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

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams

No. 1186.]

Department of State, Washington, December 13, 1864.

Sir: You will please lay before Earl Russell the copy of a communication which the Secretary of War has just received from Major General Dix, who is charged with the protection of our Canada frontier.

After our recent communications her Majesty’s government cannot now be surprised to learn from this report that there is imminent danger of a war being waged against the United States from the British North American provinces. I hope the subject may receive immediate and serious consideration. Certainly its importance could not be exaggerated, since it is the interest and desire of both countries to remain in mutual peace. I have asked Mr. Burnley to give notice of the danger to his excellency the Governor General of Canada. It is hardly necessary to add that if such invasion as is now apprehended shall actually come, and organized defence become necessary on our part, the existing intercourse, commercial and social, between the British provinces and this country, will necessarily be subjected to interruptions which will be likely to produce very serious inconvenience.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c, &c., &c.

General Dix to the Secretary of War.

Headquarters Department of the East, New York City, November 22, 1864.

Sir: I have the following reliable information :

There are about forty rebels in Marysburg, Prince Edward’s county, Canada, and northwest of Oswego. They drill regularly about three times a week, and are armed with revolvers. They board with the farmers in the neighborhood, seem to have plenty of money, and say they belong to John Morgan’s corps. These organizations for hostile purposes on Canadian soil are so plainly in violation of all the obligations of neutrality, that I cannot doubt the willingness of the Canadian,authorities to put an end to them on proper notice. There are some indications of retaliation on the part of our citizens along the frontier on account of the outrages, and I think the publication of my report in regard to the former would have a salutary influence on both sides of the line.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN A. DIX, Major General, N. Y.

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War.