Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-02-12
By Telegraph.
aEpoRrED FOR THE DAILY EMPIRE
NToaT DIsPA TONES.
lERCIERs VISIT no RICHMOND.

MERClERS VISIT 10 hlCbMOND.
wAsHinoros, Feb. II. The following com.
muDication was transmitted to the Senate to.
day
TorER PRrbrpkSr OF THR UMfkp sTArRs:
The Secretary Of State, TO whom was refer
red resolution Of the Senate, passed the 9Th
Of ofFebruary, IN these words, viz
Resolved. That the President OF the United
States be reqneated to communicate to the
Senate, il not incompatible with the public
interests, the character OF the suggestions
made by the Secretary Of State TO Mercer,
as narrated in his communication TO NJ Thouv-
email under date OF the 18th Of Apri last which
induced NJ Mercier TO undertake bis mission
TO Richmond 10 that month, and what repre-
ssntations, II any, he was authorized 10 make
from this Government, or from the Secretary
to the Confederate Government has the hon
or 10 submit the following report:
That no suggestions were made TO M Mer-
cier, by the Secretary Of State, that induced,
or we're designed or calculated TO induce him
10 undertake mission 10 Richmond in April
last, or at any other time. He was not then,
nor has be or any other person ever been auth
orized by this Government or by the Secreta-
ry of State, to make any representations OF
any kind or on any subjee to the insnrrect-
ionary agents or so called authorities at Rich
mond, OF 10 hold any communication with
them on behalf Of this Government
From the beginning Of the present disturb.
anee until the spring oi 1862, this Department
was charged with authority Of granting passes
or passports through the lines ofthe Govern
ment iorces
II early became question whether foreign
Ministers residing in the United States should
be denied such passports 1t was though a
sound and liberal policy 10 leave them free to
visit any part OF the country to which they
nre accredited so long as there should be no
ground TO question their good faith toward this
Government and has been uniformly avowed
as the course Of the Government
Accordingly passport was granted in the
month Of April 1861, to the Minister, resident
here of the Republic of Bremen.
A like passport was granted in August 1861
10 he French Minister, attended by his Royal
Highness, the Prince Napoleon Jerome, and
ia April last a similar passport to the French
Minister. These passports were granted at
the request Of these distinguished persons re
speclfully, not on any suggestion from the
Government or Secretary OF State. They sew
orally travelled in private and unofficial char
meter. They bore no communication, wheth
er formal verbal or written, from the Govern
meut or the Secretary of State to any Of these
insurgents, and they brought none from any
such persons to this Government or to the
Secretary OF State
Since the 4th of March, 1861. no communi-
cation, direct or indirect, formal or informal,
has been held by this Government, or by Sec
retary Of state, with the insurgents, their aid
ers or abettors.
No passport has been granted to any for
eign Minister to pass the military lines, ex-
cept by the Presidents direction, and each of
such Ministers who have received such passes
have, upon his return, waited upon the Presi-
dent as well as the Secretary OF State and
given them such an account uDasked, as
he thought proper incidents OF his journey
OF course these statements are to be qualified
so far as the facts relating TO communication
concerning the exchange of prisoners and
other military matters in charge OF the War
Department, may affect them.