Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-02
IMPORTANT INTERCEPTED CORREsPON-
DENCE.


Two or three months ago we we're called to lay
before our readers certain dispatches emanatiDg
from the insurgent authorities at Richmond, and
addressed to their diplomatic, military, and inan-
cial agents in Europe. II was from the publicity
thus given to these papers that the parties to this
correspondence were placed in communication
with each other.
We to-day perform similar service for the in
geuous gentleman who styles himself the SEQ
rotary of State" of the Confederate States, by
placing before the public despatch recently ad-
dressed by Mr.. JUDAH P. BENJAMIN to the Hon.
L. @. G. LAMAR, former Representative in the
Congre.s of the United States from the State of
Mississippi but who now, it seems, bears the title
of /" Commissioner, &c st. Petersburgh, Russia"
This despatch, We may add, is drawn entirely in
the handwriting of Mr. Benjamin, with which we
are familiar, and leaves us to infer that copying
clerks" are dispensed with in Richmond either from
considerations of economy in the present straitened
condition of the "Southern Confederacy," or be-
cause Mr. Benjamin, when writing on uery delicate
subjects deems prudent to conceal the .eorets of
his diplomacy even from the official subordinates
with whom, on other topics, he shares his con-
fdence.
We perhaps do not risk much when we assigo
the latter as at least one Of the reasons which in
duced Mr. Benjamin to practise secresy and con-
cealment in pennng this despatch for the reader
will be surprised perceive that paper which
Mr. Benjamin seeks to show Why the "Confede-
rate Government, even at the price of being recog-
missed by foreign Powers, cannot bind itself by en-
tering into any treaty stipuiations against The AZ
rican sla0e trade.
We can well understand the sensibility confess
ed by Mr. Benjamin, in behalf of his associates, at
the suggestions likely to be raised in Europe by the
pregnant negative which he bids the Confederate
Commissioner to lay upon any proposed stipulations
against traffic which the whole civilized world
agrees to stigmatize as infamous, but respecting
which, he says, the Confederate Government"
can enter into no treaty engagements with foreign
Powers for the purpose Of precluding its exercise
He therefore very naturally says, speaking in the
name Of his associates
I'VE trust that unnecessary discussions this mat
ter will be introduced into your negotiations IT. unfor
turatey this reliance should prove ilounded. you will
decline continuing negotiations on Jour de and transfer
them to at home, where such event. they could be
conducted with greater facility and advantage under the
direct supervision OF the President"
If those who are familiar with the motives which
prompted the leaders of the secession revolt to en-
bark in their il-fated enterprise against the Gov
eminent Of the United States cannot confess to any
surprise at finding these leaders unwilling to assume
any obligations towards foreign Governments not
to revive and reestablish the foreign slave trade,
they will at least b. surprised at the metaphysical
reasons and wire drawn Determinations assigned by
Mr.. Benjamin in exclusion of any such engage
ments.
Should foreign Governments insist on stipu-
latons under this heal as sine qua non to the
formation of a treaty Of amity and commerce,
he instructs Mr. Lamar (and We suppose similar
instructions have been addressed to the other Com
missioners in waiting on the European Powers) to
parry the proposition by urging that the Confede-
rate Government has no power over this subject as
it falls he says, within the jurisdiction Of that GLASS
Of "powers" which, according to the terms of the
Conf, derate Constitution, "the States without dele
eating them to the General Government thought
proper to exercise by direct agreement between
themselves contained 10 the Constitution" That
is: the States adhering to the Confederate Consti
tuition have, in the act Of accedng to that instru-
ment, bound themselves by treaty established
among themselves not to revive the slave trade and
therefore it would be unconstitutional rs we'll as
superfuous for the treaty making power Of the Con
federate States to enter into any engagements under
this head with foreign nations The sophistry Of
this logic is exceeded only by its subtlety; but,
unfortunately for Mr.. Benjamin. his associates have
already furnished foreign Governments with suffi-
cieus argument against the tenabty Of his posi-.
ton, even when reasoning from his own premises,
as attempted be found in the Confederate Consti
tuition.
Dir. Benjamin admits that, under that constitution,
the Congress of the Confederate States lis required
to pass such laws as shall effectualy prevent the
foreign slave trade" but argues that this very
imposition Of duty Congress is the strongest
proof Of the absence Of power in the President
and Senate alone, who are vested with authority
to make treaties" In word," he proceeds to
say, cas- the only provision on the subject directs
the two branches Of the Legislative Department,
81 Al -