Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/405

Rh were beginning to offer inducements to the shipment of cotton, the result of all which would make the blockade of Southern ports by the United States navy of no importance to foreign nations as long as they could get the cotton through these new channels. The question was referred to the Finance committee.

The future relations between the Confederate States and the United States were altogether unascertainable. On the part of the Confederacy it was determined to seek on the first opportunity the establishment of peaceful intercourse between the two nations. Accordingly it was made unofficially public that the Confederate authorities would send commissioners to Washington as soon as it should be intimated that they would be received, and that in the meantime nothing would be done to precipitate hostilities. Mr. Buchanan was understood as desirous at this time, after the affair of the &quot; Star of the West &quot; had failed, to preserve the status quo of affairs until the close of his term on the 4th of March. The policy of Mr. Lincoln had not been clearly divulged. But President Davis, acting on the authority given him by the Confederate Congress February i5th, appointed three commissioners to the United States, &quot; clothed with plenary powers to open all negotiations for the settlement of all matters of joint property of any kind, within the limits of the Confederate States, and all joint liabilities with their former associates upon principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith.&quot; These distinguished Southern ambassadors awaited instructions as to the time of their departure, and when President Davis received late in the month from President Buchanan &quot; through a distinguished senator,&quot; an intimation that he would be &quot; pleased to receive a commissioner or commission from the Confederate States, and would be willing to transmit to the Senate any &quot; communication received from them,&quot; President Davis hurried Mr. Crawford to Washington to act as special commissioner. Mr. Forsyth immediately