States
must be considered and dealt so ao,c, heretofore by
such ndfonsds sac'arey sovereign for all purposes achot
,ohip the Territories ,ohich tie constitution has
beer erendcd ON the other hand, have not at any
time been unmindful of the peculiar circumstances
which might excite approhensions on the part Of com
mcrcia nations for the safety Of their subjects and their
property in the conflicts which might upon
well Ms on land between the forces Of the United States
and those of tho insurgents
The United States have d,sclamcd the employ
cnt of letters OF marque as means Of maritime
The insurgents early announced their intention 10 com
mission privaeers, We knew that friendly nations
would be anxious for guarantees Of safety from by
that form OF depreciation upon the ationa commerce.
We knew also that such natious would desire be in.
formed whether their flags should be regarded pro-
footing goods, not contraband Of war; OF dsoyal cit
gons, found under them and whether tie goods. not
contrabau Of subjects OF such nations would safe
from coniiscaton when found in vessels Of dsloyal
citizens Of the Unite states This administration free
from some OF tho complications OF those which had pre-
ceded it promptly took up the negotiations relating
the declaration OF the Congress of Paris Just the point
where they had been suspended by President Buchanan
We found IL just and humane in itself far as IL goes
and that had only failed TO be accepted by the untcd
States because foreign nations had refused accept
additional principle proposed by this government yet
more just and humane than any which it does contain
trahand, should be exempt from coniscaon in mari
time While still willing and DESTROYS to have that
further principle incorporated in the law Of nations we
nevertheless instructed you and all representatives
in foreign countries, to waive it, if necessary and TO
spnse subject to the Of the Senate the
United states, our hcson to the declaration Of the
Congress of Paris as whole and unm0dincd. This was
done early the 25th day of April last long before
the date Il the instructions which Mr. MERCER proposed
To submit to u.s. We have ever since that time, been
waiting for the responses OF foreign Powers this high
and liberal demonstration part We have, how
ever received no decisive answers on the subject from
these Powers
1, under these circumstances that on the 18th tav
OF June instant the Minister from France and the Minis
ter from Great Britain having previous requested an
interview, received by Each OF them announc-
Cd that he was charged by his government to read
despatch TO me, and to give me u copy il shoud de.
sire it,
answered that owing to the peculiar circumstances
vi COuu COuSeut 10 an Official reading
delivery Of these papers without FIRST knowing hcr cha
raeterS and objects They confidently and with entire
frakiess put the dispatches into hands for nfor
ma preliminary examination. Having thus become
possessed of their characters, replied those Minis.
ters that could not allow them to be officially comnu.
ncatcd TO this government. They will aoubtoss Non
ton this answer 10 their resi- ectye States
give sou now The reasons of this government for pur
suing this course regard to the despatch from France
that you may communicate them 10 the French govern
ment, you shall find II necessary expedicnt.
Some time ago We learned through our Legation St.
Petersburg that an understanding had been effected be
tween the governments OF Great Britain and France that
they should take and the course on the subject
OF the political disturbances in this country including the
bic recognition of the insurgents. At q later iod
this understanding distinctly avowed by Mr. Thouye-
mel TO Mr.. Sanford, who had been informally introduced
by me 10 the French Minister for Foreign Affairs and by
Lord John Russell to Mr.. Dallas, late Minister in Lon
tion. The in each case proceeded the arrival Of
sur newly appointed Ministers ia Europe with their in
SlrcOus for the discharge Of their respective missions
On receiving their avowals Immediately instructed
yoorsofani Mr. Adams that although we might have
expected different the part Of these two treat
Powers, yet the fact that understanding existed
between them did not certainly imply an unfrendly
spirit, we should not mpain Of il but that must be
understood by the French and British governments that
we SHALL deal hereafter heretofore, this case as in
all others with each Power separately and that the
agreement, for concerted action between them would not
al all influence the course should pursuep The con
cert thus ayowed has been carried out. The Minister'S
TO together the instructions they proposed TO me
dilier IN form, but are counterparts in effect
Adhcrng TO our previous decision " hich before this
time has doubtless been made known TO the government
H.
ounsinces reason Tor declining to hear the instruc
ton with which Mr. MERCER is charged.
That paper does not expressly deny the sovereignty of
the United States of America but II docs assume neon
sis nifty with that sovereignty, that the United States
are not altogether and for all purposes sovereign
Power but that this nation consists Of two parties of
which this government is one France proposes to take
cognzlnce OF both parties as begcrents and for some
purposes to hold communication with cach THE
instruction would advise us indeed that must not be
snrpr- Cd Fran shall address herself government
which she says IS to be installed a, Montgomery for
Ftr5p ftan latc
determining TINS government not to ailcw the instruction
to be read to II.
their sovereignty, cannot suffer themselves 10 detaie
any aia1dgemen Of that sovereignty oiA France or
ae'ta any other nat,cn Much less it that
France shall announce to ii conclusion of her own
against that sovereignty, which conclusion France has
adopted without any previous conference with the
United states the subject This government insists that
he tinted States iOhoie undivided nation especially
r as foreign nations concerned and that Fance is
on he 'aw Of nations and by treaties not neutral Poper
tt'een too Imaginary parties here but friend If tie
In the spirit Of this understanding OF the case we are
not only not wishing to seek give offence to France
bG on inc contrary we desire to preserve peace and
friendship with that great Power, as with all other
nations We % not feel at liberty to think. and do not
TANK, that France intended any want Of
towards the United States in directing that the instruc
ton in question should DO read 10 outside OF that
PAPER We have abundant evidence OF the good feeling and
good wishes of the Emperor and his anxious soc
tnde for the same consunmaon which is the supreme
object OF desires abors namely the preser
walton of the American Union in its full and absolute in
tegrity.
Doubtless the proceeding has been the result Of mad
yertence We feel ourselves at liberty think that il
would not have occurred il had been fortunate
have been heard through you in the consultations OF
the French government. We think we can easily see
how the nadvertence occurred France seems to have
mistaken casual aud cphomeral insurrecton here
such IS incidental in the experience OF all
because all nations merely human societies
have sometimes happened in the history Of France her
self for war which has agrantly separated this
into two coe~sting political powers which contend
ing in arms against each other after the separation.
as erroneous, far forcgn nations coaceyn.d 10
suppose that any crists The United States Csra,niy
tters odnnoi To begrent Pocers ere there no car
There is here there has always been political
Power, nameythe United States OF Observation-Disclosures
to make war and peace, and conduct and ALI
ances with all foreign nations There none other either
~ tact or recognized by foreign nations Te, as.d an
"rmed sedtta seeing TO overthrow he gore nmea and the
go~nmn' IS employing military and ndcd forces 10 r.py@
~. nu' ,hee iacts do not constitute war presenting
oegereni Powers AMI modifying the ional character
rights ahn responsibilities or the characters rights and
Responsibilities oftorcgn nations. II is true that ipsnr
fechon may ripen into revolution, and that revolution
thus rpencd may eNtngilsh previously existing STAT,
ordyne hto one or more independent States and tlat n
such staes continue their strife after such ,h,n
mere exists state OF affecting the charartes gh,e
anh duties OF all parties concerned But This only ha,
pens ~heh me revolution has its successful couIso
me french government says, in the instruction which
has been rendered 10 u.s. that certain facts which IL m
snes confer upon The insurgents OF this country in s