William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams, February 14, 1866

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

Sir: Your confidential letter of the 21st of December arrived here at a time when I was abroad on a short excursion for health to the West Indies. Accumulated correspondence has delayed the attention which I should have been pleased to have given to your letters at an earlier day since my return. I give to this paper, which has been submitted to the President, the form of a confidential reply, upon which you will act in every case in your consideration. There is not one member of this government, and, so far as I know, not one citizen of the United States, who expects that this country will waive, in any case, the demands that we have heretofore made upon the British government for the redress of wrongs committed in violation of international law. I think that the country would be equally unanimous in declining every form of negotiation that should have in view merely prospective regulations of national intercourse, so long as the justice of our existing claims for indemnity is denied by her Majesty’s government, and these claims are refused to be made subject of friendly but impartial examination.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,