Mr. Seward to Viscount Treilhard.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 29th ultimo, relative to a proposed tax on Messrs. Rocheran & Co., of New Orleans, pursuant to an order of Major General Butler of the 4th ultimo. In reply I have the honor to acquaint you that this department has requested the Secretary of War to direct General George F. Shepley, at present the military governor at New Orleans, to inquire into and report upon the subject.
On my return to this city I find also your note of the 29th of August, to which is annexed a copy of a despatch which you inform me was recently addressed by Mr. Thouvenel to Mr. Mercier, on the subject of the conduct of civil affairs affecting Frenchmen residing in New Orleans.
It gives me pleasure to acknowledge the candid and liberal spirit which pervades that despatch.
It may be useful to you to know that since the date of that paper, and later than the dates of any complaints from New Orleans which have reached this department, Brigadier General Shepley, who had long before been appointed military governor of Louisiana, has, after some unavoidable delay, actually entered upon the exercise of his functions; and the President thinks himself justified in expecting that Governor Shepley’s administration of civil affairs will be conducted in a spirit of justice and liberality towards all parties who are loyal to the government of the United States, and especially towards foreigners, residents therein, who do not abuse the protection of the government to favor the treasonable purposes of its domestic enemies.
The President will take care, as he has hitherto done, to prevent the practice of any unnecessary severities towards that class of persons, and especially towards Frenchmen of that class. It affords this government much pleasure to acknowledge that, in general, the subjects of the Emperor have borne themselves with moderation and especial forbearance from injurious undertakings during our unhappy civil war. For this reason the President especially desires to redress every just complaint that may have arisen or may hereafter unavoidably arise in behalf of any subjects of his Majesty. It must, however, be understood to be of all things the most difficult for an interested party, like the United States, to weigh the merits of claims which are presented by a friendly government, like France, in behalf of its interested subjects, amid the irritations, excitements, and confusion of civil war. The French government must necessarily experience some difficulty in weighing such complaints as are preferred by such subjects against the United States. Moreover, it may happen that questions may arise between the two governments, or between citizens of the United States and France, out of transactions incident to the present civil war or the war of France against Mexico. Under these circumstances it has occurred to the President that it might tend to a more speedy adjustment of all such claims, and to the preservation of a good understanding between the two governments, if they should enter into a convention for a prompt settlement of claims of the classes to which I have referred, by a board of commissioners to [Page 435] be mutually agreed upon for that purpose. A proposition of such effect has been made by the United States to Great Britain, and it is understood that it will be accepted. I shall be pleased if you think it of sufficient importance to bring any suggestion for such a convention with France to the notice of Mr. Thouvenel.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant,
Viscount Jules Treilhard, &c., &c., &c.