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. Chase.

Department of State, Washington, December 24, 1862.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 12th instant, in regard to the collection and protection of the revenue in foreign countries, and to inform you that, agreeably to your suggestion, a circular letter, of which a copy is herewith enclosed, has been transmitted to our diplomatic and consular officers in Europe, requesting them to furnish the information which you desire.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Hon. S. P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury.

[Circular No. 30.]

Department of State, Washington, December 24, 1862.

To the Diplomatic and Consular Officers of the United States:

The necessity of devising new modes of protecting the interests of the revenue of the United States, and of carrying such methods into execution, makes it desirable that the Treasury Department should be informed of the means adopted by the several nations of Europe for the protection of their respective revenues and the collection of duties in the passage of goods across the national frontiers, and in the transhipment in their ports for export to a foreign land.

I have, therefore, to request, at the instance of the Secretary of the Treasury, that you will furnish the department with such information upon this subject as you can obtain in respect to the country of your official residence; also, with the forms which are used, the rules and regulations in force, the fees charged, and other expenses incurred in the foreign revenue service.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.