Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams, December 13, 1862

Mr. Seward to Mr.
Adams.

Sir: Your despatch of November 27 (No. 266) has
been received, together with copies of the notes which have been
exchanged between Earl Russell and yourself, on the subject of alleged
enlistments by agents of the United States within the British
dominions.

Your answer to the complaint is approved, and you are authorized further
to assure his lordship that this government has no agents of any kind in
Great Britain, or any foreign country, who are authorized to enlist or
do anything in the way of enlisting, recruiting, or engaging soldiers or
seamen for the military or naval forces of the United States. Nor has
the government any knowledge that any persons are so engaged, under any
pretence of authority to that effect. The United States do not deny,
but, on the contrary, they avow, that voluntary immigration is a
cardinal element of their prosperity. They invite and encourage it, but
only by lawful means. The army and the navy, as well as the occupations
of civil life, whether in time of peace or war, are open always to
immigrants, as they are to all other classes of competent persons who
may desire to volunteer on their arrival within the country, or at any
time afterwards, but not until they have arrived on our shores and
identified themselves with the masses who are subject to our own
jurisdiction and laws.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,