Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23d instant, which relates to claims of British subjects upon cotton seized by the military forces of the United States at Savannah.
In that communication you inform me that ten thousand bales of the cotton referred to are affected by these claims. That these ten thousand bales seem to have been purchased during the years 1860 and 1861, and to have been intended to be shipped to England upon the reopening of commerce.
Upon these statements you ask that the cotton in question may be left in Savannah, that you may have leave to send an agent to that garrison who would be deputed to place himself in correspondence with any authorized agent of this government, in order that it may be clearly and satisfactorily provided that such cotton belongs to bona fide neutral British merchants. You add a protest against any acts which in the hurry of military preparations may tend to obliterate or invalidate any just claims upon the captured property,
I have the honor to reply that due consideration has been given to this representation, and that it does not appear to this government that there exists any sufficient reason for departing in this instance from the course which this government pursues, in securing property in the insurrectionary districts, and ascertaining and liquidating any claims of lawful owners thereupon, by judicial investigation. This government does not think that there is any good reason to apprehend that any act will be done in the hurry of military operations which would tend to obliterate or invalidate any just claims upon the captured property which may exist and which the executive department of this government is not authorized to prejudge.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant,
J. Hume Burnley, Esq., &c., &c., &c.