Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-12
TELEGRAPHIC.
Evening and Midnight Reports.
Stewards Report ON his SuRgesti ems
| TO WI. Mefciof.

Stewards Report on his Suggest ems
TO WI. Mercior.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ii The following com
munioation was transmitted to the Senate TO.
day:
To the President of the United States;
The Secretary Of State, to whom was refer
RED resolution OF the Senate passed the 9Th
of February, in these words viz
"Resoloed, That the President of the United
States be requested to communicate TO the Sem
ate, If not incompatible with the public inter-
ests, the character OF the suggestions made by
the Secretary of State to M. Mercier, as mar
rated in bis communication to M. Thouvenal
under date Of 18th of April last, which induced
M. Mercier to undertake his mission to Rich
mond In that month, and what representa- stions,
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. Mer.
cier by the Secretary Of State that induced 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 GoveRment or by the Secretary of State
to make any representations OF any kind or on
any subject to the insurrectionary agents, or 80.
called authorities at Richmond, or to hold any
communication with them on behalf of this
Government.
From the beginning of the present disturb
ances until the spring Of 1862, this department
was charged with the authority Of granting
passes or paaspoats through the lines of the
Government forces. 1t early became ques-
tion whether foreign Ministers residing In the
United States should be denied such pass
ports. II was thought a sound and liberia
policy to leave them free to visit any part Of
| the country TO which they are accredited, &C
long as there should be no ground to question
their good faith toward this Government. Ac-
cordingly, q passport was granted in the month
of April, 1861, to the Minister resident here o
the Republic of Bremen. like passport was
granted in August, 1861, to the French Minis
ter, attended by bis Royal Highness the Prince
Napoleon Jerome; and in April last O eimilsl
passport to the French Minister. These pass
ports were granted at the request of those dia
tinguished persons respectively, and not on any
suggestion Of the Government or Secretary o
State. They severally travelled in private ant
unofficial character. They bore no eommuni
cation, whether formal or informal, verbal o.
written, from the Government or from th'
Secretary of State to any of these insurgents
| anu tney Drougnt uone from any eucn person
to this Government or to the Secretary o
State.
Since the 4th of March, 1861, no communi
cation, direct or indirect, formal or informal
has been held by this Government or by th
Secretary of State with the insurgents, thei
aiders or abettors. No passport has beef
granted to any foreign Minister to pass th'
military lines, except by the Presidents direc.
ton, and each of such Ministers who has re
ceived such passport has, upon his return
waited upon the President as we'll as the Sec
retary OF State, and given them such an &C
count, unasked, as he thought proper incident
OF his journey; OF course these statement
are to be qualified, 90 far as the facts relating
prisoners and other military matters in charg
of the War Department. may affect them.