The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-11

NAV Judge and act for ITSELF but certainly
poet the United States to accept its decision upon qucs
ton vital 10 their national existence. The United States
will not refine upon the question when and how New ma
tions born out Of existing nations. They are well
and their desnies and they hold those rights TO be alb
soute as against all foreign nations These rights do not
at all depend en- the appearances which their condition
may assume In the eyes Of foreign nations, whether
strangers, neutrals friends or even allies The United
States wtli maintain and defend their o,ereigty through
outhe bounds Of the republic, and hey deem all other ma
tons bound TO respect that sovereignty until ever Pr0Ui-
dence shall consent that shall be success fully ore,tnroo.
Any system OF public law national morality that con-
ncts with this would resolve society, first in this hemi-
sphere and then in the other Into anarchy and chaos
rms government Is sensible OF the Importance OF the
step has taken in declining hear the communication
the tenor of which has drawn these explanations IL
believes however, that 1t need not disturb the good rca
ions which have so long aud so happily snbsstea De-
tween the United States and France.
The paper unde stood, Willie implying disposition
on the part Of France to accord begerent rights to the
insurgents does not nae specify or even indicate one
such beigerent right. On the other hand, the rights
which II asserts that France expects as neutral from
the United States as belgercnt, are even less than
this government the 25th Of April instructed you to
concede and guarantee TO her by treaty as friend On
that day offered 10 her adhesion to the decara
ton Of Paris which contains four proposltions-namey
l. That privatcering shall be abolished 2. That a
neutral flag enemy goods not conraband OF war
g. That goods OF neutral not contraband shall not be
coniscated, though found in enemy vessel. 4. That
bockades in order to be lawful must BIO maintained by
competent force We have always when At war con
coded the three last Of these rights to neutras fooT
could not when at peace deny Thorn to friendly M
tons The first named concession proposed on the
grounds already mentioned. We still ready TO qua
rantee these rights by convention with France, when
ever she shall authorize either you her Min
lister here enter into convention. There is no re-
scrvaon or difficulty about their application IN the
presesl We hold all the citizens OF the United
states, loyal or dslOya alike included by the law Of ma
lions and treaties and hold ourselves bound by the
obligations TO see, far may be in power,
that all our citizens, whether maintaining this govern
mt or engaged in ovorhrowng il, respect those rights
in favor OF France and of every other friendly nation
In any case, not only shall we allow no privatecr or ma
tona vessel to violate the rights of friendly nations
have thus described them, but shall also employ all
our naval force to prevent tho insurgents from violating
them just as much as do to prevent them from VIC
latiDg the laws Of our own country.
What, then, does France claim of That we do not
accord to hcr2 Nothing What do refuse TO France
BY declining TO receive the communication sent to
through the hands Of Mr.. Nercer' Nothing but tho
privilege of telling US that we are at war when main
tam we are at rcace amt that she Is neutral when we
prefer to recognise her as friend.
or course, it Is understood that this occasion
reserve ms on a others right t. suppress the in
surrecton by naval as well as By military power and
for that purpose to close such OF ports have fallen
may fall into the hands Of the insurgents either di
rectly or in the more lenicnt and equitable form Of
blockade, which for the present we have adopted II il
thus seen that there is no practical subject OF difference
between the two governments The United States
VIII hope that France will not think necessary to ad
here 10 and practice upon the speculation concerning tho
condition OF our internal Affairs which She has proposed
to communicate to ns. But however this may be, the
United States will not anticipate occasion change
Of the relations which, with scarcely any interruption
have existed between the two nations FOR three quarters
OF century, and have baen very Instrumental in pro
noting not merely the prosperity aud eatness Of each
state but the cause Of civil and religious liberty and free
institutions throughout the world.
This government unders ands cqrally the interest of
friendly nations and its the present emergency
Thcy shGH not ntrTe, the attempt a, J0rution here NIL
eaom indictng serious criis ncn tore, nations.
Al they do by any ia,ea,ce, mih relc 10 moai
~ action uH only to rog the present pleasant
condition Of things and possibly 10 Wo5lce results that
ud be unteryaiiy cdiomitous as hey acould b. ire.
tr.eulre.
The case, as it stands the simple ordinary ono
that has happened ut all times and in all intries.
disconnected domestic faction seeks foreign intervention
TO overthrow the constitution and the liberties Of is
own country Sach intervention, if yielded, is ulii-
matcly disastrous to the il is designed TO aid.
Every uncorrnped nation, in its deliberate movements
precri It's own integrity even with unhelrable evils, to
division through the over influence Of any foreign
state. This is so in France. II is less so in this
country Down deep In the heart Of the American peO-
pcdeeper than the love Of trade observation-disclosures
than the attachment to local sectional interest
partisan pride ndN dual ambitiol-dcepcr than
other sentiments that out of which the constitution OF
this Union arusenamely, American ndepen1cncc-ndc-
pendeice OF all foreign CONTROL alliance influence.
Next above II lies the convection that neither peace
safety nor public liberty prosperity greatness
nor empire BIZ attained here with the sacrifice Of the
unity OF the people 81 North America Those Who in
frenzy OF passion are bning expectations other prin
cipes do not know what they doing Whcnevcr ono
part of this Union shall be found assuming bonds of de
pendcnce Of fraternity towards any foreign people, to
the exclusion OF the symraties of their native land
then even IL not before. that spirit will be reawakened
which brought the states OF this republic Into existence
and which will preserve them united until the common
destiny which it opened to them shall fully and com.
pletely realized am sir, respectfully your obedcnt
servant, WILLIAM II. SEWARD
WILLIAM /. DAYTON, ESD. &c, &C.. &c.