Mr. Fay to Mr. Seward.
[Extract.]
Berne, May 18, 1861.
Sir:
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Referring to my No. 417, I communicated, in addition to the English printed copy of the inaugural of the President, a carefully made German translation. I have some reason to suppose that the commissioners of the seceded States were, or would soon be, in Paris, and as Mr. Dudley Mann was informally my predecessor in Berne, and has personal friends in the governmental regions, and might profit by the occasion to slip over from London or Paris, I had another interview on the subject this morning with President Knüsel. A very severe illness had kept me some time from seeing him. As I have received not a word from the department with regard to my recall, I have not communicated officially with the government upon the subject, but the President commenced, and I am unwilling to repeat his friendly remarks. He alluded, however, to the affair of Neuchâtel, and said I must not think the government had forgotten the services I had rendered to Switzerland, and particularly on that occasion. He repeated several times; but I will not dwell further upon this point.
I asked if they had any news of the commissioners of the seceded States, and said I thought they might perhaps pay Berne a visit. I then addressed to him some earnest words upon a subject in which my whole heart is interested. I told him my public and private intelligence convinced me that the movement of the south would be suppressed; that it was as insane as it was guilty; that the slowly rising spirit of the north, and the calm and efficient preparations made by the President, would, in due time, [Page 332] bring it to a termination; that the United States had always loved Switzerland, but that I did not expect from him any sentimental engagements. I wished, however, officially to express the opinion of my government, and, privately, my own deep conviction, that the wise course of Switzerland would be a flat refusal to receive, in any way, the commissioners of the revolted States; that a different course would be painfully remembered, while a prompt action in this direction would surely draw much closer the bonds of friendship between the two republics. I called his attention to the proclamation of the British government, in which the seceded States are termed the “so-called Confederate States.”
The President warmly acquiesced, and assured me that he completely shared my opinion.
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I have the honor to be, sir, with the highest consideration, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State of the United States of
America.