Letter

William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams, September 5, 1865

[Extract.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams

No. 1538.]

Sir: * * * * * I have to inform, you by direction of the President, that he will neither make promises nor grant either passports or permits for return to rebels now abroad; applications for pardons will be considered only when the persons making, them are residing in the United States, and, in any case, there must be an unreserved, not a conditional appeal to the mercy and magnanimity of the government.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

[Same, mutatis mutandis, to all our ministers abroad.]

Sources
FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth C View original source ↗
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth C.