William H. Seward to Reverdy Johnson, June 10, 1862

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,            

Washington, June 10, 1862.

REVERDY JOHNSON, Esq.:

SIR: You are aware that complaints have been made of recent proceedings of Major-General Butler, at New Orleans, in reference to foreign consuls, and particularly the consul of the Netherlands there. It being desirable to have the complaints investigated by a commissioner of high character and acknowledged ability, the President has selected you for the purpose. You will receive herewith a copy of all the papers on the subject in this Department, including memoranda of conversations between Lord Lyons and myself, Mr. Mercier and myself, and correspondence between Mr. Roest Van Limburg, the minister of the Netherlands, and this Department. You will proceed to New Orleans by the earliest opportunity and will lose no time in making your inquiries, which should be as thorough and impartial as circumstances may permit.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

_______________

[Inclosure No. 1.]

Major-General Benjamin F. Butler to Edwin M. Stanton, May 16, 1862

 [Inclosure No. 2.]

Department of State Memorandum, May 30, 1862

[Inclosure No. 3.]

Department of State Memorandum, May 31, 1862

[Inclosure No. 4.]

William H. Seward to Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg, June 5, 1862

 [Inclosure No. 5.—Translation.]

Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg to William H. Seward, June 6, 1862

[Inclosure No. 6. —Translation.]

Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg to William H. Seward, June 7, 1862

[Inclosure No. 7. —Translation.]

Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg to William H. Seward, June 7, 1862

[Inclosure No. 8.]

William H. Seward to Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg, June 7, 1862

[Inclosure No. 9.]

William H. Seward to Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg, June 7, 1862

[Inclosure No. 10.—Translation.]

Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg to William H. Seward, June 9, 1862

[Inclosure No. 11. —Translation.]

Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg to William H. Seward, June 9, 1862

[Inclosure No. 12.]

William H. Seward to Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg, June 9, 1862

[Inclosure No. 13.]

William M. Evarts to William H. Seward, June 10, 1862

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series III, Volume 2 (Serial No. 123), p. 115-6, Sub-inclosures, p. 116-139

Department of State Memorandum, May 31, 1862

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,            

Washington, May 31, 1862.

MEMORANDUM.]

Mr. Mercier called upon Mr. Seward informally to speak of some irritation among the consuls at New Orleans, resulting from irregularities and severities reported to have been practiced by Major-General Butler toward them on the occasion of his taking military possession of that city. Mr. Mercier said that he had not called now to present any complaint on the part of the French consul, and explanations which had been already made by General Butler perhaps would relieve him of any necessity for doing so.

Mr. Seward said that he had seen newspaper reports of the occurrence at New Orleans, but as yet had received nothing official either from any representative of any foreign Government or from the War Department. But he had had no hesitation about interposing in the matter at once.

Yesterday, after a brief conversation with Lord Lyons, when the subject was first brought to his notice, he had procured orders from the Secretary of War to Major-General Butler directing him to refrain from practicing any severities or strictness of doubtful right toward any consul or subject of any foreign power, which orders had been already transmitted.

To-day it had been decided to devolve the civil government of New Orleans upon a provisional military Governor, who would proceed with the utmost dispatch to New Orleans and relieve General Butler of civil administration there.

Mr. Seward said that he had already appointed a commissioner for the State Department, of distinguished ability and character, to proceed to New Orleans as speedily as possible and inquire and take evidence of the transactions which have occurred there in which any complaint of violation of consular rights, privileges, and courtesies has arisen under the administration of General Butler, to redress any such clear violation which he may ascertain to have occurred, by making restitution, and in every other case to make full report to the Secretary of State for his decision thereupon.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series III, Volume 2 (Serial No. 123), p. 131