During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter .

Transcript:

Washington March 30^th 1861.

To.

Hon R. Toombs.

Another interview between the parties named in our dispatches has just taken place. Every statement given us strictly observed except as to time in case of Sumter, order not Countermanded. Pressure from Connecticut undoubtedly delays that. No attempt to reinforce Pickens has been or will be made without notice.

M J. Crawford.

A B. Roman.

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20

During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter .

Transcript [excerpt]:

No 8

Washington, March 29th 1861

Hon: Robert Toombs.

Secretary of State

of the Confederate States,

Montgomery, Alabama.

Sir,

The situation of things here has not changed since the joint dispatch sent by Mr Crawford and myself on the 26th Inst: We have, however, additional reason to believe that, the peace policy is every day gaining ground: if it is not openly avowed by the Administration it is only because they think that public opinion is not sufficiently prepared for it. They fear that a retrograde movement, if taken immediately, may incense the radical Republicans and materially affect the result of the elections which are to take place next week in Connecticut and Rhode Island. They are doing their best to soothe the most irritable among their friends and I find a proof of their success in the editorial marked “A,” on the policy of forbearance, which I have cut from the New York Tribune of the day before yesterday…….It seems evident that Greely who is now in Washington and knows perfectly what is going on, is preparing to take a backward step. The Senate has adjourned sine die yesterday.

[…]

In a conversation with the French Minister yesterday he asked and told me many things confidentially, as to our present situation and our future prospects. When I stated that, in my opinion, our negotiations would end in a truce maintaining the present status, which I considered as equivalent to a quasi recognition of our Independence, he observed that, from what he had already learned from other sources he supposed that would be the arrangement made.

If we obtained it he did not know whether the European Governments would immediately acknowledge us: he had received from Paris no information on that subject, but they would naturally feel disposed to follow the example of the Government of the United States, and to act toward us as if we were Independent.

I think much could be done here with the foreign Ministers to facilitate our negotiations with Europe. It is from them, as a matter of course, that their respective Governments receive the information as to our position and our prospects, on which their opinions are based.

[…]

Very Respectfully

Your obedient servant:

A B Roman.

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20

During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter .

Transcript:

Washington March 28^th, 1861

To Hon R. Toombs.

The Senate has adjourned Sine die—There is a dead calm here.

Commissioners

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20

During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter .

Transcript:

Washington March 27th. 1861.

To

Hon R. Toombs.

It is believed here in Administration Circles that their Eight Million loan advertised for on second proximo will not be taken without specific assurances peace policy—Official orders from the War office directs Maj. Anderson to recruiting service Newport Ky.

Commissioners.

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861. AMS 811/20

During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter .

Transcript (redacted):

No 6.

Washington March 25^th 1861

Sir.

Our joint dispatch of the 22^nd inst. has informed you of the facts which have induced the commissioners to adopt the course of action, or rather of inaction, which they are now following. An incident has, since that time, taken place which corroborates so much the statements we have transmitted, that I consider it my duty to communicate it to you.

Having sent my card to the residence of the Russian Minister, with the letter you had given me for him, he called on me the next day and we had in the french language, which he speaks like a Parisian, a very long conversation. On taking leave he expressed his regret at not being able to see me for some time, as he was going to New York, where he would spend ten or twelve days. It was therefore with some surprise that I saw Mr De Stoeckl again in my parlor yesterday morning. He soon explained, with the frankness which characterizes him, the motive of his visit—He told me that he had been long and intimately acquainted with Mr Seward; that having seen him the day before, they had conversed freely on the actual position of things in the United Sates; that Mr Seward expressed an earnest desire for a peaceful settlement of all the difficulties which now convulse the country; he said that no coercion whatever, no blockade of their ports, would be attempted by the administration against the seceding states; that they would be suffered to collect the duties at the custom-houses but the expenses of their post-offices ought to be paid out of them; that if they were permitted to proceed peacefully in the course they had adopted, he hoped to see them retrace their steps and return to the Union, but if he was to be deceived in that hope, if they persevered in maintaining the position they had assumed, he was of opinion that they should be permitted to depart in peace, and that the conditions of the separation should be settled amicably; that the peace policy would finally prevail, but the necessary time ought to be granted to him. The Senate had not yet adjourned; he had to fight the ultra Republicans of his own party; he was daily gaining ground and would eventually succeed; the difficulties with which he was surrounded should be taken into consideration—Mr. de Stoeckl here remarked that he was quite gratified to hear Mr Seward express such opinions. There would then be no civil war, for he had had a conversation with me on that very subject; I had told him, and he saw I spoke in good faith, that I had come as a peace maker […] Mr Seward said he knew of my arrival, I had sent him my card; he was sorry that our relative positions prevented his paying me a visit; he wanted to see me and to converse freely with me; could not Mr de Stoeckl arrange an informal meeting between us at his home? […]I am therefore invited to take a cup of tea at the Russian Minister’s, on Tuesday next, (tomorrow) at 8 o’clock in the evening. Mr Seward will come in, by chance, at the same time. After tea, Mr de Stoekl will be compelled to go out, on account of business, and Mr Seward and myself will be left together—I need scarcely add that you will be duly informed of the result of our conversation.

Some of the details I have given above might, on any other occasion, be considered as unnecessary and tediously long, but when they relate to a subject which is to us of so vital an importance, I hope you will think it was not improper to give them, in order to enable you to form a correct opinion of the position we now occupy.

Respectfully

Your obedient servant.

A. B. Roman

Hon. R. Toombs.

Secretary of State.

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20

During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter.

Transcript:

Washington March 22^nd 1861.

To Hon R. Toombs.

We have the highest assurances that the delay in the Evacuation of Fort Sumter shows no bad faith, that it will be done as soon as possible. That Pickens will not be reinforced without notice to us. We feel encouraged. We write department fully.

Roman Crawford & Forsyth.

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20

During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter.

Transcript

Copy “B”

Notes of Judge Campbell

No. 2

My confidence in the two facts stated in my ntoe of the 15th to wit that Fort Sumter is to be evacuated and that provisions have been made for that purpose; and will be completed without any delay or any disposition for delay is unabated.

2d That no prejudicial movement to the South is contemplated as respects fort Pickens__I shall be able to speak positively tomorrow afetrnoon.

21st Mar 1861                          Signed J. A. C

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20

During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter.

Washington March 15^th 1861.

To Hon R Toombs.

By pressing we can get an answer to our official note tomorrow. If we do we believe it will be adverse to recognition & peace. We are sure that within five (5) days Sumter will be evacuated. We are sure that no steps will be taken to change the military status. With a few days delay a favorable answer may be had. Our personal interests command us to press, duty to our Country Commands us to wait—What shall we do? Answer.

Martin J Crawford.

Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20