Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatch of November 27 (No. 266) has been received, together with copies of the notes which have been exchanged between Earl Russell and yourself, on the subject of alleged enlistments by agents of the United States within the British dominions.
Your answer to the complaint is approved, and you are authorized further to assure his lordship that this government has no agents of any kind in Great Britain, or any foreign country, who are authorized to enlist or do anything in the way of enlisting, recruiting, or engaging soldiers or seamen for the military or naval forces of the United States. Nor has the government any knowledge that any persons are so engaged, under any pretence of authority to that effect. The United States do not deny, but, on the contrary, they avow, that voluntary immigration is a cardinal element of their prosperity. They invite and encourage it, but only by lawful means. The army and the navy, as well as the occupations of civil life, whether in time of peace or war, are open always to immigrants, as they are to all other classes of competent persons who may desire to volunteer on their arrival within the country, or at any time afterwards, but not until they have arrived on our shores and identified themselves with the masses who are subject to our own jurisdiction and laws.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.