New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-19
TIE CORRESPONDENCE WITH TIE SOUTH
ERN COMMISSIONERS.


TIE CORRESPONDENTS WITH THE SOUTH
ERN COMMISSIONERS.
The following 10 the correspondence between the
Secretary Of State and the Commissioners Of the Con.
federated States:
nrssHs. YoRsrTH AND CRAWFORD To MI. SEWARD,
OPENING NEGOTIATION AND STATING TN CASE.
wAsYIsoros Guy March II, 1861.
Hoo VIZ II. sEvARp SECRETARY a STATE 81 s Unit,d Siatss
SIN: Tie undersigned have been dolly accredited, by
the Cove Of the Confederate States OF America
az Commissioners 10 the Government VI the United
States and, in pursuance OF their instruetions nave
now The honor acqunint you with that fact, and TO
mske known, through you, " the Prc.ident Of tho
Uuied Stscs tho objects Of their presence in this
csIiisL
seven S,s,es Of the late Federal Union having, In
the erer.e Of the inherent right Of every free people
to change or reform their political institutions aud
toryngh conventions OF their people, Withdrawn from
tho United States, and reassumed the attributes Of
sovereign power delegated to i, have formed Gov
eminent OF their own The Confederate States con-
stilute independent nation de actO and d, Jnre and
possess u Government pciect in all liz parts and On
dcwed with all the meanr Of selisupPorI.
With view TO speedy adjustment " oil questions
growing out Of this poiilicsl separa,on npon such
terms OF anity and good will the respective inter-
ess, g. ogaplial coutiguity and future welfare OF the
two nations may render necessary tho undersigned arc
instructed 10 make 20 tie Government OF the United
States ovortures for the opening Of negotiations sssur
ing the Government OF the United States that the
President, Congress and the people VI The Confederate
States earnestly DEERE q peaceful solution OF these
great questions; tha, II Is neither their interest nor
their with to make any demand which is not founded
10 srictea justice nor 90 any act 10 inure their late
COT fedciGies.
Tie undersigred have now the honor in obedience
the instructions ~ their Government request you
to appoint early day as Iossbe in order that they
may present TO the President OF the United States the
creoebials which they bear and the objects OF tie
mission with which they charged. We are, very
respectfully, Sir, your obodien, servants,
MARTIN J. CRAWFORD.
THE REPLY OF MI. SEWARD.
lMsAcsandum. DfPARrSEsr OF STATE
Mr. John Forsyth Of the state Of Alabama and mr.
Martin j. Crawford Of the State OF Georgia, the
llth inst, through the kind Offices of distinguished
senator submitted the Secretary Of State their desire
for sn unofficial interview. This request was the
I2th inst upon exclusively public considerations,
specially declined.
On the 18th inst, while the Secretary was prcoccu-
pied, Mr. A. d. Banks Of Virginia called at this De-
Isriment and received by the Assistant Secretary,
to whom be delivered sealed communication, Which
he had been charged by Mese. Forsyth AID Crawford
20 present 10 the Secretary in perOn.
In that communication MessIs. Forsyth and Craw-
ford Inform the Secretary Of State that they have been
duly accredited by the Government of the Confederate
StuIes Of America Commissioners 10 the Govern
ment of the United States, and they ret forth the ob
jects OF their attendance at Washington They observe
else Of right Inherent in every free people, have
Withdrawn, through Conventions of their people from
tue United States, reatsnmed the sitIbuIes OF
reign power, and formed G0vernnen Of their own,
and that those Confederate States constitute an
independent nation DC toco and de juye, snd possess
Government perfect in oil lid parts and fully endowed
with ali the means Of solf'sugpOtt.
Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, in their aforesaid
contradiction, tbercupon proceed TO inform the See
Rotary that, with view to speedy adjustment of ALI
questions growing out OF the toical separation thus
assumed upon such terms OF amiy aud gooi viii as
tho fcspeollve inlerehts, googra heal contony and
the iuture welfare OF the supposed two nations might
render necessary they Instructed 10 make the
Government Of the United States oyeTtmes for the
opening Of negoiaiors assuring this Governments chat
the President Congress, and rcOrle of the Confederate
States earnestly dehne n peaceful collation. Of these
great questions aud that IL In neither their interest nor
their wish TO make any demand which il not founded
M trctes justice MOI to 10 any net to nure thei late
cOnfederlles.
Alter making these statements, Mebsrs F0rsyth ard
Crawford close their communication, us tbev cav IN
obedience to tie instructions Of tier Government by
requesting the Secretary II State 10 appoint as euriy
day ~ possible in Older that they may present 10 the
Pfesident Of he United Satos The credeLtils which
tbey bear, aud tic objects Of the mifon with which
thcyeaie charged.
The Secretary Of State frankly conesses that he IN.
dcstand- the events which hayereconly occurred and
the condition Of political affairs which actually exists
IN toe part OF tbe Uhion 10 which bis attention has
thus teen oictttd, very differently from ;he epec, In
which they eIe presented by Messrs. Forsy h and
lie sees in them, not rightful and
accomplished revolution aud an i dep h1ent ne.
ton, with an established Government, but raller
a purvenion OF Il temporary and partisan ex.
element 10 the ineousdsraie purposes nj an un.
ustiiable and unconstitutional aggression uron
The nights and Tic authority vested IN The Federal
Government, and hitherto beniguy exercised NJ from
heir nature hoy always nast be 20 exercised for the
maintenance Of the Union, the preseyaion OF Liberty,
md the tecnrity, peace, welfare, happiness, and a-