Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III
Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 17th ultimo, No. 549, transmitting a slip from the Courier de Lyon in regard to the alleged improper enlistment of certain French and Belgian emigrants who arrived at Boston in the ship Guerland, and informing me that our vice-consul at Lyons says that the statement referred to, and others of a similar kind, are interfering seriously with emigration to the United States from that district of France.
Complaints upon this subject have been received at the department from some individuals directly, and from others through Baron Grabow, the chargé of Prussia, and Mr. Blondeel, the minister from Belgium. Explanations have consequently been asked, both of the War Department and of the governor of Massachusetts, the persons referred to having been incorporated in regiments of that State.
A copy of a reply of Governor Andrew is herewith transmitted. It seems to be a fair and even satisfactory statement of the case, and may, in substance, be made use of towards correcting the misrepresentations which are the subject of your despatch.
I am, sir, your obedient servant.
William L. Dayton, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Governor Andrew to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt from the Department of State of the communication addressed to Mr. John P. Cumming, superintendent of immigration at New York, and by you referred to this department, from Jean Barbier, jr., and others, who claim to have been deceived and unfairly enlisted into the military service of the United States, whose complaints you desire me investigate.
In reply, I have the honor to enclose the report of Lieutenant Colonel Wm. S. King, 35th Massachusetts volunteers, superintendent of recruits in Massachusetts, who was personally present when the men in question were landed and mustered, and to whose regiment they have been assigned by the War Department.
The difficulty under which Barbier appears to labor would probably be obviated by informing him that in this country a substitute, as soon as mustered, stands upon the same footing as to promotion (as in all other respects) as a volunteer; indeed, is a volunteer.
With regard to Krone and Papot, their complaints are entirely groundless. It is beyond a doubt that they came here to be soldiers, were knowingly mustered as such, and are to be regarded, and should be treated, simply as deserters.
I have the honor also to acknowledge the receipt of several documents from the Department of State of the United States, covering similar cases of complaints, which are all in process of investigation, and will be the subject of early and careful replies as soon as it is possible to complete the needful inquiries.
[Page 174]If the specific subject-matter of this communication seems to require any further attention or report from me, I beg you to command me.
Meanwhile, I am, respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the papers from the Department of State, enclosing communications from “Jean Barbier, jr., and others, who claim to have been deceived and unfairly enlisted into the military service of the United States,” which you have referred to me as superintendent of recruiting in Massachusetts; and, in reply, I respectfully state that these men, Barbier, Krone, and Papot, who aver that they were told at Hamburg that they were to work at their professions and not going into military service, were, on the contrary, informed previous to their sailing, by government officials at Antwerp and Hamburg, that they were going to the United States to enlist as soldiers, and that if any one of them wished to withdraw he was at perfect liberty so to do. A certificate to this effect, if obtained in season, will be found hereto appended, marked B. That upon their arrival at this port they were landed at Deer island, occupied exclusively by one of the charitable institutions of Boston, for the purpose of keeping the men out of the hands of sharpers; and that the Boston harbor police were on duty there to prevent depredations upon the city property and to quell the disturbances that arose among the men themselves. That they were there informed of the nature of the obligations they were about to assume by Dr. Jeffries, who speaks both French and German, whose high character is known to your excellency, and is a sufficient guarantee of the fidelity of his transactions and explanations, and whose statement is hereto appended, marked A.
That, so far from expecting to be employed in trades, their attention was pointed to myself as the commander of the regiment to which they were to be attached; and several of them, at their own request, were presented to me, and in particular the man Barbier, who preferred a request to be promoted as soon as possible; to which I replied that he would be recommended for promotion as soon as he had acquired a sufficient knowledge of our language and shown himself qualified to hold a commission. That others, who were rejected by the examining surgeon as physically unfit for the service, loudly appealed to me to accept them as soldiers, declaring that they came for that sole purpose; and no one of them could have been so simple as really to believe that even the philanthropists of Boston would pay $64 for the passage and bestow a bounty of $100 to induce an emigrant to come to America to work at his trade. That in no case whatever was compulsion used, nor could any single person there doubt the purpose for which the papers were submitted for their signatures. Our officers were in uniform, the general conversation was of their destination, the very camp on Galloup’s island to which they were to be conveyed was in plain sight, and was shown to them, dotted with its white tents and barracks, and upon the departure of the first squad of about 100 for the camp, the others, thinking that they had been rejected as recruits, broke out into violent demonstrations of disappointment and anger, and were only appeased by the assurances given them that they, too, would go to camp as soon as the formalities of enlistment could be completed.
[Page 175]That as to the Joss of clothing to the amount of $200 each, which was complained of, he would have been rash speculator who would have given $200 for the entire wardrobes of the whole party of nearly 400 men.
The difficulty with Barbier, who appeared to be a gentleman of education and had held a military commission, would seem to be his misapprehension of the position of a substitute in our service, and his ignorance of the fact that when mustered he stands on the same footing as to position and opportunities for promotion with any other volunteer. If this were explained to him, I think his discontent would cease.
Believing that this explanation covers every point presented in the complaint, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
His Excellency the Governor of Massachusetts.
A.
Colonel; In so far as the communication you send me relates to myself, I would respectfully report the following: I happened to have examined this man, Jean Barbier, and to have had considerable conversation with him on my own part, and as interpreter between yourself and him. I also acted as interpreter for the provost marshals when the men were sworn into the service, both in French and German. In this capacity I acted honestly and faithfully, and took a great deal of time to explain and translate the oath to the men before and at the time of their being sworn in.
I do not remember to have had the conversation which private Barbier says I had with him; but if I did, my answer was correct, as the money he received would have no effect upon his promotion. It was not a bounty, substitutes receiving none from the United States or the State of Massachusetts. I explained to the men that they served in the place of some one who paid their expenses and the $100 they received. In reference to any compulsion, I would say that as there were none but infantry regiments open to those not speaking the English language, I myself, by personal application, succeeded in obtaining places in cavalry regiments for two or three men, which places they finally would not take, and did not, therefore, enter the service at all.
By conversation with the men I ascertained that they came here to be soldiers, although, as they told me themselves, this could not of course be expressed in the contract which they all signed before embarking from Europe, for fear of international difficulty. I saw the contract printed in the English and foreign languages, and there was nothing in it in reference to being soldiers. The men knew they were making another with the United States when they were sworn in, which was in no way compulsory and not connected with the other. They said they were promised $100 in United States money and a free passage, which they received. I was greatly annoyed by those whom I rejected being clamorous to go with the others, they saying that they did not come here to work, but to be soldiers. Some of them showed me their papers, proving they had served at home and were recently discharged, and they felt on that account they ought to be fit for soldiers here.
I remain, colonel, respectfully,
Lieut. Col. Wm. S King, Superintendent of Recruiting, Mass.
[Untitled]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a communication addressed to Mr. John P. Gumming, superintendent of immigration at New York, and by him referred to this department, from Jean Barbier, jr., and others, who claim to have been deceived and unlawfully enlisted into the military service of the United States.
I will thank you to investigate the matter, and to advise me of your opinion thereon.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
His Excellency John A. Andrew, &c., &c., Boston.
[Untitled]
Sir: In reply to the communication of October 8, which I had the honor to receive from you, covering a copy of a note from the consul general of Switzerland, with regard to the cases of Uster and others, recruits in the military service of the United States, concerning which cases you request me to cause investigation to be made, I herewith forward to you a letter addressed to me by M. D. Ross, esq., who is mentioned in the complaint of Uster and others as the person by whom they had been wronged.
I also forward herewith a copy of the report mentioned by Mr. Ross as having been made to me by Messrs. Forbes, Reed, and Dalton, in April last, whom I had requested to investigate the complaints made of ill treatment of the earlier emigrants.
In the same connexion, I beg to refer you, for additional information, to the communication addressed by me to you on this same general subject, under date of November 4, and to the reports of Lieutenant Colonel King, superintendent of recruiting service, and Surgeon B. J. Jeffries, which were therewith enclosed.
The general conclusion to which I arrive with regard to all the men brought here by Messrs. Allen and Ross is, that they all came for the express purpose of entering the military service—a purpose distinctly understood by each one of them before leaving Europe; that there was no deceit practiced upon them; that their enlistment upon arrival here was voluntary; and that those who now complain of fraudulent treatment do so without reasonable grounds, and probably in the hope that, by making a disturbance now, some pecuniary benefit may arrive to them, either by way of their premature discharge from the service which they contracted for by their voluntary enlistment, or by way of extorting from the parties who brought them over that portion of their military bounties which they assigned to those parties in reimbursement of the expenses and risks of bringing them over.
In this same connexion, I beg to make mention letters of Major F. N. Clarke, 5th artillery regulars, acting assistant provost marshal general, dated October 15 and October 21, addressed to Brigadier General Fry, Provost Marshal General of the United States, (with the documents thereto annexed,) as confirming this view of the subject. Those letters are, I presume, on the files of the War Department.
I have the honor to remain, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
Governor: The documents referred to me, under date of October 12, by your excellency, “for such remarks as I might deem proper to make,” received my immediate attention, and have been carefully read and considered.
Said documents set forth a complaint on the part of certain persons claiming to be natives of Switzerland, alleging that they have been forcibly made soldiers in the army of the United States, and that, “at the instance of a certain Charles Fisher, they have been advised to seek to be released from military service.” I have delayed my report upon this subject in order that the lapse of a little time might develop some facts which would be of use. Although the documents in question do not make such specific or definite statements as to render it certain that the complaining party is in any way identified with any transactions in which I have been concerned, yet I have but very little doubt that these Swiss are some men who came from Antwerp to Boston in one of several vessels consigned to my care, bringing in all several hundred persons who emigrated to this country for the sole purpose of enlisting in the United States army, whilst I have acted on the part of citizens of Massachusetts in furnishing them with the means necessary to come to the country as well as to facilitate their enlistment into the army after their arrival here. The statement made by these men is, however, so extravagant and so at variance with the truth—provided it should be made to appear that they are men with whom I have had anything to do—that I am entirely at a loss to know how to make a specific reply to their complaints, beyond a general denial of their truth, because I have no knowledge whatever of any such transactions as they allude to.
But in order that all parties concerned may be able to form a correct conclusion as to whether these men have or have not any cause to complain of ill treatment by myself or associates, I will give, in brief, a general outline of that experiment on the part of citizens of Massachusetts for encouraging European emigration; and then, if it should eventually be made to appear that these men were included in our transactions, their case may be more clearly understood than as represented in their document.
Soon after the war broke out in the United States it became apparent that the great demand for men for the army, as well as for laborers on the farms and in the workshops of the country, had given a great stimulus to the surplus unemployed population of Europe to emigrate and avail itself of the means of employment so readily to be obtained here. President Lincoln had suggested in his messages to Congress that foreign emigration should be encouraged, and Congress had legislated to that end. Availing ourselves of information obtained from European correspondents, in Germany especially, that there were thousands of young able-bodied men there who were anxious to emigrate to this country for the purpose of engaging in our military service, provided a free passage could be secured to them, and provided some responsible party could secure to them a specified sum of money and an opportunity to enlist immediately on their arrival in the United States, and taking into view the recommendation of the President and the legislation of Congress on the subject of encouraging European emigration, in connexion with the above-named facts and the great demand for men, it was determined on the part of a few of our patriotic citizens to try the experiment, which seemed to be so clearly suggested by Congress as well as by the people of Europe who wished to come here. An arrangement was made with Mr. Julian Allen, a well-known citizen of New York, to go to Europe with means at his command to furnish a free passage and pay all expenses necessary to the comfort of, say, 200 men from some European port to Boston; and although some of the parties who furnished the means for this experiment were actively interested in aid of other plans for bringing over emigrants, skilled [Page 178] mechanics, for our factories and machine shops, &c., yet this scheme, represented by Mr. Allen in Europe, and myself in Boston, was intended and distinctly understood by all concerned to be for the sole purpose of facilitating the immigration of able-bodied men who wished to come here for the sole purpose of enlisting in the United States army.
In April of this year about 213 men were forwarded by Mr. Allen from Hamburg, via Hull and Liverpool, in England, to Portland, Maine, and thence by railroad to Boston, there being no steamers carrying emigrants direct to Boston from any European ports. I herewith submit a copy of the contract under which these men agreed to come. They were tampered with on the passage by men who offered them large bounties, provided they would go with them and enter the southern confederate army; and others, known as runners and brokers in the recruiting service, offered them extra bounties and persuasive arguments to induce them to violate their agreement with Mr. Allen, and enlist in the State of Maine. Trusting as we did in their good faith, we made no special provision to guard against such influences, and the result was that we lost about one-quarter of our men, who got into the hands of the runners and brokers in Portland, Boston, and some from New York; thus also involving us in a heavy pecuniary loss, for the expenses were, from various causes, swollen to a very large sum over our estimates and expectations. About 60 of these men, notwithstanding all the adverse influences thus brought to bear upon them, eagerly volunteered into the 20th Massachusetts regiment, and were apparently well satisfied with the treatment they had received on our part. Soon after their transfer to Galloup’s island as enlisted soldiers, they were sought out by the same class of men who tampered with them before they enlisted, and were persuaded to make complaints that they had been cheated, &c. They also were induced to complain of ill treatment by the United States authorities, &c. Your excellency deemed it advisable, on my request, to appoint a commission to investigate and report upon the facts in the case as to whether these men had been fairly treated or not. I also requested an expression of opinion as to the propriety of continuing to encourage this class of emigration in the light of the experience thus granted. I beg to refer to the report of Messrs. Forbes, Reed, and Dalton, who constituted your commission, for information as to the result of this first experiment, so far as it may be necessary to determine whether the emigrants were fairly treated or not.
Our experience taught us thus far that in any future operations, in order to insure success, we must charter vessels to be under our own control, not only that we might guard the men against the influences of secessionists, and runners and brokers, but also to secure to the men a comfortable passage; for although we had paid unusual sums of money to secure comforts for the 213 of the first experiment, we have reason to believe that they did not receive all that we paid for, and which they would have received but for the coming in contact with avaricious influences not under our control to prevent. The result of the experiment, however, being nevertheless satisfactory, not only to the emigrants, but also to our citizens, larger means were provided, and three ships—one steamer and two sailing vessels—were chartered, which sailed from Antwerp direct for Boston, bringing in all over 900 men, all of whom I have the most reliable means of knowing embarked at Antwerp at their own solicitations, and with the most distinct understanding that they wished to enlist in the United States army immediately on their arrival in Boston.
They nearly all signed a document, a copy of which I herewith submit with a sample of a few of their signatures. The exceptions where this document was not signed were, as I am informed by Mr. Allen, as well as by the men themselves, simply by accidental omission. On the arrival of the men in Boston harbor, having been warned in various ways that a strenuous and determined effort would be made to induce them to violate their agreement with us, we determined [Page 179] to guard against such influences if possible, and accordingly, at great expense, we provided barracks on Deer island for their reception and accommodation. This island being owned by the city of Boston, and nearly all occupied by schools, hospitals, and industrial institutions, we only obtained permission from the directors of those institutions to occupy any portion of the island on condition that we would procure from the city authorities a police force sufficient to protect the island from persons who would, from curiosity or otherwise, be inclined to assemble there, and thus disturb the institutions and injure the gardens and cultivated fields about the institutions, and also to prevent our emigrants from rambling over the premises devoted to the institutions. Such a police force was granted by the city authorities, and was present on the island when the emigrants were landed, and was there for the sole purposes above named, and for no other purpose. It may be proper here to remark, that so far as the emigrants themselves were concerned, the only precaution found by experience to be necessary on our part was to see that no unnecessary delay should exist in facilitating the enlistment. They were impatient to enlist, and the least delay which they could not see the necessity for caused them to feel a distrust, and fear that there might be a failure on our part to enable them to do so.
The point to which I wish to call attention is, that all their enlistment contracts were made voluntarily by themselves after their arrival here. Upon arrival each one was free to enlist or not, as he should choose. So far as we were concerned, we had simply advanced a large sum of money, and incurred an extraordinary risk, based simply on their verbally expressed desire to enlist after they should arrive here, they having executed papers binding themselves to transfer their bounties to us provided they should enlist, in order to reimburse our outlay for their transportation and expense. The bargain with the men was simply a civil contract with Julian Allen to procure them a free passage to the United States at all events, and then to pay them $100 after entering into such employment as I should designate, which they understood, as well as I did, would be that of a soldier. We did not seek to make a contract binding them to enlist. We trusted to their honor and to our knowledge that they had no desire to do otherwise than enlist; and, therefore, when the men were landed on Deer island, they then and there voluntarily, by their words and acts, did enlist, free from all exercise of force or compulsion.
To this disposition on the part of the emigrants to carry out voluntarily and in every respect the spirit and intent of the agreement with Mr. Allen there were a few exceptions. One man who came on the steamer Bellona acknowledged that he was naturally a coward and feared to enter the army. He offered himself, however, to the surgeon for examination, and was accepted as sound in body; but when he came to be mustered and to take the oath of allegiance his courage failed. Some two or three others made evasive excuses for not enlisting, until it became evident that they were dishonest men who did not intend to carry out in good faith their understanding with Mr. Allen. As soon as this was ascertained, we gave them to understand that they were at liberty to leave our premises in freedom to go where they chose; and even under these circumstances, notwithstanding their dishonesty, we provided them with the means of immediate support, not being willing that they should be a burden on the community. One of the sailing vessels had on board 27 men, who, as it subsequently appeared, came here under the influence of a dishonest man who had formerly lived in New York, and who, under pretence of coining here to enlist in the army, got on board at Antwerp and induced these 27 men to refuse to land on Deer island. As we had no disposition, or right, or power, to force these men to enlist, we thereupon adopted what seemed to be the wisest expedient of getting rid of them, which was to pay their passage to New York, where they wished to go. All the rest of the men voluntarily landed and eagerly enlisted, with the exception above named; those who, from physical [Page 180] infirmities, were rejected by the surgeons, being greatly disappointed. These were provided with employment immediately, or were given means to go to New York or elsewhere, according to their expressed wishes.
As to the charges made by the Swiss complainants (if they are a part of the men who came here consigned to my care) that they were enlisted by force, &c. I know of no other way than by simply saying that it is all a mere fabricatione without having the slightest foundation in truth; and I desire to say in conclusion, as comprehending the point and gist of the whole matter, that there was no compulsion of any kind whatsoever exercised over any man brought by us from Europe; but that the enlistment of each such man, upon his arrival here, was voluntarily and of his own free choice; and that each such man, upon his arrival here, was absolutely and completely free from any physical, legal, or other restraint whatsoever, as to whether he should or should not so enlist.
If there should be a necessity to procure other evidence beyond my own statement, I would advise that the evidence of the United States enlisting officers and paymasters who were present on Deer island should be obtained. Several of our citizens were also present, assisting in the business of enlisting the men. Everything was done openly and aboveboard, and the men being all cheerful and constantly animating and cheering all present by their manifestations of happiness on having their condition changed from what it had been to that of a United States soldier. I will make no comment upon what the Swiss complainants say about what they caused to be published in the newspapers, except that I will say that I never saw the article which they state they published, nor did I know that such a newspaper existed; and as for my replying and calling them paupers, &c., I have never, either directly or indirectly, made any communication whatever through the newspapers about these men in any shape or form.
I presume these men have been told by bad men having some selfish end in view that such had been my action. The fact is, that were it necessary or could any good result from it, many things might be related in this report detailing the means that have been resorted to by bad men to make these emigrants discontented with the lot of their free choice.
Having thus given a general outline of facts which will enable the authorities at Washington to judge whether it is likely that any wrong has been done towards the Swiss or not, I submit what I have said with respect, and will be most happy to furnish any other facts within my power, should they be called for.
I have the honor to remain your excellency’s obedient servant,
His Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor of Massachusetts.
[Untitled]
Gentlemen: I beg to refer to you the within papers:
1. A complaint by Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, of the veteran reserve corps, commanding United States draft rendezvous at Galloup’s island, that certain German recruits for the 20th Massachusetts volunteer infantry “have been wronged.”
2. A letter of M. D. Ross, esq., in answer to a copy of Lieutenant Colonel Johnson’s complaint, which I transmitted to him.
I will be much obliged if you will act as such a committee as Mr. Ross requests, and will report to me on the whole subject: 1st. As to whether any wrong has been done; and if so, as to what measure of redress is due from me. 2d. As to the expediency of Mr. Ross’s plan of bringing more German recruits to Massachusetts. 3d. As to any action which I can properly take to encourage it.
[Page 181]If you need any official documents, copies of bounty statutes, &c., in pursuing this investigation, a mention to my military secretary of what you need will immediately procure copies for you. I regard this subject as of great importance, not only as helping towards our quota, but also as helping to preserve our old regimental organizations. The 20th regiment has already been filled to the maximum from this source, and it is proposed next to fill up the 2d. Colonel Macey, of the 20th, who has attended to the reception of the recruits for that regiment, is in a position to give you valuable information concerning it.
Please to return to me, at your convenience, the letters of Lieutenant Colonel Johnson and Mr. Boss.
I have the honor to be, very truly, yours,
John M. Forbes, Esq.
Brig. Gen. John H. Reed, Quartermaster General.
Col. Chas. H. Dalton, Asst. Quartermaster General.
[Untitled]
Governor: In reply to your communication of 25th instant, we beg respectfully to report that we have carefully read the communications submitted to us relating to the alleged complaints as to the enlistment of certain German recruits now in the 20th Massachusetts volunteer regiment, namely, a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Johnston, and a letter from M. D. Ross, esq., and other papers.
Also, that Colonel Johnston has politely met us, and freely informed us of what knowledge he had upon the subject, as well as Lieutenant Magnitsky, an intelligent German officer in 20th Massachusetts volunteers, who has made himself personally familiar with the feelings of the aforesaid emigrants; also, Dr. B. Joy Jeffries, examining surgeon of said recruits, who has freely conversed with all the men in their own tongue; also, Messrs. Ross and Brown.
We have examined various original contracts and assignments of bounties and other papers, and believe we have enjoyed ample opportunities for arriving at a just opinion in the premises.
In reply to query 1, “as to whether any wrong has been done, and if so, as to what measure of redress is due from me,” we have to reply that we believe no wrong has been done; but, on the contrary, we have convincing evidence that Mr. Ross and associates have much more than fulfilled their obligations to the men, in which Colonel Johnston fully concurs after examining the facts.
Query 2, “as to the expediency of Mr. Ross’s plan of bringing more Germans to Massachusetts,” we are of the opinion that the plan pursued by Mr. Ross, or any similar one, for facilitating the emigration of able-bodied men, will result to the mutual advantage of the emigrant and the Commonwealth, and advise that it be allowed to continue.
Query 3, “as to any action which I can properly take to encourage it,” we recommend that Mr. Ross and associates receive all aid, encouragement, and protection, so far as you can lawfully extend it, upon evidence that they will faithfully perform their part of such contract as they make, and that the emigrants themselves are carefully informed of their own obligations previous to leaving their homes.
We beg to add that we believe your excellency need entertain no anxiety in regard to the actual experiences of the men in question, as, from all the evidence we have had before us, we assure you that we believe the men were satisfied with their treatment up to the time of their arrival at Galloup’s island, and that [Page 182] any complaints they have made to the commandants, or which have come to your knowledge from other sources, were induced by the intermeddling of interested parties, who, in our judgment, are unworthy of further consideration. Finally, we have reason to believe that the men in question, in addition to a free and comfortable passage to this country, have received a larger pecuniary consideration than many of their American comrades.
We return the papers submitted, and have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servants,
His Excellency John A. Andrew.
[Untitled]
Sir: In reply to the communications I have had the honor to receive from you under dates of October 21 and October 29, covering copies of notes from his excellency the minister of Belgium, I beg leave to make reference to my letters to you of November 4 and of the present date, with regard to certain emigrants brought to Boston by Messrs. Allen and Ross, as covering all the points in the cases in question.
I am satisfied, on investigation, that the enlistments of all the men in question were voluntary, and that any allegations of force being employed toward them to induce them to enlist are untrue; and I do not discover any evidence of any fraud practiced against them in the transaction.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
Sir: Referring to the communications I have had the honor to address to you under dates of November 4 and November 12, in reference to your inquiries concerning the matter of the enlistment of foreigners at Boston, about which complaints had been made through the Swiss, Belgian, and Prussian legations, I further enclose to you, herewith, a copy of the journal L’Etoile Belge, being the number printed at Brussels on October 31, which contains a communication from Mr. L. A. Dochez on this general subject.
All the information which I have gathered on the subject goes to sustain the correctness of this statement of M Dochez; and I respectfully suggest that the attention of the foreign ministers who have communicated to the Department of State the complaints mentioned be invited to this statement.
I have the honor to remain, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
JOHN A. ANDREW, Governor of Massachusetts.
I also enclose a translation which I have caused to be made of those portions of the statement of M. Dochez which relate to the emigrants for our military service.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
To the Editor of L’Etoile Belge:
Sir: In your number of the 13th of October you reproduced an article from the Courier des Etats-Unis containing a letter dated at New York, September 20, and signed by four emigrants, who complained bitterly of having been induced by my solicitations to quit Belgium for the United States of America. These emigrants say that I made them false promises; that they emigrated expecting to engage in civil occupations there, and not to enlist as soldiers; that they have been treated like dogs; and, finally, that they were turned loose in a foreign city, having been presented with only one shirt and $7.
On October 14, accepting as veracious these allegations of the Courier des Etats-Unis, you denounce me as a “dealer in human flesh,” and you say that I have “seduced away from their families many hundreds of young men, who have been led to the shambles like a herd of slaves,” and you call the attention of the public authorities to the pretended facts which you lay to my charge.
On October 16, instead of publishing the answer which I addressed to you, you insert only four lines of it, and you declare that you adhere to the version of the Courier des Etats-Unis, for the reason that it is in a better position than you “to appreciate the value of the complaints of which it has made itself the organ.”
Finally, on October 18 you reproduced an article from the Organne des Mons, which pretends to have knowledge of a pretended despatch from our consul at New York, saying that the Belgian laborers who have found work in the American mining districts earn no larger wages than at home, and impugning my authority to represent American companies.
I find myself, therefore, obliged to reply to your four articles in one response and to summon you, this time by an officer of the law, to give insertion to my reply.
There is, sir, one powerful reason which should have made you suspicious of the veracity of the allegations contained in the Courier des Etats-Unis. You are well aware that this Bonapartist and pro-slavery journal makes war to the knife against the government of the United States, and that the approach of the presidential election has redoubled the violence of the attacks of this partisan of the south against the defenders of the Union, whom it calls the “republican butchers of the north.” Nor are you less aware, sir, that political parties in the United States, as in Belgium, are only too often too careless of the morality of the means by aid of which they hope to triumph over their adversaries. What would you say if in foreign countries one should assume as literally true the accusations which certain Belgian newspapers sometimes prefer against the government of our country?
But however that may be, it is to me, in my capacity of agent of the bureau of emigration, No. 2 Rue de Brabant, Brussels, that the accusations of which your journal and certain others have made themselves echoes do especial outrage, and against me that they are especially directed. And they being so directed, since you have invoked the attention of the public authorities to them, I have been expecting that the subject would be made matter of judicial investigation. I regret having now to recognize that your denunciations have not been followed up in that manner, and that no prosecution has been initiated against me; for thereby I have missed an opportunity to establish by legal proofs that my conduct has been no other than honorable and loyal. But if it is true that the laws of my country have in no way been offended by me, the denunciations of the press remain none the less prejudicial to public opinion, and I value too much the esteem of my fellow-citizens not to regard it as a duty to disprove those denunciations to their satisfaction. For that purpose a bare statement of the facts is quite sufficient.
[Page 184]Since I returned from the United States in June, 1863, I have been engaged in two distinct enterprises of emigration from Belgium.
The object of the first was to engage artisans for civil labor in the United States, and especially miners for the mines in the State of Illinois. In this enterprise I acted as agent of various American corporations, and, among others, of those who work the most important oil mines of the western States.
* * * * * * * *
The second enterprise of emigration in which I have co-operated commenced during the month of July, 1864, and was completed on September 7. It had for its purpose to facilitate the transportation of Belgians desirous to enlist in the military service of the United States; and it was for this enterprise that I opened the bureau of emigration, No. 2 Rue de Brabant.
In this connexion, sir, I have to answer to the accusation of having deceived artisans by engaging them to emigrate to the United States for the purpose of subjecting them to military service there, while leading them to believe that they were emigrating to find there civil employment. That is an odious accusation. Before entertaining it, good faith should have required some support of it by proofs. And it is a lying accusation. To not one single emigrant who addressed himself to me since the establishment of my bureau in the Rue de Brabant, did I promise civil employment. Every single one who quitted Belgium emigrated with the intention of entering the military service of the United States, and with that intention and for that purpose solely. Every single one knew that he would not be able to obtain the promised bounty of $100, and receive the monthly pay of $12, and be clothed free of expense to himself for three years, except by enlisting as a soldier.
I affirm this positively, sir, and I challenge the presentation of the slightest proof to the contrary. I further insert, in this connexion, a copy of the circular which I addressed to most of the burgomasters of Belgium a little while after the opening of my bureau, and before the departure of the ships which transported the emigrants alluded to by the Courier des Etas-Unis:
“Brussels, July 29, 1864.
“Sir: I have the honor to inform you that if in your town you have able-bodied unmarried men between the ages of twenty-one and forty years, who are poor and a public charge, you can, if you desire it, send them to engage in the service of the United States.
“The following will be the conditions of such engagement:
“1st. They enlist for three years’ service.
“2d. Their expenses of travel and of subsistence are paid from the places of their residence in Europe until the expiration of the three years.
“3d. They receive a bounty of a hundred dollars upon their arrival in the United States.
“4th. They are entitled to monthly pay of $12 during their three years’ service, and are furnished, free of cost to themselves, during the entire term of their enlistment, with all their clothing and other military equipments.
“It is absolutely necessary that, before the sixth of August next, you shall transmit to me a certificate of military service or of identity of such emigrants. That is needful to enable me to forward to you funds to pay the expenses of their travel in Europe to the port of embarkation.
“With the assurance, sir, of my high respect, I am your obedient servant,
“LOUIS A. DOCHEZ, “Agent for Emigration to the United States, “No. 2 Rue de Brabant, Brussels.”
[Page 185]You perceive, sir, that this circular could not leave any doubt as to the destination of these emigrants. It was to such as should desire to serve in the federal army that this appeal was addressed. To those alone were expectations held out of the bounty of $100, a pay of $12 per month, and all their clothing and military equipments.
Still more, sir, you yourself gave insertion to the following advertisement, which I copy from your newspaper of August 2:
“Eight hundred volunteers, emigrants between the ages of 21 and 40 years, can find service in the United States on advantageous terms. Present yourself, with a certificate of military service, before August 6, at the office of L. A. Dochez, No. 2 Rue de Brabant, Brussels.”
Finally, I offer to prove that at the time of the sailing of the ships from Antwerp the conditions announced in my circular to the burgomasters were again publicly repeated to the emigrants, and that a boat was placed at the disposition of such as should manifest a desire to remain in Belgium.
And further, what need had I to make use of any artifice? What reason was there why I should resort to fraud for these enlistments?
Is the enlistment of Belgians for service in foreign countries prohibited? Has not our own government, for the last six moths, been encouraging the organization of a body of troops for such service?
At the same time with my advertisement, your newspaper was publishing that of General Chapelié calling for volunteers for the war in Mexico. And, moreover, it is not proper to speak of these as enlistments made by me. No contract of enlistment was signed on Belgian soil. I had no power for that purpose.
On arrival in the United States these emigrants were perfectly free to enlist or not. Most of them did enlist, and received the bounty of one hundred dollars. Some were unwilling to enlist, and among such were those who, if one can believe the Courier des Etats-Unis, complain of not having received the bounty, or the military uniform, or the other advantages promised. Is not such a complaint absurd? How would it have been possible for the persons of whom I was the agent to furnish gratuitously transportation and subsistence to the United States, and to pay a bounty of $100 to each of these emigrants, if they, refusing to carry out an agreement voluntarily entered into by themselves, should fail to fulfil the condition which constituted the basis for such bounty?
The enterprise, sir, in which the persons of whom I was the agent were engaged, was simply an enterprise of transportation; and it derived a legitimate remuneration of its expenses by assignment of a portion of the bounty paid by the United States to recruits. Neither the government of Belgium, nor that of the United States, had any concern whatsoever with it. Neither one nor the other had any right to meddle with it. We should have formally protested against any such intermeddling. All that was obligatory upon us was that, in our transactions, we should conform to the laws.
Although this enterprise was wholly unofficial in its character, there is no feature of it which any one concerned in it has any reason to conceal from public investigation and criticism. If we had reason to expect personal profit from it, it was of profit equally to the emigrants, to Belgium, and to the United States. The cause in behalf of which I have aided these Belgians to enlist is the cause of the Union against rebels who seek to destroy it. You may have of this cause whatever opinion you please. For myself, I consider it the cause of order and of civilization. Certain Europeans, belonging to a family illustrious in history and endeared to your affections, have held it an honor to serve in its behalf. What would you say, sir, if Antwerp, for example, should undertake to secede from the rest of Belgium, under the pretext that laws had been passed which the citizens of Antwerp did not like? That is the precise point of view, both moral and political, of this question.
As for the personal interest of the emigrants, tell me, I beg you, sir, if there [Page 186] are many countries which pay to volunteers, besides the original bounty on enlistment, $12 per month, besides subsistence, quarters, and clothing? Undoubtedly those who enlist in the federal army incur great dangers. They take part in a serious and bloody war which may last a long while yet. All the world knows that. But is it exactly becoming for those who wish to embrace a military career to complain of being liable to fight?
Finally, from the point of view of the interest of Belgium, I have to say that I have never solicited from our government any favor; that I have never deprived our army of the service of a single soldier; that most of the men who answered to my appeal, although able-bodied, were destitute of all pecuniary resources; that Dewit, one of the signers of the letter in the Courier des Etats-Unis, came out of the alms-house at Brussels; and that Stas, another signer of the same letter, came out of a similar establishment which exists at Mons.
I will not enlarge upon this point, fearing, sir, to have already presented a superfluity of proofs.
It remains for me to allude to the complaints of these four emigrants concerning the food furnished to them during the voyage. These complaints are entirely destitute of foundation. In reply to them, I have need only to remark that at Antwerp, as in the United States, there are regulations of law concerning the quantity and quality of the food furnished to emigrants on their passage, and that the public authorities superintend rigorously the execution of these regulations.
While requesting you to insert this communication in the next number of your journal, I ask those other newspapers, which have reproduced the calumnies of the Courier des Etats-Unis, to give insertion also to this reply.
Accept, sir, the assurance of my distinguished consideration.
[Untitled]
I certify that the foregoing is a correct translation from the French of the original article which appears in the October 31, 1864, number of L’Etoile Belge, a newspaper of Brussels, Belgium.
[Untitled]
Referring to your letter of the 16th of September last, with its enclosed copy of a note from Baron Von Grabow, relative to certain German emigrants recently arrived at Boston, and who were alleged to have been enlisted into the military service contrary to their wishes, and also to your letter of the 4th instant upon the same subject, I am directed by the Secretary of War to transmit a copy of the report of the Provost Marshal General, to whom the question was referred for examination.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
Sir: I have the honor to report the action taken by this bureau in the case presented by Baron Von Grabow, chargé d’affaires of Prussia, in his note of September 11, 1864, in relation to the enlistment of certain German emigrants at Boston, Massachusetts, in which it was alleged that “numerous emigrants, who had just come from Germany to devote themselves to the ordinary agricultural and manufacturing occupations, have been turned aside from the object or their voyage by being transferred to an island in the port of Boston, where, under the allurements of $100, promised in gold, but paid in paper, they have been managed to be enlisted in the army;” and also calling attention to the fact that another “vessel, having on board other emigrants, is momentarily expected in the bay of Boston, and that everything leads to the belief that the same process will be followed in regard to (them as to) those who are already in great part, at this time, in the military service of the United States,” and which was by you referred to this bureau on the 26th day of September last.
On the same day the case was by me referred to Major F. N. Clarke, acting assistant provost marshal general of Massachusetts, with instructions to appoint a suitable person to watch the arrival of the expected vessel; and if, upon investigation, it were found that the abuses complained of were attempted, to take proper measures to prevent the same, and to report the facts to this office.
On the 15th day of October Major Clarke reported, (a copy of which report is herewith transmitted,) including copy of a contract between Julian Allen and the emigrants referred to in the former part of the note of Baron Von Grabow, of September 11, wherein the emigrants agreed to go to any part of the United States, and, upon arrival there, to enter into any engagement with said Allen or his agents, for a period not exceeding three years, to serve in any employment which M. D. Ross, of Boston, or his agents might designate, provided the same was not in contravention of the laws of the United States. (A copy of which contract is respectfully enclosed, marked “A.”) Also enclosing a report of Captain W. G. Howe, mustering officer, who Blustered these persons into the service, in which it is stated that the nature of their enlistment and muster was explained to them in English, French, and German, and that they fully understood the obligations which they assumed, and that they expressed themselves, with but one exception, as being satisfied therewith, (a copy of which report is enclosed, marked “B.”)
On the 20th day of October the report of Major Clarke was returned to him with the following indorsement:
“Respectfully referred to Major F. N. Clarke, A. A. P. M. G., at Boston, Massachusetts, with instructions to report to this office whether any officer of this bureau had been in any manner connected with, or has recognized the existence of, the within contract, in connexion with official duty; whether any recruiting officer or any mustering officer, or other officer of this bureau, has at any time in any manner recognized Julian Allen or M. D. Ross as the agent of any German or French recruits; whether any government bounty has been paid to Allen or Ross on account of enlistment of these aliens; and if so, by whom, and the amount; whether local bounties on account of these enlistments have been paid to Allen or Ross; and if so, how much; and whether any bounty has been paid to Allen or Ross that has not been paid over to these recruits.”
Which was again forwarded by Major Clarke to this office with the following statement, dated October 24:
“In connexion with the accompanying papers, I have the honor to report that no officer under my control has been in any manner connected with or recognized the existence of the contract in connexion with official duty.
[Page 188]“The mustering and disbursing officers have discharged their duties in the same manner as for other recruits, and the first instalment of the United States bounty paid as usual by Captain Dryer, disbursing officer, to the recruits themselves, and neither Mr. Allen nor Ross recognized officially in the matter. Mr. Allen has been in Europe, I believe, until recently, and until I saw the contract last month, Mr. Ross had only been known to me as an alderman of the city, and interested in obtaining recruits.
“These men have been enlisted for the city of Boston, and the ordinance granting a bounty of $125 reads to or for the recruit, and is generally given for the recruit. This is the case also with the town bounties. The towns obtain their men through recruiting agents or brokers, with whom they bargain to put in to the credit of the town so many men at a stated price per head. The broker then receives whatever the town pays, and makes his own arrangement with the recruit. Hence the villany practiced, and hence the necessity I have frequently been under of obtaining depositions from the recruits that they have been promised a given amount from these brokers and failed to receive it. Whenever such brokers could be found, they have been arrested and made by me to disgorge the promised amount. Efforts to this end are made also by the mustering-in officers, that the recruits shall, when sworn in, be satisfied. The city bounty of $125 has doubtless been paid for these German recruits to Mr. Ross, or others; and I understand from Captain Dryer that they (the Germans) gave a signed order on the State authorities for the $325 the State has been paying. Whether such order has been recognized and the amount paid to Mr. Ross, or others, can only be determined by reference to the State authorities.
“The United States bounty remaining unpaid ($200) will, of course, as it becomes due, go to the recruit.”
On the 29th of October, a communication on this subject was addressed to his excellency the governor of the State of Massachusetts, informing him that proper steps would be taken by this bureau to see that the full amount of government bounties to which these recruits are entitled would be paid to them the same as other recruits, and referring the question of local bounties to his excellency, to which communication no reply has yet been received. A reply of the letter to his excellency Governor Andrew is herewith respectfully enclosed.
In reply to the suggestion contained in the note of Baron Von Grabow, of the 25th ultimo, that on one side a Prussian agent, and on the other the provost marshal of the United States, should be enabled to make known to those arriving the conditions by aid whereof they can enlist in the army and obtain the emoluments consequent thereon, I beg leave to say that provost marshals and mustering officers are instructed to make known to all recruits the conditions under which they are accepted into the United States service, fully explaining to them the nature and responsibility which they assume, and the bounty, pay, and allowances which they are entitled to receive.
Any agent of the Prussian government who desires it will at all times be permitted to be present at these musters, and be allowed to give such information touching the subject as he may deem necessary to acquaint these recruits with the conditions under which they enter the service of the United States.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
We, the undersigned, do herein and hereby individually, jointly, and severally, agree and bind ourselves to this contract:
That is, we have been engaged and do engage with Mr. Julian Allen to go [Page 189] to United States of America, by any route that Julian Allen may designate or direct, sail for the port of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, or Portland, in the State of Maine, other port in the United States which Julian Allen or his agent or agents may direct, in consideration of a free passage to the United States of America, out of any port of Europe, including board and outfit.
We hereby individually, jointly, and severally engage and bind ourselves and agree, on our arrival in the United States of America, to enter into any engagement, for a period not exceeding three years, with Julian Allan or his agents, to serve faithfully and truly in any employment which Mr. D. M. Ross, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, his agent, agents, or representative, may designate or contract for us to do, provided such employment is not in contravention to the laws of the United States of America; and the wages to be paid us not to be less than is paid to persons in the United States of America for performing similar services or labor, (not under twelve dollars, American currency, per month, including board;) be it distinctly understood, however, not to include extra moneys given or paid as bounties to such persons who are entitled and which we may be entitled to receive; such bounties or extra moneys which we may be entitled to, excepting 100 dollars in the currency of the United States, we agree to assign, and hereby do assign, to the aforesaid M. D. Ross, his agent, agents, or representative; and we further agree and bind ourselves to execute any and all papers which may be or become necessary to enable said M. D. Ross, his agent or representative, to procure any and all extra moneys and bounties which we may be entitled to, excepting the 100 dollars above mentioned, on entering or engaging into any service or employment designated by said M. D. Ross, his agent, agents, or representative, for the period of time aforenamed.
It has been clearly explained, and is as clearly understood by us, that there are extraordinary risks incurred by Mr. Julian Allen in assuming, as he does, to give us a free passage to the United States of America, and then, on our arrival there, to procure for us remunetive employment; and therefore we, by our own free will and choice, agree to make the assignment as aforenamed of all bounties or extra moneys, (excepting the 100 dollars.) We here acknowledge that through the agency of Mr. Julian Allen and his associates, our condition in life will be sufficiently improved to make it just and right that Mr. Allen and his associates shall make a profit in the transaction of their business of forwarding us.
In witness hereof, we have signed individually, jointly, and severally, our names to this contract and agreement, in duplicates, (English and German,) and promise faithfully and are in honor bound to perform all and everything herein contained.
A true copy:
[Untitled]
Sir: I would respectfully state, in reply to your inquiries about the men brought over by Messrs. M. D. Ross and others from Europe, that I was at the island with each load as a mustering officer, and that they left the following impression on me as on others with whom I conversed on the subject, viz:
[Page 190]1st. That they perfectly understood what they were doing when the oath was administered to them, which, so as to give no chance for a mistake, was explained to them in French and German as well as English.
2d. That they were not only perfectly satisfied to go, but were anxious to do so, which was shown, when passed by the surgeon and ready for the boat, by their songs, cheers, &c.; and when one was rejected, by his sorrowful face and commiserations of his comrades.
3d. They were all satisfied with the money paid them, with one exception, where the man wanted to be paid in gold instead of currency.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Major Francis N. Clarke, A. A. Provost Marshal General.
Provost Marshal General’s Office, Washington, D. C., November 23, 1864.
A true copy:
THEO. McMURTRIE, Captain and A. A. A. General.
[Untitled]
General: I have the honor to enclose a copy of contract made by Mr. Julian Allen, the agent of the parties concerned, and the Germans or other aliens who have been enlisted or entered the service of the United States; also the letter of Captain Howe, provost marshal fourth district, who mustered in most of these men. When it is taken into consideration that these men have been transported across the water, that the men have voluntarily entered the engagement, that the usual risks incident to a voyage have been incurred which might have involved the projectors of the scheme in pecuniary loss, it is difficult to determine that the probable profits accruing from its successful accomplishment are evidence of unfairness towards such emigrants. That the parties of the first part have made money in the operation I suppose there is no doubt. In answer to this, it is said, have we not incurred corresponding risks, which might have made our attempt one of great pecuniary loss? From all I can possibly ascertain the contract has been fulfilled. The United States bounty has been paid to the men as in other cases; but, in final settlement with the men, in view of their assignment to M. D. Ross of all bounties or extra moneys, the amount paid by the United States has determined the balanee to be made good by Mr. Ross. To what extent advantage has been taken of the ignorance of these people is a question that every one answers for himself. In conversation the other day, a gentlemen connected with the Prussian consulate remarked that the contractors had made undoubtedly a large sum in the transaction, and that the emigrants had not received the bounties and advance that others had. In view of the contract, the expenses attending their shipment and transportation to this country, it is difficult, without understanding the personal hopes, expectations, and desires of these men with regard to reaching our own country, to draw any parallel in the two cases.
I am happy to be able to inform you that there seems to be little or no prospect of a recurrence of such importation. In any event, I would respectfully [Page 191] request your views after having received the contract and the statement herewith forwarded.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
General James B. Fry, Provost Marshal General, Washington, D. C.
Provost Marshal General’s Office, Washington, D. C., November 23, 1864.
A true copy:
THEO. McMURTRIE, Captain and A. A. A. General.
[Untitled]
Sir: The enclosed copies of correspondence between the honorable the Secretary of State and Baron Von Grabow, the Prussian minister, in reference to the enlistment of German emigrants by Julian Allen and M. D. Ross, of Boston, for the purpose of filling the quota of the State of Massachusetts, was referred to the honorable the Secretary of War, and by the latter to this office.
I also enclose copies of the correspondence between this bureau and Major F. N. Clarke, acting assistant provost marshal general for the State of Massachusetts, on the same subject.
Proper steps will be taken by me to see that these recruits receive, at the hands of the general government, the full amount of pay and government bounty that was authorized by law at the date of their enlistment.
The question of local bounties being one pertaining to the State and municipal authorities, is respectfully referred to your excellency for such action as the circumstances of the case may require; and with the request that I may receive such information from your excellency as will enable me to make a full report on this subject,
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
His Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts.
Official copy:
THEO. McMURTRIE, Captain and A. A. A. General.
[Untitled]
We, the undersigned, do herein and hereby individually, jointly, and severally agree and bind ourselves to this contract—that is, we have been engaged and do engage with Mr. Julian Allen to go to the United States of America, by any route that Julian Allen may designate or direct, to sail for the port of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, or Portland, in the State of Maine, or to any other port in the United States which Julian Allen or his agent or agents may direct, in consideration of a free passage to the United States of America, out of any port of Europe, including board and outfit.
[Page 192]We hereby individually, jointly, and severally engage, and bind ourselves and agree, on our arrival in the United States of America, to enter into any engagement, for a period not exceeding three years, with Julian Allen or his agents, to serve faithfully and truly in any employment which Mr. M. D. Ross, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, his agent, agents, or representative, may designate or contract for us to do, provided such employment is not in contravention to the laws of the United States of America, and the wages to be paid us, not to be less than is paid to persons in the United States of America for performing similar services or labor, (not under $12, American currency, per month, including board.) Be it distinctly understood, however, not to include extra moneys, given or paid as bounties, to such persons who are entitled, and which we may be entitled to receive; such bounties or extra moneys which we may be entitled to, excepting $100 in the currency of the United States, we agree to assign, and hereby do assign, to the aforesaid M. D. Ross, his agent, agents, or representative; and we further agree and bind ourselves to execute any and all papers which may be or become necessary to enable said M. D. Ross, his agent, or representative, to procure any and all extra moneys and bounties which we may be entitled to, excepting the $100 above mentioned, on entering or engaging into any service or employment designated by said M. D. Ross, his agent, agents, or representative, for the period of time aforenamed.
It has been clearly explained, and is as clearly understood by us, that there are extraordinary risks and expenses incurred by Mr. Julian Allen in assuming, as he does, to give us a free passage to the United States of America, and then, on our arrival there, to procure for us remunerative employment; and therefore we, by our own free will and choice, agree to make, and do make, the assignment, as above named, of all bounties or extra moneys, (excepting the $100.) We here acknowledge, that through the agency of Mr. Julian Allen and his associates, our condition in life will be sufficiently improved to make it just and right that Mr. Julian Allen and his associates shall receive such remuneration in the transaction of their business in forwarding us, so as to defray their expenses, should it even leave a profit.
In witness hereof, we have signed, individually, jointly, and severally, our names to this contract and agreement, and promise faithfully, and are in honor bound, to perform all and everything herein contained.
| Name. | Place of birth. | Age. | |
| 1. | Wilquet, Michel | Bruxelles, Belgique | 26 |
| 2. | Winfa, Friedrich | Westphalie, Prusse | 24 |
| 3. | Vranex, Théophile | Bruxelles | 27 |
| 4. | Nicholas, Lorin | Eupen | 23 |
| 5. | T. Trauerr | Interhalsen | 21 |
| 6. | R. Schwartz | Dueze | 29 |
| 7. | Z.T. Müler | Brunswick | 21 |
| 8. | I. Hansen | Duerne | 22 |
| 9. | F. Heiss | Mullerord | 30 |
| 10. | J. J. Vanderstock | Bruxelles | 23 |
| 11. | Waldmann. | Do | 24 |
| 12. | Lusenberg | Do | 24 |
| 13. | S. T. H. Schieffer | Krulick | 45 |
| 14. | Schwraers | Bruxelles | 39 |
| 15. | T. Pickartz | Eupen | 24 |
| 16. | T. B. Monjaerts | Bruxelles | 20 |
| 17. | Guldentop | Do | 35 |
| 18. | J. X. Sig. de J. Kosshomwers | Anvers | 21 |
| 19. | Thielen, Antoin | Do | 22 |
| 20. | T. Albrecht. | St. Amarand | 29 |
| 21. | P. Hegvaerts | Appels | 29 |
| 22. | Sig. de J. X. Janssens | Malines | 39 |
| 23. | Jergeman, T | Anvers | 45 |
| 24. | A. De Been | Gand | 22 |
| 25. | H. U. Holsters | Obster | 24 |
| 26. | Rumez | Anvers | 22 |
| 27. | Sig. de P. X. De Clerck | Vinove | 39 |
| 28. | Marceler, C. | Kammel | 29 |
| 29. | W. P. A. Miseroy | Misseroy | 28 |
| 30. | P. Paulis | Schleister | 24 |
| 31. | Sig. de Ch. X. Jockmeyer | Cockelberg | 27 |
| 32. | L. Lemmens | Heenbergen | 44 |
| 33. | Dehoze | Cambreau Costeau | 23 |
| 34. | Sig. de J. X. Lokus | Bruxelles | 30 |
| 35. | Sig. de B X Vander Meersch | Wiggelen | 38 |
| 36. | O. Gervinary | Venloo | 23 |
| 37. | Ant. Verschueren | Antwerp | 23 |
| 38. | P. Hoesch | Bruxelles | 21 |
| 39. | D. Deau | Nivelles | 23 |
| 40. | Sig. de Franz. X. Joseph | Bruxelles | 24 |
| 41. | Mat. Dysevers | Antwers | 41 |
| 42. | Umard | Do | 30 |
| 43. | C. Vanderborgt | Do | 26 |
| 44. | Sig. de G X Barenberg | Do | 29 |
| 45. | A. Moulinard | Larochelle | 21 |
| 46. | G. Rebout | Lionnais | 34 |
| 47. | E. Kunctz | Perpignan | 24 |
| 48. | Ch. Déol | Paris | 33 |
| 49. | Jh. Rispale. | St. Etienne | 23 |
| 50. | Sig. de Guill. X Debreuil | Bruxelles | 23 |
| 51. | F. Fauchard | Okepi | 23 |
| 52. | Sig. de F X De Jongt | Rammesis | 26 |
| 53. | F. Philips | Bruges | 21 |
| 54. | Vess Jean | Anvers | 26 |
| 55. | F. Vanderveldenn | Roogeman | 24 |
| 56. | G. Vanderheyden | Bruxelles | 31 |
| 57. | Van Presseh | Do | 26 |
| 58. | F. L. Puraye | Morernet | 28 |
| 59. | E. Bache | Tamise, France | 28 |
| 60. | Ld. Winckelman | Gand | 32 |
| 61. | L. Debruyn | Bruxelles | 31 |
| 62. | J. Demarteau | Liège | 36 |
| 63. | Sig. de N. X Coppens | Aloss | 30 |
| 64. | Sig.de F. X Landstein | Bruxelles | 29 |
| 65. | Adolphe Hembert | Mons | 32 |
| 66. | L. Petit | Nivelles | 39 |
| 67. | Sig. de Ch. X Verdier | Bruxelles | 34 |
| 68. | Jo. Dedecker | Do | 38 |
| 69. | Sig. de Ant X Verschweren | Anvers | 32 |
| 70. | Sig. de Jean X De Roy | Bruxelles | 34 |
| 71. | O. Wup | Wertenbyer | 28 |
| 72. | Sig. de Jean X Frahckx | Anvers | 25 |
| 73. | Henri Crévecœur | Bruxelles | 22 |
| 74. | Cr. Vivain | Do | 35 |
| 75. | Sig. de J. X Gerbehaye | Liège | 34 |
| 76. | J. Barbier | Chapelle-les-Hernes | 44 |
| 77. | Sig. de Jean X Mochiels | Bruxelles | 34 |
| 78. | Von der Heyden | Do | 31 |
| 79. | Sig. de Aug. X Tinnerman | Anvers | 34 |
| 80. | Sig. de Ferd. X Fromaker | Gent | 36 |
| 81. | H. Von Overbeck | Antwerpen | 27 |
| 82. | Sig. de Jean X Michiels | Bruxelles | 25 |
| 83. | Hannes Müller | Erlabaum | 30 |
| 84. | Ludwig Franz | Darmstadt | 27 |
| 85. | Martin Munster | Werlenapt | 23 |
| 86. | —— Arnzdt | Preneshen | 26 |
| 87. | J. P. Von Petegem | Appels | 42 |
| 88. | H. Markuz | La Haye | 23 |
| 89. | Theodor Hiuziur | Preussen | 24 |
| 90. | A. Deucren | Jenesse, Holland | 33 |
| 91. | S. C. Schulze | Berlin, Prusse | 32 |
| 92. | R. St. Croix | Montgaillard, France | 24 |
| 93. | Th. Cles. DeKartes | Bruxelles | 23 |
| 94. | Sig. de Pre. X Munter | Do | 23 |
| 95. | H. Willemsenus | Anvers | 28 |
| 96. | F. Arents | Liège | 36 |
| 97. | Sig. de Louis X Blockhuys | Voosler | 34 |
| 98. | G. H. Pruys | Bresla | 44 |
Witnesses:
Gerard Rook.
Julius Schmidtberg.
J. Hadlaskig.
Julian Allen.
Eug. DeRoos.