it advisable to ask the government here to take a lead to which I was aware it would be adverse. I shall be on the alert to seize the proper moment to recur to this subject. * * * * * I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. JAMES S. PIKE. Mr. Pike to Mr. Seward. [Extracts.] No. 3.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I received yesterday your circular of the 20th of May, relating to the purchase of articles in Europe, contraband of war, for the use of persons in insurrection against the United States government. The extraordinary unanimity and energy displayed by the government and loyal people of the United States in their measures to suppress the rebellion of the seceding States excites constant comment and high admiration in all quarters on this side of the Atlantic. The echoes of the first utterances of the British trading public, in favor of permitting the peaceable secession of the revolting States, have quite died away, and, instead, is now heard denunciation of the folly and madness of the secessionists, along with the expression of a general judgment that they will inevitably be forced to succumb. The growth of this sentiment, fostered by the character of the almost daily news from America, is strengthening the cause of the government on this side of the Atlantic and correspondingly weakening the cause of the secessionists. I think, therefore, that the whole weight of European opinion, which naturally desires a speedy end to the war, will soon be thrown in great force against the revolting States, and thus furnish important moral aid in putting an end to the struggle. I am satisfied, from what has come under my personal observation, that the high tone adopted by the United States government in regard to foreign interference in behalf of the secessionists has had a most salutary influence upon the action of European governments, great and small. Many of them have no objection to seeing the United States in difficulty; but they entertain a healthy apprehension that our government may find a speedy way out of it, and retain a lively recollection of those who would take advantage of its temporary embarrassments. I have the honor to be, with high respect, your most obedient servant, Hon. Wм. H. SEWARD. Secretary of State. Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike. No. 6.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 14, 1861. SIR: Mr. Murphy's despatch of the 10th of April, (No. 53,) informing us that he had submitted our circular letter, with an appropriate communication of his own, to the Baron Zuylen, his Majesty's minister for foreign affairs, was duly received; and we have also received Mr. Murphy's despatch, No. 55, with which was transmitted a copy of the reply of the government of the Netherlands to the papers thus submitted to them. Mr. Murphy executed the duty committed to him in a very proper manner, and you are instructed to express to his Majesty's government the Presi dent's high appreciation of the just and friendly sentiments which that government has manifested and expressed in regard to the domestic disturbance in our country, which, happily, now daily loses something of the formidable character which it at first assumed. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES S. PIKE, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Pike to Mr. Seward. [Extract] No. 4.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have obtained from the minister of foreign affairs copies of the proclamations about to be issued by this government in relation to the letters of marque recently issued by the Montgomery revolutionists. I have the honor to enclose the copies transmitted to me in the original Dutch. I see the instructions to ministers forbid the application of the contingent fund to pay translators, and I infer from this that the department prefers original documents. These papers warn the Dutch people against privateering, as an unlawful proceeding which may be deemed piracy, and they forbid the use of the ports of the Netherlands to privateers under any flag. They refer also to the fact of the adhesion of Holland to the declaration of the congress of Paris, in respect to maritime rights, made in 1856. It will likewise be observed that the Dutch government abstains from following the British example in excluding prizes brought in by ships-of-war. * I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, JAMES S. PIKE. Hon. Wм. H. SEWARD. Secretary of State, Washington. [Translation.] In obedience to the King's orders the ministers for foreign affairs, of justice, and of the marine, present to the knowledge of all it may concern, that to guard against probable difficulties during the doubtful complications in the United States of North America, no privateers under any Ex. Doc. 1-23 flag soever, or provided with any commission or letters of marque, or their prizes, shall be admitted into our havens or seaports, unless in case of marine disaster, and that requisite orders be issued that under any circumstances such privateers and their prizes be required to go again to sea as speedily as possible. The ministers above named. AT THE HAGUE. [Translation.] The minister for foreign affairs and the minister of justice, by the King's authority, warn, by these presents, all inhabitants of the kingdom, that during the existing disturbances in the United States of America they in nowise take part in privateering, because the Netherlands government has acceded to the declaration upon maritime rights set forth by the Paris conference of 1856, whereby, among other matters, privateering is abolished, and no recognition of commissions got for letters of marque permitted. Also that commissions and letters of marque, in conflict with the aforesaid prohibition, which may issue to inhabitants of the Netherlands, cannot have a lawful effect in behalf of the King's subjects, or of any abroad who are in subjection to the laws of the kingdom. Those who, under such circumstances, engage in or lend their aid in privateering to other people, will be considered as pirates, and prosecuted according to law in the Netherlands, and subjected to the punishment provided for the commission of such offences. THE HAGUE. The ministers above named. [Translation.] The minister for foreign affairs, apprised by a communication from the minister of marine, that the King has authorized the naval force in the West Indies to be seasonably strengthened by his Majesty's steam frigate Zealand, and the screw propellers Dyambi and Vesuvius, for the purpose of giving protection to the trade and navigation of the Netherlands during the contest which seems to be in existence in the United States of North America, wherever it may be desired, therefore esteems it to be his duty to direct the attention of ship-masters, consignees, and freighters, to the peril to which their insurance against loss will be exposed by any violation of the obligations imposed on neutral powers to respect actual blockades, and not to carry contraband of war, or despatches of belligerents. In these cases they will be subject to all the resulting losses that may follow, without the benefit of any protection or intervention on the part of his Majesty's government. Of which take notice. THE HAGUE, June, 1861. The minister above named. Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike. No. 8] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 1, 1861. SIR: Your despatch of June 8 (No. 1) has been received. The President approves of your conduct and the sentiments you expressed on the occasion of your first audience by his Majesty. We are gratified by your confirmation of the high opinion we had formed of the fidelity and diligence of your predecessor. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES S. PIKE, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Pike to Mr. Seward. [Extracts.] No. 7.] UNITED STATES LEGATION, SIR Referring to your last despatch, in which you say "the government has little time to think of its foreign relations, and when it does think of them, it is chiefly to consider how and in what way it can most effectually counteract the efforts of the revolutionists to procure European intervention in their favor," I beg to observe that within my circle of observation I find no occasion to change the opinion I have heretofore expressed in regard to the general good dispositions of the European governments towards that of the United States. That there is any feeling of active sympathy, I should fear to allege. Every nation has its own peculiar, and to itself, important cares and difficulties, and each devotes the most of its time and attentions to these, caring comparatively little for those of others except so for as they affect their own. The domestic disturbances of a country three thousand miles away is thus regarded with a philosophic equanimity, and I think I may say with very great indifference except in respect to the commercial bearing of the events occurring there. But if little especial sympathy is felt for the United States government, still less is felt for the insurgents, whose revolt is seen to have caused the dire calamities now existing. So that we may still be allowed to claim a balance in our favor of the good wishes of European governments. The revolutionary state of things in the United States has been, and is being very generally and thoroughly discussed in European journals, and all such discussion favors, of necessity, the cause of the government. This is especially true of the discussions in the German publications. * * In Germany, where discussion always partakes more of an absolute nature than anywhere else, from causes not necessary to delineate here, American affairs are more justly and comprehensively handled, and being more completely divested of their transitory features, results as I have stated. On the whole, I think our government and the people it represents have not, thus far, any adequate cause to complain of the attitude of European governments, or the state of European opinion, toward them. The insurgents are nowhere in favor, and certainly have not received so much toleration and encouragement in Europe as was extended to them by a portion of our own press and by the administration of Mr. Buchanan, previous to the breaking out of the war. * * * * * * * We all feel the deepest interest in the progress of events at home, and the utmost solicitude to do on this side of the Atlantic whatever is possible to further the ideas and purposes of our government. For my own part I am most anxious to go wherever, and to do whatever, I can to promote the designs and aid the labors of the administration in the great work devolved upon them. I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your obedient servant, SIR: Your despatch, No. 3, dated June 14th has been received, and the information which it brings is a cause of high satisfaction. Your proceedings in the various matters mentioned in that communication are approved. I am, sir, respectfully your obedient servant, SIR: Your despatch, No. 4, dated June 16 has been duly received. You will, at the first convenient opportunity, make known to the minister of foreign affairs the satisfaction with which the United States has received intelligence of the prompt decision and friendly action of the government of the Netherlands on the subject of the disturbances occurring in our country. You will receive herewith, confidentially, a copy of my last despatch to Mr. Dayton on the subject of the proffer of our adhesion to the declaration of the congress of Paris. It will serve, I think, to relieve your uncertainty, and to indicate the course you shall pursue. Only Great Britain and France have assumed to say to us that they regard our country as divided or broken, for any purpose, whether of war or of peace. And we have not thought proper to receive that communication from them. We treat as being the sovereign government over all the Union-the disloyal and the loyal, all alike or we do not treat at all. This simple statement will, perhaps, be necessary to make the paper addressed to Mr. Dayton clearly intelligible to you. These latter remarks you will consider as confidential. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. |
