Bishop Lynch's diplomatic instructions

trice

Colonel
Joined
May 2, 2006
FROM MR. BENJAMIN, SECRETARY OF STATE.
Department Of State, Richmond, April 4, 1863.*
[*Note: Date is wrong in the original; this is 1864]

To the Right Reverend P. N. Lynch, Commissioner of the Confederate States, etc.

Sir : I have the honor to address to you herewith a commission signed by the President appointing you Commissioner to represent the Confederacy near the States of the Church, together with full powers and letters of credence in the usual form. In thus confiding to you a mission so delicate and important the President has evinced his high appreciation of your character and ability, and he has directed me to prepare for you these instructions. The recent correspondence between the President and His Holiness the Sovereign Pontiff Pius II., of which a copy accompanies these instructions, was, as you will perceive, not political in its nature, but it exhibited in a striking manner the very benevolent character of His Holiness, his earnest desire for the restoration of peace on this continent, and his readiness to do whatever can be properly done by him as the head of the Catholic Church to promote so desirable a result. The spontaneous action of His Holiness in addressing exhortations to this effect to two of the highest dignitaries of the Church, North and South, elicited from the President the expression of the feelings excited not only in him, but among all the people of the Confederacy, by so striking a manifestation of Christian charity and benevolence. It has seemed proper to the President that in further testimonial of the cordial sentiments entertained toward the Sovereign Pontiff and of respect for his character and eminent position a Commissioner should be sent to reside near the court of the Vatican, for inaugurating such political relations as may be suitable under the circumstances in which the Confederacy is placed. He knows no person to whom this duty could be intrusted that would probably be received by His Holiness with greater satisfaction than yourself. It is scarcely necessary to explain that by a policy as unprecedented as we believe it to be unjust the great powers of Europe have hitherto declined to recognize the unimpeachable title of this Government to admission into the family of nations; nor would there be any utility in entering into discussion of the reasons by which this denial of our rights is justified in the opinion of those powers. It must suffice to say that we can under no circumstances admit in our relation with foreign Governments, either expressly or by any implication, however remote, that the Confederacy stands on any footing other than that of perfect equality with all other nations, and especially with the enemies who are now waging war of invasion for the subversion of its rights and independence.

While maintaining this position, however, we would be scarcely justified in expecting that the Cabinet of the Vatican should assume the responsibility of being the first to recognize our independence and thus to cast a seeming censure on the great powers which control the general policy of Europe on this question. To make a formal demand for our recognition by His Holiness would therefore seem to be ungracious and inconsistent with the friendly feelings which prompt this mission. The President is consequently unwilling to instruct you to pursue any course which would compel His Holiness, however well disposed, to decline acquiescing in our claim, in order to avoid injuriously affecting his relations with other powers. The honor and interest of our own country are, however, paramount to all other considerations. It will be your delicate task to keep in view the great advantage which would accrue to our cause by the formal recognition of this Government by the Sovereign Pontiff, and the establishment with him of the usual diplomatic intercourse. If an occasion be presented which in your judgment offers a reasonable prospect of the successful issue of such a step, the President expects that you will not fail to avail yourself of the opportunity. If, on the contrary, you become satisfied that the result would be unfavorable, you will content yourself with the maintenance of those informal relations which are usual in the case of a Government not yet formally recognized. It is rather to the indirect than the direct effects of your mission that we are disposed to look for fruitful results. Combining, as you will, the advantages of eminent ecclesiastical and political position; located, as you will be, in the center from which radiates the influence of the Holy See; brought, as you must necessarily be, into immediate contact with not only those who control the policy of the States of the Church but with the trusted representatives of all the Catholic powers of Europe —- opportunities will be afforded for enlightening opinions and molding impressions of which the President is confident you will avail yourself with signal benefit to the cause of our country. The errors prevalent in Europe in regard to this people and the struggle in which they are engaged, the unfounded prejudices and false impressions which have been industriously created and fostered by our enemies, constitute weapons against which we are more helpless than against invading armies. The inconceivable blindness to their own interests which has permitted European powers to acquiesce in the monstrous pretensions of the United States, and to respect as effective a blockade of three or four thousand miles of coast, has so increased the difficulty of reaching the European mind with trustworthy intelligence that no small nor unimportant part of your duty will be the dissemination by all proper means of the facts, as contrasted with the fables invented by the enemy. You are quite as well aware as any member of the Government can be that if we could succeed in bringing the truth as to the conduct of this war by our foes, the naked and simple truth without comment or explanation to the knowledge of Christendom, the universal execration of civilized man would render it impossible for them to continue so atrocious a conflict. The recent raid to the city of Richmond for the avowed purpose of sacking the city, committing it to flames, exposing its women to nameless horrors, and putting to death the Chief Magistrate and principal civil officers of the Government, although grouping and presenting in striking form the true features of the warfare waged against us, was not at all exceptional in character. It was, on the contrary, in entire accordance with the history of their operations during the last eighteen months, for the experience of past ages has been fully exemplified on this continent. As the contest has progressed the enemy, at first confident of an easy victory, were comparatively moderate in their treatment of noncombatants, and paid some small respect to the rules of civilized warfare. Having been rudely awakened from their delusion by the unconquerable resistance of our people, their passions have become inflamed, a hatred the most malignant has been engendered, and these evil influences have been carefully nurtured by their leaders, until now nothing is sacred, and their fury spares neither age nor sex, nor do they even shrink from the most shameful desecration of edifices in which the people meet for the worship of God. These things are not, cannot be, known to the public mind of Europe; and as you are familiar with them all, it is not doubted that you will be able to enforce the conviction of their truth on others. If you should think it proper during your absence, either before or after proceeding to Rome, to visit the capitals of the principal Catholic powers, where you would assuredly be welcomed, the President would approve of such action. At Paris, Madrid, and Vienna we are inclined to think your presence would be very useful, and it is left to your own discretion whether to visit them in advance in the simple character of a Catholic prelate, prior to assuming political functions, or to postpone your visit until it shall have become publicly known that you are accredited by the Confederacy. On this point conference with our Commissioner in Paris would probably aid you in arriving at a conclusion, and you will consult with him, or not, at your pleasure. You will receive with these instructions letters of introduction to him, and I am confident that you will receive from him more trustworthy information on all points connected with our interests than could be obtained from any other source in Europe.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of State.
 
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