No. 537.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 28, 1864, SIR: I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a despatch of the 1st instant, No. 141, received at this department from Charles A. Leas, esq., our commercial agent at Belize, respecting the arrival at British Honduras of a number of southern refugees from Texas. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. DAYTON, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 141.] UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, SIR: By an arrival from Matamoras we have added to the population of this colony a number of southerners, who escaped from Texas, and have determined to take up their residence within these possessions. They report that there is no hope left for the confederacy, and that there are thousands now in Texas who are anxious to escape, but cannot, in consequence of the stringency of the blockade. That is to say, these are parties who either cannot remain in the south after the rebellion shall be closed, in consequence of their not being comprehended in the amnesty proclamation, or from a deep-seated hatred and animosity will not again consent to reside among us as brother members of the same national family. The individuals above referred to, as having just arrived here, are the second arrival of the kind within the past few weeks, all bringing the same report. Now, if these reports be true, (and I doubt not they are true,) then it seems to me that an important consideration is at once presented, namely, as to whether it would not be humane as well as politic to allow some door to be opened by which such persons may escape from our country. If their animosities are such that they are no longer willing to live with us in peace, then I argue that they are not worth having as citizens and residents. Their places can soon be filled by a better class of persons. When I write thus, it must not be presumed that I would have our government and nation ignore the punishing, even to the execution of a death sentence, the arch-traitors, and to accomplish that end to carefully close all the avenues by which such might escape. I refer more particularly to that class of persons who, from bitterness of feeling, are unwilling to take an oath of allegiance, or to longer live in peace with us, and hence prefer to seek a home in a foreign land. The fact is, that the authorities and large landed proprietors of this colony imagine that they can see in those persons the hope of this country, that, if they can be allowed to escape from the south, thousands would seek their homes in British Honduras, thus furnishing at once an intelligent, experienced and producing population, particularly in the cultivation of cotton, sugar, tobacco, &c., and I have made the suggestions herein contained at the direct request of some wealthy and influential gentlemen of this place. On yesterday Governor Austin gave his first dinner party, at which this subject was canvassed, and I there promised to communicate with the United States government in regard to the matter; hence, if you deem the suggestions worthy of consideration, I beg to ask, on behalf of the parties above alluded to, at the head of which may be considered the governor, that you will be pleased to communicate it to the honorable Secretary of State, through whom it may reach the President. With great respect, I have the honor to be your most obedient servant, Hon. F. W. SEWARD, United States Consular Agent. Assistant Secretary of State, Washington. No. 457.] Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward. [Extracts.] PARIS, April 29, 1864. SIR: Your despatches, from No. 524 to No. 528, both inclusive, have been duly received. * * * Your despatch, No. 516, on the "Talambo question," so called, between Peru and Spain, was immediately acted upon by me. M. Drouyn de l'Huys did not seem to recognize the case when his attention was called to it by that name, but said that he had already, in reference to the differences existing between the two powers, advised Spain, in conformity with your wishes, recommending a settlement in the spirit of peace, and he presumed all matters would be amicably arranged between those powers. SIR: Your despatch of April 11, No. 449, has been received. I thank you for the information it brings concerning the acceptance of the tendered crown by the Archduke Maximilian, and his intended departure for Mexico. Events which have recently occurred in the eastern section of that country, if they are correctly reported, show that the Mexican national authorities are not likely to be immediately suppressed. It is of course not impossible that new embarrassments for this government may grow out of the archduke's assumption of authority in Mexico. But we shall do all that prudence, justice, and honor require to avert them, at the same time we shall not forego the assertion of any of our national rights. If such precautions fail to secure us against aggression, we shall then, I trust, be able to rise, without great effort, to the new duties which in that case will have devolved upon us. I remain now firm, as heretofore, in the opinion that the destinies of the American continent are not to be permanently controlled by any political arrangements that can be made in the capitals of Europe. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. DAYTON, Esq., &c., &c.. &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr Dayton to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 460.] PARIS, May 2, 1864. SIR: In a conference with M. Drouyn de l'Huys on Saturday last he informed me that the officers or persons who had heretofore been pressing the French government to permit the departure of the Rappahannock from Čalais had informed him that they would abandon all further effort to that effect, and leave her to rot where she lies. I am informed that she is now not seaworthy, and that her officers, with the exception of Captain Fontleroy, have left her. Under these circumstances I have written to Captain Winslow, of the United States sloop Kearsarge, in the channel, a letter of which I herewith enclose a copy. I shall endeavor to see the captain of that ship personally, if possible, within a day or two. The four clipper ships at Bordeaux and Nantes are now all launched, and I am informed that both Arman and Voruz (the builder and iron founder) express their conviction that these vessels will be permitted to go out as vessels of commerce. Indeed, M. Drouyn de l'Huys informed me, in our last interview, that Arman had recently seen him, and, protesting that they were commercial vessels of the ordinary character used in the China seas, said they would assert their right to depart even against the government, and if opposition were made they would present this question in the courts of justice. M. Drouyn de l'Huys says that should this be done, the courts taking cognizance of the question and deciding against them, the government would be without remedy; its hands would be tied up by such a decision. I told him, in reply, that I did not believe Arman dare present the question in a court of justice; but, if he did, I thought we could, without difficulty, prove his handwriting to that paper, wherein he admitted that he was building these vessels for the Confederate States. Much other conversation passed on this subject, all leading to a conviction, in my mind, that M. Drouyn de l'Huys had not yet definitely made up his mind to the course of action which would be adopted in respect to these clipper ships. On the one hand, I am disposed to believe that they are willing, in good faith, to carry out their declaration that no such ships shall be equipped in their ports to depredate on our commerce. On the other hand, Mr. Arman is an important and influential friend of the government, and his ship yard is said to be the most extensive in France. They are, not unnaturally, unwilling to do anything which can seriously affect his business and the business of other ship-builders connected with him in these matters. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of Stale, &c., &c., &c. WM. L. DAYTON. Mr. Dayton to Captain Winslow. PARIS, April 30, 1864. SIR: In an interview with M. Drouyn de l'Huys, French minister of foreign affairs, from which I have just returned, he informed me that the persons who had been engaged in applying to the French government to get out the Rappahannock have now informed him that all further attempts for that purpose have been abandoned, and that the vessel will be left to rot where she is. I have no fear, therefore, of the early discharge of this vessel. The four cupper ships which are being constructed by Mr. Arman, at Berdeaux and Nantes, for the confederates, are in the course of rapid completion, particularly the Yeddo and Osacca, which lie at Bordeaux. The Yeddo is advertised to sail for China on the 30th of May, and the Osacca on the 30th of June, under pretence that they are intended for the French China line. They are both confederate vessels, and should be captured if possible. The Georgia, I am informed, has sailed for Antwerp. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Capt. JOHN A. WINSLOW, U. S. S. Sloop Kearsarge, Dover. Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward. WM. L. DAYTON. [Extract.] No. 461.] PARIS, May 2, 1864. SIR Immediately upon the receipt of your despatch No. 525, I applied to M. Drouyn de l'Huys for a special interview, which was granted for Saturday last. I then said that I knew that the French government had felt some anxiety in respect to the resolution which had recently been passed by the House of Representatives in reference to Mexico, and inasmuch as I had just received a copy of that resolution, together with the views of the President of the United States, I begged, if agreeable, to read to him your despatch in reference to the latter. To this he assented, and, as the shortest and most satisfactory mode of following out my instructions, I read to him that entire portion of your despatch which applies to this subject, stating, at the same time, that I thought it was a remarkable illustration of the frankness and straight-forwardness of the President. When the reading was closed, M. Drouyn de l'Huys expressed his gratification, and after asking some questions in regard to the effect of laying a resolution upon the table in the Senate, the conversation terminated. The extreme sensitiveness which was manifested by this government, when the resolution of the House of Representatives was first brought to its knowledge, has to a considerable extent subsided. SIR: Your despatch No. 526, which gives the answer to the renewed request from the French government that it may be allowed to send French officers to our country for the purpose of observing the military arrangements and preparations on both sides of the civil war, was by me brought to the notice of Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys. I assured him of our entire willingness to receive such officers in the armies of the United States, and to afford them every possible facility for the examination of our works, improvements, and everything connected with the progress of military art, as developed in our country; but that we could not, for reasons stated in your despatch, extend that concession so far as to permit commission ers to pass our lines to make observations among the insurgents. That we had, under analogous circumstances, been under the necessity of refusing a like privilege to the British government, upon its application. The grounds upen which you put your refusal seemed, in the eyes of Mr. Drouyn de l'Huys, to relieve it from anything like want of courtesy, and he said that they would at once abandon all idea of sending officers to visit the southern army; but they would send officers to visit the northern army, when, they doubted not, they would be courteously received, as had already been the case with a number of French officers. He informed me, however, that their purpose had not been to send the same men to make observations inside both lines, or to pass from the lines of one army to those of the other, but their purpose had been to send separate officers, one to the armies of the north, and the others to the armies of the south; that in the armies of the north they had expected to witness improvements in the matter of gunnery, and in other matters connected with the science of war, while in the south they expected little more than to witness some new method of facilitating the movement of troops, and the forming and moving of encampments, and such general matters. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. WM. L. DAYTON. Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton. No. 540.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SI: Your despatch of the 18th ultimo, No. 452, enclosing a printed translation of a convention between France and the Archduke Maximilian in regard to Mexico, has been received. SIR: Your despatch of April 22, No. 454, has been received. What you have said to M. Drouyn de l'Huys on the subject of the resolution of the House of Representatives concerning Mexico, as you have reported it, is entirely approved. The resolution yet remains unacted upon in the Senate. Mr. Corwin was to leave Vera Cruz on the 3d instant under the leave of absence granted to him by this department on the 8th of August last. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. DAYTON, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 463.] Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward. PARIS, May 13, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith a translation of a communication just received from the three Japanese ambassadors now travelling in Europe. |