Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
August 11, 1864.
Sir: With reference to my note of the 30th
ultimo, and to your answer of the 8th instant, I have the honor to lay
before you a copy of a letter which I have just received from Mr. A. R.
McDonald, who earnestly requests that passes may be granted without
delay to himself and his brother to enable them to travel in the West
Tennessee department to endeavor to save from destruction the large
quantity of cotton belonging to them.
It appears that a considerable portion of cotton which they had purchased
has been burned by the enemies of the United States, and it is
represented that it is very urgent that they should be enabled to go as
soon as possible to take measures for preserving the remainder.
Such being the case, I venture to ask that their request for passes may
be taken into immediate consideration.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. MacDonald to Lord Lyons.
Washington,
August 10, 1864.
My Lord: I am thankful for your lordship’s
kind consideration and prompt answer to the letter of our firm of
the 28th ultimo.
Since that date we have received intelligence from the Mississippi
river that cotton of ours, to the probable value of $50,000, has
been destroyed by the scouts of the enemy.
By the military regulations of the West Tennessee department aliens
are forbidden to take up residence within that department unless
they muster into service. How far that forbids passage through that
department for transitory purposes by persons who have no intention
of acquiring a domicile there I have no means of judging, but while
a doubt exists as to the wishes of the military on this point, it
would not be respectful to those authorities to hazard a passage
through their lines without express permission. We are, therefore,
debarred
[Page 679]
from access to
those places where our property is situated, and disenabled from
taking such measures as we might find upon the spot to be available
for its safety.
Although aware that private interests are necessarily subordinate to
the public service, especially where the latter is of the vast
consequence of the present public issues, nevertheless I feel urged
by the embarrassing position in relation to this matter in which we
find ourselves to respectfully ask your lordship’s kind assistance
to procure for my brother and myself permission for transit through
the West Tennessee department, so that we may be able to give some
personal attention to the saving, if possible, of the rest of our
property in that neighborhood; and as even a few days may be of very
great importance to us, perhaps the authorities would be kind enough
to give us every possible despatch.
As an argument in favor of the reasonableness of our request, it may
be stated that a regular mail arid passenger line of steamers passes
from New Orleans to St. Louis, Cincinnati, &c, and that, as
passengers travel from these extreme points through the West
Tennessee department, it is a small latitude to permit them to call
at intermediate points for transient purposes. The reason why
aliens, who are non-combatants, are excluded is, that, while their
residence enlarges the duties of the military, the non-combatant
resident contributes nothing to the defence of his home; but as the
transitory passenger does not throw additional burdens upon the
military, I trust that the government will not exclude him from as
much hospitality as it finds to be compatible with public
measures.
Hoping that the urgency of our position, which has induced this visit
to this city, will excuse us for the trouble we are giving your
lordship,
I am, &c.,
Lord Lyons,
&c., &c., &c.
