Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.
[Enclosures.]
1. Parliamentary paper, (No. 9,) North America. Enlistment of British
subjects in federal army.
2. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, April 29, 1863.
3. William H. Aspinwall to Mr. Adams, April 28, 1863.
4. McAndrew & Wann to Mr. McHenry, March 27, 1863.
5. Mr. J. M. Forbes to Mr. Adams, April 28, 1863.
(See printed correspondence—London, &c.)
[Page 273]
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
April 29,
1863.
My Lord: In farther explanation of the
views which I had the honor to submit to you, in my note of the
18th instant, as to the causes of the present emigration, I have
the honor to submit copies of notes addressed to me by gentlemen
of high character in the United States, who are in a position to
write with knowledge of the facts. The original memorandum, a
copy of which is likewise submitted, is now in my hands.
I pray, &c.,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c.
[Untitled]
Tuesday Morning.
My Dear Sir: I mentioned to you, some
days ago, that several railroads were looking to Great Britain
and to Canada for laborers exempt from the conscription act. Two
or three companies were, to my own knowledge, making such
arrangements. To-day I happened to speak of the matter to Mr.
McHenry, the agent of the Atlantic and Great Western railroad,
now being extended through the State of Ohio, and I received
from him the enclosed memorandum from the agents in New York, on
the promise to return it to him this week. McAndrew and Wann are
British subjects; the latter brother to the manager of the
Belfast Bank. And Mr. Kennard, the consulting engineer alluded
to in memorandum, is an Englishman, nephew to the bankers in
this city,
Very truly and respectfully, yours,
WILLIAM H. ASPINWALL, Edwards’s
Hotel.
His Excellency C. F. Adams, &c.
[Memorandum.]
New York,
March 27,
1863.
Dear Sir: Mr. Kennard wishes you to
send out 500 mechanics. He will have work for them, and more.
Wages here—say, blacksmiths, $2 to $2 50 ; riveters, $1 50 to $2
; fitters, the same; moulders, $1 50 ; and trimmers, do., per
day. Riveters wanted particularly. He also would like you to
send out 3,000 laborers. Their wages will be $1 25 per day. They
should pay their own way out. Mechanics can be had in Belfast
and Scotland.
Truly, yours,
James Henry, Esq., London.
Mr. Forbes to Mr. Adams.
My Dear Sir: The extraordinary
misapprehension which seems to exist here, even among sane people, in regard to enlistments in
this country for the United States, leads me to state that more
than two months ago I was called
[Page 274]
upon, as a director in one of our Lake
Superior land companies, to vote upon an appropriation of money,
to be used in combination with other companies there, for
bringing miners and other laborers over to supply the great want
of labor that had already been felt there. I know, too, that the
great railroad lines of the west were suffering under the
increase of wages and the scarcity of men, especially of those
exempt from draft. Even on the seaboard, in our short winter
days, common labor was at $1 25 per diem.
It seems to me the plain facts of the case are quite enough to
explain the emigration, without supposing want of good faith in
our government as its cause or stimulant.
Very truly, yours,
His Excellency Charles Francis
Adams, &c., &c.
