The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-20

WAsHNoToN, Wednesday, Feb. IL
The following communication was
transmitted to tho Senate to-day q
70 he Preside1t Of dc United States
The Secretary Of State, to whom was
referred a resolution ofihe Senate, passed
on the 9th day OF February, instant. In
these words, viz:
Res0lued, That the President Of the
United States be requested TO communi-
cate % the Senate, If not incompatible
with Che public interests the character
Of the SUGGESTIONS made by the Secretary
of State es The UAited States to M. Mer-
ciet. the representative Of the Emperor
Of the French to this Government, as
narrated in his communication TO NJ.
Thouvenel, under date OF the 18Th of
April last, which induced M. MERCER to
undertake his mission TO Richmond in
that month, and what representations,
II any, he was authorized 70 make from
this Government or from the Secretary of
State 70 the Confederate authoritiesp-
Has the honor TO submit the following
report
That no suggestions were made to NJ.
Mercier by The Secretary Of State that
induced or were designed or calculated 10
induce him 20 undertake a mission 70
Richmondin April last, or at any other
time. He was not then, nor has be or
any ether person ever been, authorized
by this Government, or By the Secretary
OF State, to m AXE any Representations Of
any kind or ON any subject TO the insur-
reciionary agents or so-called author
tiles at Richmond, orto hold any commu-
nicaiion with them on behalf of this Gov
eminent. '
From the beginning Of the present
disturbances until the Spring. Of 1852,
this Department was changed with the
authority Of granting passes or pass
ports through the lines Of the Govern
ment forces. II early became question
whether foreign Ministers residing in
The United States should be denied such
passports IL was thought a sound and
liberal policy to leave them free 10 visit
any port of the country 10 which they
are accredited, so long as there should be
No ground TO question their good faith to-
ward this Government This has been
uniformally avowed az the course Of the
Government. Accordingly a passport
was granted, in the month Of April, 1861.
to his Excellcbcy Rudolph Schleiden,
Minister Resident here of the Republic
Of Bremen. A like passport was grantee d,
in August, 1861, 10 the French Minister,
| attended by his Royal Highness, the
Prince Napoleon Jerome, their on a visit at
this Capitol, aud, in April last, similar
passport to the French Minister. These
passports were granted az the request OF
those distinguished persons respectively,
and not on any suggestions OF the Gov
sernment or Secretary of State. They
severally travelled in private and un-
official capacity. They bore no commu-
nicaiion, whether formal or informal,
verbal or written, from this Govern
ment or from the Secretary Of State, TO
any of the insurgents, aud they brought
none from any such persons 20 this Gov
/ erament or 10 the Secretary of S ate.
Since the 9TH of March, 1861, no COM
munications, direct or indirect formal or
informal, has been held by this Gov
eminent, or by the Secretary of State
with the insurgents, their aiders OF
abettors No passports has been granted
| 10 any iorelell mlulstet 70 pass the Wlll-
tary lines, except by the Presidents di-
rection, and each ofsuch Ministers who
has received such passport, has upon his
return, waited upon the President, as
we'll as the Secretary of State aud given
them such account unasked, as he
thought proper, OF the incidents of his
journey. or course, these statements arc
TO be qualified so far as the facts relating
10 concentrations concerning the ex-
change of prisoners and other military
matters in charge Of the War Depart
ment, may effect them Respectfully
submitted.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
DEP'r OF STATE, WASHINGTON Feb. 9.l8G3