William L. Dayton to William H. Seward, January 2, 1864

Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward

Sir: You have probably seen the within correspondence between Mr. Davis and the Pope before this; but as it is translated and printed in the Moniteur of this morning, I herewith enclose it to you.

The design of this quasi recognition of Mr. Davis, who is addressed as “illustrious and honorable president,” is manifest. It is a last effort to get up some feeling against the north among the Catholics, and to use, perhaps, the influence of the Holy Father to stop his Irish votaries from volunteering. I had learned some short time since that an effort was being made to get up a correspondence for some such purpose, and spoke to the Pope’s Nuncio here on the subject, but he attached no importance to it, and did not, as he said, believe it. Of Mr. Slidell he spoke as an entire stranger, saying he had never seen him but once in his life, and then casually only.

The correspondence does not, it is true, amount to much, but it illustrates the unceasing activity of the rebel chief in reaching for aid to every possible source.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,