Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-12
The French Minister'S Mission 10 Rich

mOnd.
A communication was received In the Senate
yesterday from the Secretary of State, in ans wsr
to a resolution by the Senate, in reference to NJ
Merciers mission to Richmond. The report is
as follows:
To The President of the United States:
The Secretary q State to whom was ref FRED
resolution Of the Senate, passed on the 9th
day OF February, instant in these words, viz:
"ReSOtred, That the President of the nitad
States be requested 70 comm unica.e to the Sen.
ale, If not incompatible with the public inter.
est, the character of the suggestions made nv
the Secrt tary OF State of the United States to
NJ Mercler, the representative Of the Emperor
OF the French 10 this Government as narrated
In his communi alton to M. Thouvenel, under
date OF the 18th of April last, which induced
M. MERCER to undertake his mission to Rich
mond in that month, and what representations
ii any, he was authorized to make from this
Government or from the Secretary of State to
the Confederate authorities, :" has the honor To
submit the following:
That no suggestions We're made to NJ Mer-
Ger Dy the secretary of state that induced, or
were designed or calculated TO induce him to
undertake mission 10 Richmond in April
last, or ut any .ther time He was not then
nor has he or any other person ever been an
thorized by this Government, or by the Seere-
tary OF state, TO make any represent ations of
any KIND or on any subject to the insurrection-
airy agents, or so-calied authorities, at Rich
mono, or to hold any communication with
them on behalf OF this Government
From the beginning of the present disturb
ances until the sp ing of 1862, this Department
was charged with the authority of granting
passes or passports through the lines of tn
Government forces. 1t early became 4 ones
tlon whether foreign ministers residing in the
United States should be denied such pas sports
II was thought sound and liberal policy to
leave Them free TO visit any part of the country
10 which they are accredited, so long as there
Should be- no ground to question their good
faith towards this Government This has hepn
uniformly avowed as the course of the Gov
eminent. Accordingly, a passport was grant.
ed In the month OF April, 1861, to his Excel
lenc! Rudolph s,Chltiden, minister resident
mere Cf the Republic OF Brt men; like passport
Mas eiahleo on August 5. 1861, to the French
MINISTER, attendt d by his Royal Highness the
FRINGE Napoleon, (Jerome,) then on a visit at
this Capital, and lii April last a similar pass
port TO the French Minister. These PASSPORTS
were granted ut the request of those distin-
guished persons respectively, and not on any
suggestion OF the Government or the Secretary
OF State They seyerally travelled in private
ana unofhcIal capacity They bore no COM
bal or written, from this Government, or from
the secretary OF State, to any ins urgents and
lhey brought none from any such person to
inns government, or 10 the Secretary of State
since the fourth OF March, 1861, no commune
cation, direct or indirect, formal or informal
has been held by the Government or by tn
secretary OF State, with TIE insurgents their
aioers or abetters No passport has been granted
10 any foreign minister to pass the military
lines, except by the Presidents direction and
edch OF such ministers who has received such
passports has, on his return, waited upon the
President, as well as the Secretary of Statn
and given them such account, unasked. "a he
thought proper, of the incidents Of his Journey
VI course these statements are TO be Qualified
so far as the facts relating to communications
concerning the exchange Of prisoners and other
military matters in charge OF the War Depart
ment, may affect them
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
Department Of State, Washington, February
9, 1863