The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-18
!. !: APRIL 10, 1861.
IMPORTANT FROM WlsHiRsroR.
Ths correfpcndsDcc Brtxeen Mr.. sowara
and the G0Bfedefxse .Csmussieu.
eTs-rhe Gage Of Wsr Cnrewn
pa'anr Down and Asespsed,

ro@ DevH and Assspssd,
The following the correspondence between the Ssese
tay Of State and The Commissioners from the Confeder
ssstes:- -8 rt
MEssRs. FORsYrH AND CRAWFORD TO MR.. SEWARD
OPENING NEGOTIATION AND sTATiNo THE CASE.
..sesa H.aa s.l wAsHIscroS Cry, March IL 1861
HIN VIM H SEWARD, Secretary OF state of the Uaited
Slass;-- U.Ms
Fhe undersigned have been duly accredited by the
governments Of the Confederate states o. America Com
miss 10 the governments OF the United S.stes
pursuance belr have now the honor to
acqasint you with tht fact, make known through
you 10 tho President OF the Uried States The objects Of
their presence in this capital, hl ta
Seven States of tho late federal Union having iu the
OF the inherent right every free people to
change or rebr their pocsl IA tutious and through
conventions Of their people, whdsawn from tho United
States and reassumed the attributes OF sovereign
power delegated to it, have crwe government or their
The Confederate States isute independent
nation, de fae:s and dc uye and possess governments
perfect in al It's parts and endowed Nth al the means OF
self support U EYE
With view TO speedy afjus rnent OF all questions
growing out Of this political separation upon such terms
Of amty and good viii the respective interests geo
ons render necessary The undersigned
I'd to make otbe government OF the United States over
for the opening OF negotiations assuring govern
ment OF the United States that the President, Oon-
gress and the people of the Confederate States silly
oesire peaceful solution Of these great ques.ns hat
1t is neither their interest their wish zY any
demand which not founded in strictes. ascc do
any act To ipjure their late confederates.
The Undersigned have the nanor, IN obedience tp
the nstru c,ious Of their government request you
appoint esry day poes in order that they may
present TO the President OF the United states the oreden
tals which they bear and the objects Of the with
which they are charged. We are, very respectfully sir
your onedient servan.s, JOHN FORSYTH
MARTIN J. CRAWFORD
THE REPLY OF Mr. SEWARD.
xneRAxDUM.
DEpARTxKNT OF STATE,
wAHyGros, March Is, 1851.
Mr. John Forsyth, Of the state OF Alabama, and Mr.
Martin j. Crawford, Of the State Of Georgia. the ilth
svst., .roug- srs caces OF . distinguished Senator
submitted 70 the Secretary Of cato their desire for an
unofncial interview. rhis request was the 18th inst
upon exclusively public considerations, ressec,.lly de-
clned.
On the 18th inst while the Secretary was preoscopad
Mr. A. q. Banks OF Virginia. called a. this department
was received BY Assistant Secretary to whom he
charged by Eessrs. Forsyth and Crawford to present
the Secretary In person.
In that conmunication Messrs Forsyth and Crawford
inform the Secretary of State that they have duly
accredited BY the government OF the Confederate states
Of America u Commissioners 10 the government or
United statek and they set forth the objects OF their
attendance y Warrington. They observe that
States Of th merican Union in tho exercise OF right
inhsssns N vsry free people, have Withdrawn, through
conveAtson shslr people, from the United Staten, re
assumed httributes Of sovereign power and formed
govsrnme& Of their own, and that those Confederate
stsss~n Institute All independent nation de faco and
js ard passess government perfect In all is parts
and fully endowed With all the means Of self support
Mesrs. forsysh and Crawford, in their aforesaid
communication thsreupon proceed TO inform the
tary that with . view to q speedy adjustment
all questins growing out OF the political ecpa
ration thus assumed, upon such terms Of smity ami
good win the respective interests, geographical
tguity and the future welfare Of the supposed two
tions might render necessary, they instructed 10
make the government cf the United States
the opening of negotiations assuring this
tha. the President Congress and people Of the Confeie
rate States earnestly desire peaceful solution Of these
great questions and that is neither their interest
their wish TO make any demand which is not founded in
strOtest Justice to do any act to iDure their late
confederates.
After making these statements, heesrs Forsyth and
Crawford close their Communication, a. they say In
obedience 70 the instructions Of their government by
requesting the Secretary Of State 10 appoint as early
day possible, in order that they may present to the
President Of the United states the credentials which they
bear and the objects Of the mission with which they
charged.
The Secretary Of State frankly conesses that he under
stands the events which have recently occurred and the
condition Of political affairs which actually exists In the
part OF the Union which his attention has thus been
directed very differently from the aspect In which they
presented by Messrs Forsyth and Crawford He
In them, not rghfu and accomplished revolution and
Independent naton with established government, but
rather perverson Of temporary and partisan excite
mcnt to the nconsiderate purposes Of an unustnabe
and unconstitutional aggression upon the rights and the
authority vested in the federal government and hitherto
bengny exercised from their very nature they always
must be exercised for the maintenance o. the Union
the preservation of liberty and the security, peace vel
fare, happiness and aggrandzcment Of the American
people, Tho Secretary Of State therefore, avows to
Nesss Forsyth and Crawford that he looks patiently
but confidently for the cure OF evils which have
resulted from proceedings so unnecessary 80 unwise
unusual and 90 unnatural not 10 irregular negotiations
having in view new and untred relations with agencies
unknown to and acting In derogaton Of the constitution
and aws but to regular and consderate action OF the
people o! those States In cooperation with their brethren
the her States through tho Congress Of the United
States, and such extraordinary conventions II there
shall be need thereof The federal constitution contem
plates and authorizes 10 be assembled.
however, the purpose Of the Secretary Of State
this occasion not 70 invite engage in any discussion
Of these subjects but simply TO set forth his reasons for
declining 10 comply with the request Of hcsss Forsyth
and Crawford.
on the 4th Of March inst, the then newly elected |
President Of tho United States, 10 view OF all
the facts bearing on the present question assumed the
executive administration Of the government first de-
yerng, in accordance with early and honored Gus
tom inaugural address to the people OF the United
states. The Secretary Of State respectfully submits
copy Of this address to Messrs Forsyth and Crawford
simple reference 10 II will be sufficient TO satisfy
those gentlemen that the Secretary Of State, gndeib