RANDALL, Postmaster General to William H. Seward, April 12, 1867

Mr. Randall to Mr. Seward

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, enclosing copy of a despatch received from the United States minister at Liberia, recommending the negotiation of a postal convention with Liberia, and to inform you, in reply, that until a regular communication by means of steam vessels, plying direct between the United States and Liberia, shall have been established, the conclusion of a postal convention with that country would not secure any advantage to correspondence; and if it is necessary to the establishment and maintenance of a direct line of steamers to obtain a subsidy from the respective governments, this department cannot grant a subsidy without special legislation by Congress authorizing the same, the existing laws restricting the amount of compensation to be allowed for the conveyance of mails by sea to the postages on the mail transported.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,