New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-12
THE VISIT OF THE FRENCH
MINISTER TO RICHMOND.

The Inquiry OF the Senate ~ % tho Part
she Secretary Of ssass Teek In the
Matter-Rssponse or Secretary Reward.
wAsBIxorss. "Wednesday, F-b. II. is61.
The following communication was Transmitted 10
the Senate to-day:
To the Prudent Of tie Untfsd State;
The Secretary Of State 70 whom was referred
resolution Of the Senate, passed on tbs 9Th day Of
February inst in these words. viz.
Ks,ssd That the President Of tho United States be
queed 10 communicate TO the senate hot inoc@pstibs
With the public interests 70. oh.r.es, 81 The :usse:Nn'
MERCER the representative Of the Emperor OF the french 10
this Government .. nsusted In bis eoumanie.ion TO
Thouvene under d,ts OF the 18Th OF April last, which in
duced NJ Mercsr to undertake bis mission TO Richmond in
tina, month and vh.. sPre.en.ions any he wa, .sho,,
State 10 the Confederate authorities.
has the honor TO submit tho following report
That DO suggestions were MADE TO NJ. MERCER by
the Secretary OF State that induced or were desgaed
or calculated to induce him to undertake a 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 Sec
rotary of State TO make any representations OF any
kind, or on any subject to the insurrectionary
agents, or socalled authorities at Richmond or 10
hold any communication with them ON behalf Of this
Government.
From the beginning Of the present disturbances
until the Spring of 1862 THE Department was
charged with the authority Of granting passes or
passports through the lines Of the Governmen,
forces. 1t early became question whether foreign
Ministers reading 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 accredited 30 long as
ha tn eRti inn heir
faith toward this Government. has been uniformly
avowed as the course Of the Government.
Accordingly, passport was granted in the month
of April 1861, to his Exeellency Rudolph Schlsidep,
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, then on visit at this
capital, and in April last similar passport to the
French Minister.
These passports were granted at tho request OF
those distinguished persons respectively and not on
any suggestion Of the Government or Secretary Of
State. They severaly travelled in private and I'm.
official capacity. They bore no communication,
whether formal or informal, verbal written, from
this Government or from the Secretary Of State To
any of the insurgents, and they brought noue from
any such persons to this Government or TO the Socre
tsry Of State.
Since the 4th of March, 1861, no communication,
direct or indirect formal informal, has been held
by this Government or by tho Secretary Of State,
with the insurgents, their aiders or sbcttors. No
passport has been granted to any foreign Minister to
pass the military lines except by the Presidents d.
rections, and each of such Ministers who has re-
ceived such passport has, upon bis return, waited
upon the President az we'll as the Secretary OF State
aud given them such account unasked US he thought
proper, of the incidents Of his journey. Oi course
these statements are to DO qualified 30 far as the
facts relating to communications concerning the OK
change of prisoners and other military matters IL
charge Of the War Department may affect them.
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
Department. Of STATE, Washiagtos. Feb. o. 1863