Mr. Moran to Mr.
Seward
No. 28]
Legation of the United States,
London,
November 16, 1866.
Sir: As illustrating an episode in the history
of the loan negotiated here during the rebellion, to aid the insurgents
to carry on the war against the Union, I transmit herewith articles
which appeared, on the 15th instant, in the columns of the Daily News
and the Morning Star. The victims of this enormous fraud,
[Page 211]
it would seem, are about to
ask her Majesty’s government to press their claim on that of the United
States as an offset to the righteous demands of American citizens for
compensation for the damages sustained by them through the depredations
of the Anglo-rebel cruisers.
I suspect this project is, after all, the work of some unscrupulous
stockbrokers, backed up by a few equally unscrupulous American
adventurers, who aim at making money out of the original subscribers, by
leading them on with the hope of thus obtaining the payment of their
worthless bonds. But it is not to be supposed, for a moment, that the
scheme will receive the countenance of this government.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of
State.
[Untitled]
[From the Daily News 15th November,
1866.]
A memorandum from the committee of confederate bondholders states
that they are actively engaged in bringing their claims to the
attention of government, with a view to a consideration of them, as
against or in common with those of the American government in
relation to the Alabama and other claims.
[Untitled]
[From the Morning Star, 15th November,
1866.]
We have been requested to state “that the committee of confederate
bondholders are actively engaged in bringing their claims to the
attention of government, with a view to a consideration of them, as
against, or in common with, those of the American government in
relation to the Alabama and other claims.” This is certainly the
most wonderful step ever yet adopted by those, unfortunate gentlemen
who believed in most of our contemporaries during the American war.
The bondholders combined in London to subscribe money for the
purpose of inflicting injury and damage on the United States, with
the view of ultimate profit, should their little game turn out to be
a success. Other parties fitted out privateers for the same purpose,
and looking to the like reward, and now when our own government is
believed not to be indisposed to do what is right in the matter of
the Alabama, the bondholders wish to put forward a claim against the
United States, because they have lost their money in doing them
injury and giving aid and comfort to their enemies. If the United
States were to put in an item of several millions in their bill, as
representing the injury done them by the confederate bondholders, we
could understand it, but for the latter to claim satisfaction
against the United States is something altogether unique in the
matter of claims. The bond-holders should present their old bonds to
the writers in the public press, who misled them, as a recognition
of their folly, and cease to trouble themselves further about steps
which only end in chagrin and disappointment.
