The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-20
OUR SPECIAL DISPATCHES
FROM WASHINGTON.
Special Dispatch to the Saint Paul Pioneer.
WASHINGTON, February IL.

1uC lOLOWluS COlIliuuIIlCuliOu W do VI oho-
mitted to the Senate to-day:
To the President of the United States:
The Secretary Of State, to whom was
referred resolution, adopted the 9th of
February, in these words, viz:
Resolced, That the President of the United
States be requested to communicate to the
Senate, if not incompatible with the public in
terests, the character of the suggestions made
by the Secretary of State to NJ. MERCER as mar
rated in his communication to NJ, Thouvenal
under date of 18th of April last, which induced
NJ. MERCER to undertake his mission to Rich
mond in that month"; and what representations,
if 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
report:
That no suggestions were made to M.
MERCER by the Secretary of State that in
duced, or were designed or calculated to
induce, him to undertake mission to
Richmond, in April last, or at any other
time. He was not then, nor has he or any
other person ever been, authorized by this
Government, or by the Secretary of State,
to make any representations of any kind,
or on any subject, to the insurrectionary
agents or so-called authorities at Rich
mond, Or to hold any communication with
them on behalf of this Government.
From the beginning Of these present
disturbances until the spring of 1862, this
department was charged with the author
ity ofgranting passes or passports through
the lines of the Government forces. 1t
early became a question whether foreign
ministers, residing in the United States,
should be denied such passports. 1t was
thought sound and liberal policy to leave
them free to visit any part of the country
to which they are accredited, SO long as
there should be no ground to question
their good faith toward this Government.
This has been uniformly avowed as the
course of the Government
Accordingly a 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, to the French Minister, attended by
his royal highness the Prince Napoleon
Jerome, and in April last similar pass
port to the French Minister.
These passports were granted at the re-
quest of those distinguished persons re-
spectively and not on any suggestions OF
the Government or Secretary OF State.
They severally travelled in private and UNI
official capacity. They bore no communi-
cation, whether formal or informal, verbal
or written, from the Government or from
the Secretary of State to any Of these in
surgents, and they brought none from any
such persons to this Government or to the
Secretary of State.
Since the 4th of March, 1861, no COM
munication direct, or indirect, formal, or
informal has been held by this Govern
ment, or by the Secretary of State with
the insurgents, their aidcrs or abettors.
No passport has been granted to any for
eign Minister to pass the military lines,
except by the Presidents direction, and
each of such Ministers who have received
such passports, have upon his return
waited upon the President, as well as the
Secretary of State, and given such an ac-
count, unasked, as he thought proper,
and incidents of his journey. Of course
these statements are to be qualified so far
as the facts relating to communication con-
corning the exchange of prisoners, and
other military matters in charge of the
War Department, may affect them.
WIN. H. SEWARD.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
Admiral Porter, in terms of commen-
dation, communicates to the Navy Depart
lnent the report of Col. Elicit, command
ing Ram Queen of the West, giving an
account of her passage of the batteries at
Vicksburg. The following is the report
U. s. STEAMER RAM QUEEN OF THE WEST,
Below Vicl1sburg, Feb 2. :
ADMIRAL: In compliance with your in
structions 1 started on the Queen of the
West at half past four this morning to
pass the batteries at Vicksburg, and sink
the rebel steamer lying before that city.
l discovered, Immediately on starting,
that the change of the wheel from its for
mer position to the narrow space behind
the Queens bulwarks, did not permit the
boat to be handled with sufficient accura-
cy. An hour was spent in re-arrang-
ing the apparatus, and when we rounded
the point, the sun had risen, and any adj
vantage which would have resulted from
darkness, was lost to US.
The Rebels opened heavy fire, but We
were only struck three times before reach
ing the steamer. She was lying in nearly
the same position that the Arkansas was
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