Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward, June 22, 1861

Mr. Sanford to Mr.
Seward.

Sir: As M. de Vrière is out of town, I directed
the attention of Monsieur Saluremont, the secretary general, who is
charged with the affairs of the department in the absence of the
minister, in an interview with him to-day, as to the propriety of a
proclamation warning Belgians from taking service under those in
rebellion to the federal government, furnishing them “aid and comfort,”
and, especially, closing the ports of Belgium to their “privateers”—declared by the President to be
pirates—or permitting them to be fitted out in her ports. I said that
while the assurances I had received from M. de Vrière, soon after my
arrival, of the attitude of his government had been satisfactory, I
hoped it would now give public expression to them, both as due to a
friendly power and as a warning to their own citizens of the perils of
such enterprises.

Mons. Saluremont replied that the matter had been under consideration;
that the position which England and France had taken had not seemed to
be satisfactory to the government of the United States, and they had
delayed, in consequence, taking any formal steps; but not, he begged me
to be assured, from any want of friendly spirit or desire to do all the
occasion called for at their hands.

I replied that he was correct in his views of our sentiments as to the
course which England and France had seen fit to pursue. We could not
look upon the recognition of belligerent rights to those who, under our
laws, were rebels, and before we had attempted to employ forcible means
of coercion, as evincing the friendly spirit we had a right to expect;
that these people would be treated none the less as rebels on the land
as pirates on the seas—they or those of whatever nationality who joined
them; and we counted, on the part of Belgium, upon no such qualification
of our citizens in rebellion, whom we were engaged in submitting to the
action of our laws.

He said their legislation provided generally for the cases I had
instanced, but that attention would be immediately given to the subject,
and he thought we need not have any reason to be dissatisfied with the
action they would take in the premises.

He then told me that our new tariff law was a subject of great complaint
in Belgium, and great distress in some branches of industry which it had
destroyed, referring specially to glass and some kinds of woollen
goods.

I again explained our system of revenue, which all manufacturing States
this side the Atlantic insist upon believing to be disadvantageous to
their interests.

* * * * * *

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient
servant,