Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II

Mr. Seward to Mr. Judd

No. 54.]

Department of State, Washington, June 6, 1863.

Sir: Your despatch of May 9 (No. 47) has been received, and submitted to the President of the United States. In view of the present condition of the Union, it is deemed inexpedient to institute proceedings for obtaining exemption of William Lade, Augustus Henry Jaenschke, and Alexander Kloss, from the claims of the Prusian government for military service. Citizens of the United States, in the present emergency, ought rather to be at home upholding the government against domestic insurrection, than to be adding to its embarrassments by invoking the exercise of its authority for their special relief in foreign countries.

Your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Norman B. Judd, Esq., &c., &c., Berlin.