Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-02-20
Nj. Seward denies that he authorized n.
Nsrcier to Treat With Rebels.
WAsHUGToN, Feb. l


TIE flli9wiae eennunica,i5n was trans
u-i;ici t. tle Senate to-day;
11 '.- Pres ls-. 5f{.e Cai.ei States;
The Secretary Of Ststs, %
va,a wis I,3-s.,j resolution Of the s,na;s,
V7ss.d O.. .Ae ia DAY of February, instant, in
these v.l l., w:
. Re-,.-, Ih1t the Pres.dcat e the United
s,.t.s b, sc- -s-ei t1commuciclte 90 the Senate.
T. a.- Inc mpat't.s With the putlc interests, tie
t-r --lr1c-lr o. the Suggestions made by the Sec
r,t-y O. state af the United States to u. Mercier
thc rt.f,seHutrte Of the Emperor Of the French
O. ,A's Government. as narrated in his ccmmu-
uc..;'.n @, w. 4iolvencl. under diteo the 18Th
Of Ag-l last, which induced NJ. Niereier to I'm
Q rtl-e Dis u .s='ou O. Richmond in that month,
aud v hat representations. If any, he VAS author
Iz,t % make tfvn tl.- Government or from the
>tyrltuE oi State % the Confederate Az h0rities'
-h' a. hcuo- % submit the folloviug report:
That ul sI-acatious were made 70 u. Asr.icr.
=, ilt S,,-eraly Of STATE, that induced CT were
d. gi.e. ,r ,i.. ..Il-.,,i % induce him % unir-
;.A- iu -=er o. r -hmond in April last, or 81
slf ether u-ue. lie was not then, nor has he
or sAy other person ever been authorized by tn
-1-er-ineut or hy the Secretary Of State 10 make
.ly representations OF any kind or IN any sab
lc1t, o. tls IusLlreclicuary agents or sy-cailei
au;lo.it..= o., Fichm.ui, or to hold any COM
llunic-ti,n With them on behalf Of this govern
menL
From tie ~ nnins, Of the present dis.urtances
Uucil tie spring q ls52 this Department was
charged with the authority OF granting passcs or
pssspcTTz through the lines Of the gol ernment
force I, early became a question whether for
eSn mis- -ters residing in the Unitei States should
- denied such Passports. Il vas thought a
sound sud liberal policy 20 leave them free 70
, ,;-'t suy part Of the country 70 which they are
accredited. - long IS there should be no ground
% question their god faith toward this govern
meut, and this has been uniformly svowed ss tho
ceurss Of the government. Accordingly, pass
port was granted IN the month of April, 1851.
70 his exceilcucy Rudolph Schlerten. minister
resident here o. the republic Of Bremen. Ike
passport vss granted in An gust, 1861, to the
French minister, attended IL his royal highness
the Prince Napoleon jerome, then on a visit At
this caI tal, and in April last q similar passport
20 the trench minister.
These pas ports were granted al the request Of
tl.se distingu shed persons respectively, and not
ou any suggestion Of the government or Secretary
Of state Ihsy ssvsrally travelled il a private
ani unofficial capasity. They bore 10 connuai-
clti0a, whether formal or informal, verba or
written, from tbs government CT from the Sscre-
-ary oi state 70 any Of the insurgents, and they
brought uone from any such persons % this gov
sru1ueut or to the Secretary Of STATE. Since tho
ith CT March. lS6l, no communication direct or
indirect, formal or informal, has been had by
this government or BY the Secretary Of Stzte
with tue insurgents, their aiders CT absttors-
No passport has been granted to any foreign
minister to pass the military lines except by the
Presidents direction, and each OF su:h ministers
a 20 his received such passport has upon his
-esu-z waited npoa the President as well as tho
socreta-y Of Stlte and given them such ac;ounts.
masked, as he thought proper, Ct the incidents
II BIS journey. OF course these statements ara
70 be qualified 50 FIR as the facts rellting to con-
nunic ition concerning the exchange Of prisoners
nd other military matters in charge Of the War
Department may affect them.
Rszne,lillly submitted,
WILLIAM H. SEwAzp.
department Of state, Washington, Feb. 9,lss3.