Mr. Seward to Mr. Yeaman.
Sir: Your despatch of the 3d instant, No. 10, has been received. The guns and other naval munitions tendered to you by Mr. L. Arman and his agent are a part of the property originally collected by the late insurgents for warfare upon the United States, and abandoned upon their overthrow. It is not necessary to discuss the precise grounds upon which the title has always belonged to, or has legitimately devolved upon the United States. It is sufficient that the original proprietor and present possessor of the property is the only person who could pretend to contest our claim, and he voluntarily surrenders it. You will, therefore, accept the property, giving a receipt for it, which shall simply state that the articles were a part of the equipment or lading of the Stoerkodder, or Stonewall, which, as well as that ship, have become the property of the United States, in virtue of the surrender and subjugation of the late insurgents in the insurrectionary or so-called Confederate States. It would be well, if practicable, to avoid even this specification of the reason of their belonging to us; but if Mr. Arman should require it, no substantial objection is perceived to such a statement which he may consider as embracing, by implication, his idea that they passed with the ship. It is immaterial what his reason for surrendering the property may be, if stated distinctly as his. The receipt may, therefore, recite, if required, that Mr. Arman, the original proprietor of the ship and the present possessor of the guns, &c., having tendered them, as being part of her equipment, to the United States, you accept delivery thereof in their name and behalf.
Instructions as to the disposition of the property will be transmitted in a separate despatch.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
George H. Yeaman, Esq., &c., &c., &c.