balcony. There they camped all night and the next day, renewing the demand to see the Emperor, and as fast as one vast multitude saw their much loved ruler, another succeeded. Twice I drove to the neighborhood of the palace. I never before saw a larger mass of people together, all intensely silent at the time, and looking steadily towards the balcony where the Emperor was expected to appear. And so continued the excitement, amid all ranks, till I suppose, successively, every man almost in St. Petersburg, from the Emperor's brothers to the lowest workman, had seen their illustrious sovereign. Of course all the military and civil officers of the city called upon the Emperor, and so did the diplomatic corps and the representatives of the church. At a great assembly of the nobles at the palace, the Emperor in person returned his gracious and grateful thanks to Komissarow, and pronounced him a noble from that hour, amid the unanimous acclaim of all present. Addresses of congratulation have come in from all Russia and all Europe by telegram and post. The different "colonies" of foreigners here, and the Americans among others, have sent in their addresses to his Imperial Majesty, and all have been gratefully and graciously received and answered. I expect to hear from our own land, which owes so much to Alexander the II, and shall wait impatiently to be the bearer of the words of emotion which fills the hearts of the millions of the great republic. Your obedient servant, SIR: In an interview with Mr. Edward de Stoeckl, we have received an official confirmation of the exciting report that on the 4th of April last an unsuccessful attempt was made to assassinate his Majesty the Emperor of Russia. This intelligence is received by the President of the United States with profound concern. That concern is increased by the circumstance, apparently authentic, that the infamous attempt was perpetrated from motives of revenge against the government of Russia for its successful suppression of slavery throughout the empire. In every respect, then, except in its failure, this crime is paralleled with that of the assassination of our late and lamented President Abraham Lincoln. The President desires that you will ask a personal interview with his Majesty, and in the name of the United States congratulate him upon the escape which Divine Providence vouchsafed to him, and assure him of the sincere respect, affection, and friendship of the American people. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CASSIUS M. CLAY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 211.J Mr. Seward to Mr. Clay. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 28, 1866. SIR: Gustavus V. Fox, Esq., Assistant Secretary of the Navy, who it is understood is about to proceed to St. Petersburg in a ship of war, has been made the bearer of the official copy of the resolution of Congress congratulating the Emperor of Russia upon his recent escape from assassination. A copy of the instructions to him from this department is enclosed. You will ask an interview for him with the Emperor, and if it should be granted, you may accompany him on the occasion if should think proper. you I am, sir, your obedient servant, CASSIUS M. CLAY, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Fox. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: It has been deemed advisable to take advantage of the visit which it is understood you are about to make to St. Petersburg, to send by you an official copy of the resolution of Congress congratulating the Emperor of Russia upon his recent escape from assassination. The copy is consequently transmitted by this post. Mr. Clay has been instructed to apply for an interview in order that you may present the copy to the Emperor. If the application should be successful, you will make suitable but brief remarks on the occasion. It is probable, however, that a copy of them will be required beforehand with a view to an answer if any shall be thought proper. A letter introducing you to Mr. Clay and a special passport are herewith enclosed. I am, sir, your obedient servant, G. V. Fox, Esq., Assistant Secretary of the Navy. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. JOINT RESOLUTION relative to the attempted assassination of the Emperor of Russia. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Americs in Congress assembled, That the Congress of the United States of America has learned with deep regret of the attempt made upon the life of the Emperor of Russia by an enemy of emancipation. The Congress sends greeting to his imperial Majesty, and to the Russian nation, and congratulates the twenty million of serfs upon the providential escape from danger of the sovereign to whose head and heart they owe the blessings of their freedom. SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the Emperor of Russia. Approved May 16, 1866. No. 112.] Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, Russia, May 31, 1866. DEAR SIR: Your despatches to No. 209, inclusive, are received. In reference to 208, I at once sent note No. 100 to Prince Gortchacow, who promptly responded that the Emperor would give me an audience. The Emperor on the 29th instant, coming in from Tzarsko-selo, gave me a special audience at the winter palace. My address and his imperial Majesty's reply are made (AA) a part of this despatch. His Majesty, after the more formal addresses, in a familiar conversation expressed his high admiration of the ability and statesmanlike policy of the President, saying that a magnanimous and conciliatory policy towards the South seems to be the only secure restoration of the Union. The Emperor reads all the prominent journals each day, and marks with red pencil all the paragraphs to which he desires to call the special attention of the several departments. The Russian journals are full of the discussion of our affairs; and the Emperor is thoroughly conversant with the policies of the President and the Congress. The Russian journals laud very much your conduct of the French-Mexican correspondence, and the summary settlement of Austrian intervention. Very truly, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. P. S.-You will observe that I avoided alluding to the nobles or serfs in this matter; because it is the policy of the government to heal up all differences between classes. CLAY. A A. Address of C. M. Clay. YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY: I am instructed by the President of the United States in this personal interview to say to your Majesty that he has heard of the events of the 4th of April last with profound concern;" and I am ordered, in the name of the United States, to congratulate" your imperial Majesty "upon the escape which Divine Providence has Vouchsafed" to your Majesty, and to assure your imperial Majesty "of the sincere respect, affection, and friendship of the American people." I need not assure your imperial Majesty that these words from the President and people of the United States reflect my own sentiments, for we are all unanimous in our aspirations for the preservation of your imperial Majesty and your imperial Majesty's dynasty, on which are founded our hopes of the future advance of Russia and the eastern world in civilization, in Christianity, and in happiness. Reply of His Imperial Majesty. The unhappy events of the 4th of April are not without compensation. I thank God for his merciful interposition in my behalf, and next my heart is filled with gratitude and pleasure in view of the sympathy which has been called forth by these sad events, not only from all classes of my own people, but from other nations. The words of sympathy are most heartily appreciated which you bear me from the President of the United States and the American people. Under similar circumstances I assured them of my solicitude and sorrow, and I trust under Providence that these our mutual calamities will strengthen our friendly relations and render them ever permanent. You will return, then, my sincere thanks to the President and the people of the United States, and accept yourself my grateful acknowledgments for the personal good wishes which you have uttered towards myself, my family, and my people. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, Russia, May 14-26, 1866. The American minister has this day received a despatch from the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, in which he informs this legation that in an interview with "his excellency Edward de Stoeckl," they had received an official confirmation of the exciting report that on the 4th day of April last an attempt was made to assassinate his Majesty the Emperor of Russia," and that this intelligence is received "by the President of the United States with profound concern," &c. And he concludes: "The President desires that you will ask a personal interview with his Majesty, and in the name of the United States congratulate him upon the escape which Divine Providence vouchsafed to him, and assure him of the sincere respect, affection, and friendship of the American people." The American minister therefore begs his excellency Prince Gortchakoff, vice-chancellor and minister of foreign affairs, &c., to communicate these instructions to his imperial Majesty, and ascertain when it would be agreeable to his imperial Majesty that the American minister should have the honor to perform that pleasant duty. The minister of the United States has the honor to assure his excellency Prince Gortchakoff of his most distinguished consideration. C. M. CLAY. No. 116.] Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF the United States, SIR: By note No. 4345, July 12, N. S., from his excellency M. de Westmann, of the imperial ministry, I am informed that Stanislas Pongoski, a Russian Pole and naturalized citizen of the United States, has been proved to have become our fellow-citizen without leave of the Emperor of Russia, and "by the article 367 of the penal code " he has been deprived of all the rights of Russian citizenship, and banished forever from the Russian empire, and this sentence has been put into execution. I don't see that we can complain, as it settles the debatable question of denaturalization virtually in our favor; and avoids unpleasant issues. I am, truly, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. His Majesty the Emperor to the President of the United States of America. [Translation.] PETERHOF, August 17, 1866. I have received from the hands of Mr. Fox the resolution of the Congress of the United States of America on the occasion of the providential grace of which I have been the object. That mark of sympathy has moved me sensibly. It is not alone personal; it attests once more the sentiments that bind the American nation to that of Russia. The two peoples have no injuries to remember, but only good relations. Under all circumstances new proofs of mutual benevolence are added. These cordial relations are as conducive to their reciprocal interests as to the good of civilization and humanity, and answer the designs of Divine Providence whose will is peace and concord among all nations. It gives me a lively pleasure to see these ties constantly strengthened more and more. I have imparted my sentiments to Mr. Fox. I pray you to be my interpreter to Congress and the American people, whom it represents Tell them how much I appreciate and with me the whole of Russia-the testimonies of friendship they have given me, and how happy I will be to see the American nation grow in strength and prosperity by the union and constant practice of the civic virtues that distinguish it. Accept, at the same time, the assurance of the high consideration with which I am your good friend, ALEXANDER. Mr. Seward to Mr. Clay. No. 219.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your despatch of the 14th of July, No. 116, has been received. It informs me that the Russian ministry has given due notice of some order or decree to the effect that Stanislas Pongoski, a native of Russian Poland, and a naturalized citizen of the United States, has been proved to have become such citizen without leave of the Emperor of Russia, and that, in conformity with article 367 of the penal code, he has been deprived of all the rights of Russian citizenship and banished forever from the Russian empire; and that this sentence has been put into execution. You remark concerning that proceeding that you do not see that we can make it a cause of complaint, insomuch as it settles the debatable question of denaturalization in our favor, and avoids unpleasant issues. I am glad to see that the Russian government has accepted that important principle definitively. Certainly there is no cause of complaint to the proceeding, on our part, provided Mr. Pongoski does not feel himself aggrieved. The case may, perhaps, demand careful examination if it shall turn out that the decree of perpetual exclusion thus pronounced against an admitted American citizen was based upon no other ground than his having voluntarily accepted that character under the Constitution and laws of the United States. In the meantime we may presume that political or other offences entered into the merits of the decree. St Petersburg, Russia, August 30, 1866. SIR: On the 27th July (8th August,) 1866, G. V. Fox, esq., Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Messrs. Murray and Beaumont, and several other persons, were presented by me to his imperial Majesty at Peterhof. Mr. Fox presented the resolutions of Congress signed by the President of the United States, on parchment, and delivered the address* hereunto appended, marked A, to his imperial Majesty. The Emperor of Russia responded: 'He congratulated himself that the sympathy existing between Russia and the United States is appreciated in America." His Majesty added that "he was convinced that this national fraternity would be perpetual; and that for his part he would with all his efforts advance it." ("y contribuerent.") The emperor expressed how "sensible he was of the testimony ('un temoignage') of personal affection which he had just received from Congress and the American nation." 'He thanked those who had come so far to bear him those words." He assured them of "a welcome on Russian soil." And concluded by saying that "never should be effaced from his memory the hearty reception given to his fleet in the United States." Secretary Fox and all the Americans here have been received, by prince and peasant, with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of admiration and love. Secretary Fox has promised me a journal of his stay in Russia, which in due time I will transmit to you as a final report of this extraordinary mission to Russia. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., Washington, D. C. C. M. CLAY. Speech of Prince Scherbatoff, mayor of Moscow, at the great dinner to the Americans in August, 1866. The great nation of the other hemisphere sends us her greetings-that glorious nation that has lately triumphed over her painful trial, and has astonished the whole world by that new *For this enclosure see the close of Mr. Fox's report to the Secretary of the Navy. |