Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton
Sir: Your despatch of the 22d ultimo, No. 404, has been received.
You will have learned from instructions which are on their way to you that the President was not satisfied with the course which the French government had thought proper to pursue with reference to the Florida, Georgia, and Rappahannock. It appears, however, from your note to Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys of [Page 35] the 22d ultimo, that you had anticipated, in respect to the Florida at least, the instructions adverted to. Our own law, as you are aware, forbids not only the fitting out and arming in our ports of vessels to make war on a country with which we may be at peace, but also prohibits any augmentation of the armament of a foreign belligerent in a United States port. We have a right to expect the same prohibition in French ports against insurgent vessels. There must necessarily be some anxiety here upon this subject until the determination of the French government can be known.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William L. Dayton Esq., &c., &c., &c.