Mr. Stockton to Mr. Seward .
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I left my post of duty on my return home on the 6th day of June last. But before doing so, according to the tenor of my despatch, (No. 48,) I communicated the contents of the instructions of the department to Mr. King (No. 2) to the government of his holiness.
I translated all those points of the despatch which I thought necessary into Italian, and left it with his eminence as a memoranda. I informed his eminence, the secretary of state, that although the despatch was addressed to my successor, I should be most happy to take charge of a reply, as Mr. King had not yet arrived in Rome. His eminence said that he could not know the contents of instructions of the government of the United States to Mr. King except privately. Officially Mr. King should be received before any communication directed to him could be noticed. It was impossible for him to reply; a reply was not appropriate to the occasion.
I suggested that he could state to me privately his views, which I would communicate to the government, although my official position was ended.
His eminence consented to this, and then said, in substance, as follows: He said that the Catholics of the United States, as Catholics, as a church, would take no part in the matter; it would not be proper for them to do so. As citizens he had no doubt they would all feel a great concern at our internal dissensions. He added, you are aware that the government of his holiness concerns itself mainly in spiritual matters, but we are the supporters of law and order everywhere. He said he regarded the United States as a great and free country, and he hoped that I would be assured that the kind sentiments of our government to the Holy See were appreciated and reciprocated.
I do not pretend to give either the words or a verbal translation of the expressions of his eminence, but I am sure that I have fairly stated the substance of the conversation.
Perhaps it is not improper for me, in concluding my mission, to say that I parted from his holiness with a profound sense of the kindness and consideration I had always received from him, and with sentiments of the highest regard and esteem for his character.
I have the honor to remain, very truly yours,
Late United States Minister at Rome.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.