tant to have a control over the movements of their citizens to the United vates and vice versa of ours in French territory; and deemed the present an sportune time to make any change in the passport system with respect he United States. When matters returned to their normal condition, there would be no objeca, he said, to suspend their passport regulations for citizens of the United Yates, and a simple administrative order was all that was necessary on their art, and could be made at any time when deemed expedient. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, H. S. SANFORD. Secretary of State. Ya 12.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Sanford. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 8, 1861. S: Your despatch of June 22 (No. 9) was duly received. It is, in the rain, not unsatisfactory, so far as the subject of our domestic affairs is congrned. In regard to the rights of friendly or neutral powers in maritime war, the subject has become somewhat complicated, and it would be a tedious labor to make a distinct explanation to each of our ministers abroad. I send you stead, confidentially, a copy of my last despatch on this subject to Mr. Jayton. It may serve as a guide to your own conduct in relation to the subject. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY S. SANFORD, Esq., Brussels. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 15.] Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches Nos. 9, 10, and 11, under dates of the 20th and 22d respectively. I have as yet received no reply from M. De Vrière to my note to him of the 5th ultimo, on the subject of our adhesion to the declaration of the congress of Paris. I referred to it a few days since on the occasion of a visit to the foreign office, and was told that my proposition had been communicated to the French government, and that communication had been made by it to this government of the main points of the note addressed by M. Thouvenel to M. Mercier in the month of May upon this subject of neutral rights. I inferred from this that they were awaiting the result of the communications made to you by the French and English governments through their ministers at Washington. ANNUAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. I will take an early opportunity to bring the subject again to the atten tion of the minister. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. H. S. SANFORD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Sanford. No. 20.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 30, 1861. SIR: The accompanying transcript of an instruction to our minister to Great Britain, dated the 21st instant, and numbered 42, will place you in possession of the views of this government concerning the principle of the law which authorizes the President to close the ports that have been seized by the insurgents. I am, sir, your obedient servant, HENRY S. SANFORD, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Brussels. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 16.] Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I called yesterday at the department of foreign affairs to press again upon the attention of Baron De Vrière the proposition of adhesion to the declaration of Paris, made to him near two months since, and he being out of town, I saw the secretary general, who, as before said, replaces the minister in his absence. In reply to my question whether the government had come to any decision, he said that they were not yet sufficiently informed of the condition of this subject at other courts to give me any positive answer; that while he would not say that they would give a negative one, the policy and acts of Belgium being, as I was aware, doubtless most liberal, yet they did not feel, as a smaller power, justified in taking any step of this nature in advance of their neighbors. I inquired whether there was any other objection to this proposed convention than he had indicated, in order to learn whether the addition of the Marcy proposition was considered an impediment. He said he was not prepared to give any other; that their position with regard to neighboring powers, to whom Belgium owed, in one sense, her nationality, was one, and they did not feel authorized to take any initiative in negotiations of this character; they left that to those powers who must necessarily have delicate a controlling influence in general politics. It is thus evident that this government will do nothing till after the great wers have decided upon a course of action in this matter. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, H. S. SANFORD. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. P. S.-I open my despatch to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches 12, 13, and 14, with their respective enclosures, which will have immeNate action. SB: Your despatch No. 15, dated July 18, has been received. There is no especial urgency on our part for consideration by the Belgium vernment of our proposition to accede to the declaration of the congress Paris before the similar propositions submitted to the British and French vernments shall have been acted upon by them, although we hold ourives ready to carry our overtures into effect when the Belgium government gall desire. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, SR: Your despatch dated July 3 (No. 11) has been received. I am quite content, under existing circumstances, with the disposition u propose in that paper to make of the subject of passports, and I acquieste very cheerfully in the views which you take of the importance of vigiance in regard to the movements of disaffected citizens of our own country travelling in Europe. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, SR: Your despatch of July 30 (No. 16) has been received. I am not disappointed, nor do I think we ought to be dissatisfied, with Mr. De Vrière's reply to your inquiry on the subject of maritime relations. You are so frequently at Paris and London, that I may refer you to the legations at one of those places for the latest phase of our negotiation on the same subject with the government of Great Britain. That government having taken the lead in determining European relations to us, and other powers having silently acquiesced, we shall hardly expect them to anticipate her own final decision upon the case, as it is presented to all alike. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY S. SANFORD, Esq., &c, &c., &c., Brussels. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. MEXICO. No. 2.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Corwin. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: The actual condition of affairs in Mexico is so imperfectly understood here that the President finds it very difficult to give you particular and practical directions for the regulation of your conduct during your mission. Our latest information was, in substance, that the provisional government of President Juarez, so long confined to the sea-coasts of the country, had finally overthrown its adversaries and established itself at the capital; that the opposing armies had been demoralized and dispersed, and that there was no longer any armed resistance in the States; that an election for president had been held, in conformity with the constitution of 1857, and that the now provisional president had probably secured a majority of the votes, although the result was as yet not certainly known. The pleasure which these events have inspired is unhappily diminished by rumors that the government is without sufficient authority or hold on the public confidence to maintain order; that robberies are of frequent occurrence on the high roads, and even that a member of our late legation in the country has been murdered on his way from the city of Mexico to Vera Cruz. You will apply yourself at once, with energy and diligence, to investigate the truth of this last-mentioned occurrence, which, if found to have been accurately reported, will not only be regarded as a high offence against the dignity and honor of the United States, but will prove a severe shock to the sensibilities of the American people. The President is unable to conceive that any satisfactory explanation of a transaction so injurious to the character of Mexico can be made. He will, however, wait for your report concerning it, though with the deepest anxiety, before taking action upon the subject. I find the archives here full of complaints against the Mexican government for violations of contracts and spoliations and cruelties practiced against American citizens. These complaints have been lodged in this department, from time to time, during the long reign of civil war in which the factions of Mexico have kept that country involved, with a view to having them made the basis of demands for indemnity and satisfaction whenever government should regain in that country sufficient solidity to assume a character for responsibility. It is not the President's intention to send forward such claims at the present moment. He willingly defers the performance of a duty which at any time would seem ungracious, until the incoming administration in Mexico shall have had time, if possible, to cement its authority and reduce the yet disturbed elements of society to order and harmony. You will, however, be expected, in some manner which will be marked with firmness as well as liberality, to keep the government there in mind that such of these claims as shall be found just will, in due time, be presented and urged upon its consideration. While now, as heretofore, it is a duty of this government to reason with Ex. Doc. 1-5 |