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United States and ourselves relations which have a tendency to become more easy and more close by means even of decisions which we may think it a duty to take at this moment. We take them in the plenitude of our freedom of action, which we must maintain entire to the end. This reservation is imperatively commanded by our sense of dignity; and anything which might have the character of pressure, which could not be borne on the part of a foreign government, would only have for consequence to force us, against our wish, to prolong a state of things which our interest, well understood, has decided us to abridge. It is impossible that this situation is not perfectly understood in advance by the cabinet of Washington, and it will certainly dedicate all its cares to turning aside incidents which would be susceptible of bringing results regrettable to those I have made allusion to.

Receive, marquis, the assurances of my high consideration.

Marquis DE MONTHOLON, &c., &c., &c.

MOUSTIER.

Mr. Seward to the Marquis de Montholon.

DEPARTMENT of State,

Washington, October 27, 1866.

SIR: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 15th instant, stating that the Emperor's government had decided to abolish the tax on passports, and to grant an immunity from such tax to such citizens of foreign powers as might confer a similar immunity on French citizens.

In reply, I have the honor to acquaint you that as passports are not required from French citizens who visit the United States, those citizens are practically exempt from any charge which otherwise might be made for indorsing such instruments. The Secretary of State is the only functionary in this country authorized to issue passports, and he can legally grant them to citizens of the United States only. Until the late civil war, passports had always been gratuitously issued. In the course of the war, however, as a supposed necessary fiscal expedient, Congress enacted a law requiring a fee for passports. The uncertain duration and great expense of that war were believed to warrant unusual taxes. The wisdom of the policy of France, however, in removing the restriction referred to upon freedom of intercourse, may be acknowledged. Without doubt Congress will insist on retaining the tax upon the United States passports only so long as the fiscal condition of the government shall require its continuance.

Accept, sir, a renewed assurance of my high consideration,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

The MARQUIS DE MONTHOLON, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Seward to the Marquis de Montholon.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, November 12, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 13th ultimo, relative to the new law affecting the merchant service, published in France on the 16th of May last, a copy of which you are so good as to enclose. With reference to your inquiry whether this government is disposed to accord the benefits of reciprocity of similar legislation, I have the honor to inform you that I have referred the matter to the honorable the Secretary of the Treasury,

whose province it is to consider such questions, and I shall have the pleasure of recurring to the subject when I shall have received an expression of his views thereupon.

I beg that you will excuse the delay in this acknowledgment, which has been occasioned by the removal of the papers of the department, and that you will accept a renewed assurance of my highest consideration.

The MARQUIS DE MONTHOLON, &c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

No. 89.]

RUSSIA.

Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

St. Petersburg, Russia, October 17, 1865. SIR: I am in receipt of your despatches Nos. 169 and 170. I thank you for the leave of absence, and I shall use it when I find it most conducive to the public interests, and my own pleasure and health.

The cholera, now spread over almost all Europe, will prevent my travelling at once. I deem it my duty to warn the United States against the importation of the "cattle plague" into our country. Being a farmer, and feeling great interest in such subjects, I have read everything upon the subject which is accessible, and I will give you only the result of my conclusions and observations. The cattle plague" is the Russian "cattle pest." In this country it is always more or less prevalent, and generally kills whole herds. Like cholera it is both contagious and infectious-by these terms I mean to say that it is communicated from one animal to another by the physical imposition of the virus upon any animal from any object containing the virus; and also that the virus may be carried in molecules in the air, and thus produce the disease.

It evidently did not originate, de novo, in England, but was carried there by ship-loads of cattle from the Russian Baltic ports. If this theory be correct, then all importation from abroad should be at once prohibited by Congress, if not otherwise possible to be prevented; and it would "pay" well to call Congress together for that purpose only. No ship having a cow, or sheep, or animal from Europe, or countries having "the pest," should be allowed to land in America without sufficient quarantine. Every disease must, at some time, have originated from a violent dieregard of the natural laws, and this as others; but I am of the opinion that there is nothing in the management of cattle in Great Britain and America to generate the disease.

So also no sanitary precautions can arrest it, short of absolute non-intercourse. I believe it to be a species of "bloody murrain," aggravated by the marshy nature of northern Russia, and the utter disregard of all the laws of health which is shown to man and beast, especially in regard to ventilation and cleanliness, which prevails in these cold climates, where great expenditure of heat is needed, and fuel and food scarce. The same causes are producing now the aggravated typhus fever here, which is called outside of Russia "the plague." England was warned long since of the danger of direct importations of cattle from Russia, but failed to heed the advice. I trust our country may be more wise, and more fortunate.

Your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

C. M. CLAY.

No. 91.]

Mr Clay to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

St. Petersburg, Russia, October 29, 1865.

SIR: You will allow me once more, in the dearth of local news from this court, to make a suggestion in reference to the right of suffrage and naturalization in the United States. Amend the national Constitution before the revolted States are readmitted, by clauses of the following import :

1. Hereafter the right of naturalization shall belong exclusively to the federal government, and the Congress shall pass, from time to time, uniform naturalization laws, or deny such right.

2. The right of determining who shall be voters in the States and nation shall belong exclusively to Congress; and hereafter all male persons (or female as well) above the age of twenty-one years, without distinction of color or nationality, who can read and write, and no others, shall be entitled to vote for all officers, State and national, &c.

Clauses similar to those would save us from many evils, from disastrous and continual agitation, and perhaps from another civil war.

I beg you to lay this despatch before President Johnson.
I am, sir, truly, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

C. M. CLAY.

No. 92.]

Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

· St. Petersburg, Russia, October 29, 1865.

SIR: A some attempts are being made to deny the existence of the cattle plague in Russia, I quote (translate from the French) the following extracts from the Russian Gazette of Moscow: "They write from Carsoun (government of Simbinsk) that, besides, a frightful plague desolated our poor fields; the epizôôty rages among the beasts; cattle perish by hundreds, and sheep by thousands. The malady which carries them off is entirely unknown; the beast becomes listless (triste;) the head inclines towards the earth; the eyes are dis turbed, and in an hour all is over. Nothing is attempted to arrest the plague; the superstitious people regard that as a sin. The beautiful herds of cattle of Gorenki, of Posselki, of Stannitchnoe, and of other large villages, scarcely retain the tenth of their original number.''

I trust the American people will not do, what the natives are doing herenothing.

This description of the cattle plague does not answer to that of the one raging in England in all respects, but climate and other surroundings greatly change the symptoms and character of the same disease, as is well known; and notwithstanding the denials of the Russian authorities, who are much interested in the export of cattle, tallow, hides, and wool, I am still of the decided opinion that the disease was carried from the Baltic Russian ports to England.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

C. M. CLAY.

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

No. 98.]

Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward.

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

St. Petersburg, Russia, December 28, 1865. SIR: The President's message has been now received for some days. It was anxiously looked for in all Europe, and has been read with general satisfaction. Under the apprehension of possible war with France and England, United States stocks had declined at least ten per cent. from the highest point reached since the war was closed. But now, under the pacific tone of the message and the indorsement of the able financial views of Secretary McCulloch, which had been already made known in his Fort Wayne speech, American bonds are having a rapid and steady rise; and if Congress shall sustain by legislation the views of the message, our stocks will at no distant time will ascend to or above par. When the resources of a state are derived from fully developed realities and industries, a foreign debt, more especially when it is based upon unproductive loans, by exhausting the precious metals, is ruinous to a state.

But it is different with us. With new and fertile lands, with vast mines and valuable staples, which may be indefinitely produced and sold at great profits, we can well afford to borrow money at an interest which would be ruinous to older countries. A sound financial policy, then, such as that sustained by the President and the Secretary of the Treasury, by a general restoration of the specie basis, and a sure redemption of the funded debt in a reasonable time, will not only establish a safe foundation for home industry, but give us immense credit abroad, which will thus afford us all the reproductive capital we shall so much need.

The foreign relations of the United States are regarded as ably sustained, and it is thought that we can maintain amicable, or at least neutral, relations with all our rivals, without a permanent sacrifice of the Monroe doctrine or our honor. And, although it is not my province to criticise the President's acts or opinions, I must say that he has shown great ability in the laying down the ground of his foreign policy, and which you had already initiated.

Having previously taken the liberty of saying a few words upon the all-important subjects of naturalization and suffrage, I venture only to say that it seems the President has gone the full length of his executive powers in the liberal direction; and if more is necessary to be done, it remains with Congress and the States to perfect what he has satisfactorily begun.

Your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

C. M. CLAY.

Mr Seward to Mr Clay.

No. 187.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 31, 1866. SIR: I transmit to you a copy of a communication of the 29th instant, from Mr. George W. Cook, of New York city, relative to the case of Benjamin Goldberg, a naturalized citizen of the United States, who, it is stated, has been arrested and held to military service in Poland while on a recent visit there. You are instructed to inquire into the circumstances attending his arrest, and if it shall be deemed advisable, to do what you properly can to obtain the release of Mr. Goldberg.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

CASSIUS M. CLAY, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Cook to Mr. Seward,

111 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK, January 29, 1866. SIR: I beg leave to call the attention of the Department of State to the case of Benjamin Goldberg, a naturalized citizen of the United States, who has been arrested while on a visit in Poland, and held for military service.

Mr. Goldberg left New York in the month of September last, for the purpose of receiving an inheritance left him at Warsaw, or some other place in Poland. He carried with him a passport received from the State Department at Washington, and the passport is numbered 21,903, dated August 21, 1865.

I enclose a copy of Mr. Goldberg's letter apprising me of his arrest, also the original envelope containing the same, the postmarks on which may lead to where Mr. Goldberg is held. I would respectfully request that the American minister or consul at Warsaw, or other place, may be instructed to inquire into the case of Mr. Goldberg, and procure his release. Yours, very respectfully,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

GEORGE W. COOK.

Secretary of State.

DEAR SIR: I have been arrested at Poviat Linchitsé, Miasta Zigerger, Gubernia, Warsaw. Please write to the State Department at Washington for my release.

Yours respectfully,

GEORGE W. Cook, Esq.

Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward.

BENJAMIN GOLDBERG.

No. 99.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

St. Petersburg, Russia, February 6, 1866. SIR: I have the honor to transmit to you the papers prepared by Jeremiah Curtin, esq., giving an account of the reception given to the American legation by the citizens and Prince Scherbatoff, the mayor of Moscow. These demonstrations were by the special permission of his imperial Majesty, and are therefore justly regarded as a testimony of the respect and amity felt by the government of Russia for the government and people of the United States.

This is the first demonstration of the kind ever made in Russia, and may therefore be thought to have more than usual significance; and it is so regarded here and by the press in Europe, which has very generally noticed it. Mr. Curtin has undertaken to collect some of the comments of the European press, and when ready I shall take the liberty of enclosing them to the department. I second Mr. Curtin's suggestion that you allow the whole proceedings to be published in From conversations and inquiries from Prince Dolgorvukey, aid-decamp general to his imperial Majesty, and who is known to share eminently his confidence, I am sure such publicity is expected in high quarters here. In the present delicate relations between ourselves and France, and which I most ardently trust may be amicably arranged, these evidences of loyalty to our country from a first-rate power may not be without wholesome influence in the peaceable solution of the same.

I cannot allow this occasion to pass without saying that much of the good feeling existing towards this legation is owing to the character and merits of Mr. Curtin, who has learned the Russian language and speaks it fluently, in which he delivered his speech in Moscow, to the delight of all Russia. He is a great acquisition to this legation, and deserves well of the country.

I am, my dear sir, your most obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

C. M. CLAY.

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