Mr. Seward to Mr. Clay
Sir: Your despatch of the 29th of October, No. 91, has been received. It presents certain views concerning proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which you deem necessary to be effected preliminary to an admission of representatives of the insurgent States into Congress.
The despatch closes with an earnest request that it may be laid before the President. I have complied with this request. I avail myself of the occasion to say a word upon requests of that kind which are found in your despatch, as well as in those of others of our representatives abroad.
The practice of this department is to submit to the President of the United States, for his perusal, all despatches which emanate from it to foreign countries, and which treat of any matter of a political nature, domestic or foreign, whether they relate to personal interests of the representative or otherwise. The practice in regard to despatches received from our representatives in foreign countries is to submit all that relates to questions of the character I have named to the President for his consideration. It is the practice of the President to determine for himself which of the multitude of such despatches he can personally examine compatibly with the multiplicity and variety of his official engagements.
[Page 385]A request by a minister that a particular despatch shall be laid before the President seems to imply that, without such a request being made, important interests or measures might be withheld from his knowledge.
The President will be pleased if our ministers abroad will leave to him entire freedom on this subject.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Cassius M. Clay, Esq., &c.,&c.,&c.,