Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward.
Sir: A copy of your circular (No. 19) dated August 8, 1862, in reference to the wages of labor in the United States, was received by me, and, at or about the same time, another copy was received by our consul at this port.
Mr. Bigelow immediately caused it to be published in the French papers. The result has been a perfect “rush” to this legation. All seem to suppose that they are to have not only ample wages when they get to the United States, but their passage over, paid, or in some way provided for by the government. They are of course greatly disappointed, or profess to be, to find the contrary. But it seems to me, under the inducement of high wages thus held out to laborers, and the temptations of our military service with its pay and bounties, a large emigration must take place; and this would be much increased, permit me to suggest, if the government could induce ship-owners to lower the price of passage for emigrants. I make the suggestion in the hope that, with the aid of those familiar with these matters, you may hit upon some plan by which it can be carried out. The exhaustive character of the struggle in which our country is engaged seems to call for some such remedy to supply the depletion; and you may rest assured that nothing will tend so much and so promptly to that end as cheapening the price of passage. If to this could in any way be added the certainty, upon their arrival, of immediate employment, the gap in our population [Page 388] created by war and its incidents would be more than filled up by current immigration.
I am, sir, your very obedient servant,
His Excellency William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.