Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-23
MEMORANDUM.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
March Is. 1861.

GEORGIA. on the 11th inst. through the KIND
oftices of distinguished Senator, submitted
10 the Secretary of State their desire for an
unofficial interview. This request was, on
the 10th inst, upon exclusively public con-
alterations respectfully declined.
On the 18Th inst, while the Secretary was
preoccupied. Mr.. A L. Banks, of Virginia,
called at this department and was received
by the assistant Secretary, to whom he de-
livered q sealed communication, which he
had been charged by Messrs. Forsyth and
Crawford to present to the Secretary in per-
son.
In the communication Messrs. Forsyth aud
Crawford inform the Secretary of State that
thew have been duly accredited by the gov
eminent of the Confederate States of Ameri-
ca as Commissioners to the government OF
the United States, and they set forth the OBJ
jects of their attendance at washington
They observe that seven States OF the Ameri-
can Union, in the exercise of right Inherent
in every free people, have withdrawn,
through conventions OF their people, from
the United States, reassumed the attributes
of sovereign power, and formed govern
ment of their own, and that those Coniede-
rate States now constitute an independent
nation de facto and de jure, and possess gov
eminent perfect in all Its parts ana iuiIy Gu
dowed with all the means OF self-suppoft,
Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, In their
communication, thereupon proceed 10 IN
form the Secretary that, with view 10 tne
speedy adjustment of all questions growing
out of the political separation thus assumed,
upon such terms of amity and good Will as
the respective interests, geograpmcai con-
tiguity, and the future welfare OF the sup
posed two nations might render necessary,
thew are instructed to make to the govern
ment of the United States overtures for the
opening of negotiations, assuring the OoV,
eminent that the President, Congress, ana
people of the Confederate States earnestly
desire a peaceful solution of these great
questions, and that it is neither their inter-
est nor their wish to make any dehano
which is not founded in strictest justice; nor
to do any act to injure their late eonfede-
rates.
After making these statements, Messrs.
Forsythe and Crawford close their communi-
cation, as they say, in obedience to the IN
structions of their government, by request
ing the Secretary of State to appoint as early
a day as possible, in order that they may pre-
sent to the President of the United States
the credentials vhich they bear, and the Cd
jects of the mission with winch tney are
charged.
The Secretary of State frankly confesses
that he understands that the events which
have recently occurred, and the condltlon OF
political affairs which actually exist In the
part of the Union to which his attention mas
thus been directed, very differently from the
aspect in which they are presented by Messfs.
Forsyth and Crawford. He sees in them, not
rightfui and accomplished revolution ana
an Independent nation, with an Independent
government, but rather perVersion Oh
| Temporary and partisan excitement to the in
| considerable purposes of IN unJustinaoie anu
unconstitutional aggression upon the rlgnts
| and the authority vested in the federai gov
eminent, and hitherto benignly exercised, an
| from their very nature they always must De
\ 80 exercised, for the maintenance OF the
| Union, the preservation of liberty, and the
| security, peace, welfare, happiness and az
| prandizement Of the American people. The
| Secretary of State, therefore, aVoWs 10 Messrs.
FORSYTH and Crawford that he looks patiently
| but confidently for the cure OF evils which
have resulted from proceedings Sd unneces-
| cary so uuWise SO unusual and so unnatursi,
| not to irregular negotiations, having IN view
| new and untried relations with agencies IN
| known to and acting in derogation OF the
| Constitution and laws, but to regular and
| considerable action of the people OF those
States, in cooperation with their brethren IN
| the other States, through the Congress OF the
| United States and such extraordinary Con-
| yentions. il there shall be need thereof, as
| the Federal Constitution contemplates and
authorizes to be assembled.
II is. however, the purpose OF the Secreta-
~ of State on this occasion not to invite or
engage in any discussion Of those subjects,
but simply to set forth his reasons for decil-
ming to comply with the request OF Messrs.
Forsyth and Crawford
On the 18th of March inst, the then newly
elected president of the United States, in
view of all the facts bearing on the present
question. assumed the executive administra-
| ton of the government, first delivering, in
accordance with an early and hOnored Gus
| tom. an inaugural address to the people OF
| the United States. The Secretary of State
respectfully submits copy OF the address TO
| Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford.
A simple reference to it will be sufficient
| to satisfy these gentlemen that the Secretary
of State, guided by the principles therein an
| nounced, is prevented altogether from ad-
hitting or assuming that the States referred
| to by them have, in law or in fact, Withdrawn
| from the Federal Union, or that they could
| do so in the manner described by Messrs.
| Forsyth and Crawford, or in any other man
| ner than with the consent and concert OF the
people of the United States, to be given
| through a national convention, to be assem-
bled in conformity with the provisions of the
| Constitution of the United States. OF course
| the Secretary of State cannot act upon the
| assumption or in any way admit that the so
| called Confederate States constitute foreign
Power, with whom diplomatic relations
| ought to be established.
| Under these circumstances the Secretary
| of State whose official duties are confined,
| subject to the direction of the President, to
the conducting of the foreign relations of
| the country, and do not at all embrace do
nestle questions or questions arising between
| the several States and the Federal Govern
ment, is unable to comply with the request
of Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, to appoint
a day on which they may present the evil
| dences of their authority and the objects of
their visit to the President of the United
States. On the contrary, he is obliged to
| state to Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford, that
he has no authority nor is he at liberty to
recognize them as diplomatic agents, or hold
correspondence or other communication with
| them.
Finally, the Secretary of State would OBJ
serve that although he has supposed that he
might safely and with propriety have adopt
ed these conclusions without making any
| reference of the subject to the Executive, yet
so strong has been his desire to practice en-
tire directness and to act in spirit of perfect
respect and candor towards Messrs. Forsyth
and Crawford, and that portion of the peo-
| pie of the Union in whose name they present
themselves before him, that he has cheerfully
| submitted this paper to the President, who
comedies generally in the views it expresses,
and sanctions the Secretary's decision declin-
ing official intercourse with Messrs. Forsyth
| and Crawford.
APRIL 8, 1861.
The foregoing memorandum was filed in
this Department on the 18th of March last
A delivery of the same, however, to Messrs
Forsyth and Crawford, was delayed, as wa'
understood with their consent. They havt
now, through their Secretary, communicated
their desire for definite disposition of thu
subject. The Secretary of State therefore di
| reefs that a duly verified CODY of the paper
be now delivered.
tine copy of the original, delivered Il
me by Mr.. F. W. Seward, Assistant Secretar,
of State of the United States, on April s
1861, at 2:l5 p. NJ, in blank envelope.
Attest, j. II. PICKETT,
Secretary of the Commissioners.