Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-13
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, !
WASHINGTON, Feb 3, 1852. I

his eNcelency WIN. IL. Seward, secretary OF
stale.
NO. 1861 DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Feb 8, 1852 !
VIM. L. Dayton, Esq, &c, &C., &C.:
SIR: Your despatch of January 14th, No.
102, has been received. 1t is accompanied by
copy of a note which you have addressed
TO M. Thouvenel, on the subject of the Intro.
ductiGu of American citizens at the Imperial
Court.
| very freely confess to the opinions, first,
that an audience or presentation OF any but
diplomatic persons at court is to be regarded
not in any degree as a right of the person re.
ceived; but a courtesy extended to him.
Secondly, that the Imperial Court is perfectly
at liberty to define and prescribe the qualifca-
tons, conditions and terms on which strangers
shall be admitted into its society. Thirdly, if
American citizens request you to present
their wishes tor admission at court, you
can only present them by complying with
the terms and conditions prescribed. Fourth
ly-Reterriug to the questions which have &C.
tualy arisen, think you can properly in all
cases give the occupation or profession of any
person whose wishes you present. You can
not, indeed, undertake TO assign the social pc.
sition of each person, for that would be to dis
criminate, or to seem to discriminate, by Eu-
ropean rules, between persons who being all
social position at home and therefore equals in
the consideration of this government itself,
when they are abroad 1t seems to me, how
ever, that in many cases there are circum-
stances belonging to the persons you propose
to present, which may be properly stated
such as official position held by individuals at
the time, or even at some previous time-dis-
tinctions arising from personal merit, such as
scientific, military, or literary, or Of political
character, and distinctions as founders of sci
entih2, literary, or humane institutions But
even when these suggestions are made in COM
pliance with the rules Of the count, it is not to
be claimed as a matter of right, or even as
matter Of national comfy, that the presenta.
tons or audiences shall therefore be granted.
l have dwelt upon the subject longer than it
was due to any Importance that it can claim.
1t is peculiarly uncomfortable at this moment
to find American citizens leaving their coun-
try prey to faction and civil war, disturbing
the court Of friendly power and embarrassing
our representative there with questions OF per.
sonal interest and pretension.
Let the emperor and empress of France re-
ceiye when they will, and let all others, as
well as those who are admitted, turn their at
tenton to the question how they can serve
their country abroad and if they find no better
way to do it than by making their attendance
in the saloons of the Tuileres, let them return
home, to a country that now for the first time,
and not for long time, needs the active eff
forts of every one of its loyal children to save
itself from destruction.
Finally, above all things, have no question
with the government of France on this sub.
ject, Rather introduce nobody, however lust
ly distinguished, than let question of fashion
or ceremony appear in the records of the i'm;
portant period in which we are acting for the
highest interests of our country and of human
ity. l am sir, your obedient servant,
Signed WIN. H. SEWARD.