Office of the Historian

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams

No. 2016.]
Department of State, Washington, July 9, 1867.

Sir: I enclose a copy of a letter of the 4th instant from D. M. Nagle, esq., accompanied by one from Colonel William J. Nagle, in regard to the arrest and imprisonment of the last named in Ireland.

You will be expected to take such measures as may be practicable for securing the early discharge of Colonel Nagle.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

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

Mr. Nagle to Mr. Seward

284 Pacific Street Brooklyn, July 4, 1867.

Dear Sir: I respectfully beg leave to enclose for your consideration a copy of Colonel William J. Nagle’s letter recently addressed to me.

All my children were born in this State—five sons and three daughters.

I remain, very truly, your obedient servant,

D. M. NAGLE.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

[Untitled]

The following letter from Colonel Nagle to his father will be read with interest. The colonel was an officer in the Union army, and having lost his health in the service, started upon a European tour. In Ireland he was arrested on charge of being a Fenian:

County Cork Jail, June 14,1867.

Dear Father: I was arrested on the 1st of June, in company with Colonel J. Warren, on the bridge crossing the Blackwater from Waterford into Youghal. We were kept in the Youghal Bridewell until the morning of the 14th, when we were sent to this place, marched through the streets of both places hand-cuffed like felons. We are now held under a warrant from the lord lieutenant of Ireland, and will remain prisoners so long as the fears and purposes of the government may require the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, unless some action is taken by the authorities or government of our country.

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We are held under suspicion of being connected with the “Fenian conspiracy,” so-called, in this country. No evidence of any kind is shown or charge made, other than “suspicion,” which is applied as a general rule to all Americans. I will place my case before the United States minister at London. The correspondence with Mr. Adams, and his communication which may become necessary with the State Department, must consume much time. It would be well for you to take immediate steps to bring my case before the notice of the people, and have the subject brought before Congress at this coming session in July. This is nor exclusively an individual case, but becomes a question of right involving the liberty of every American citizen that sets foot on this soil. I ask the government of my country, which I have faithfully served, whose laws I have never violated, to secure to me that liberty which is my birthright, and of which I am now deprived without any cause or plea of justification by an authority I do not recognize—a government to which I owe no allegiance, and whose laws I have in no way infringed upon.

My arrest followed so quick upon my arrival in this country that I had no opportunity to find out any of my relatives whom I intended to visit. My chances of being in Paris this summer are doubtful. I must be content to suffer the penalty of being an American soldier with Irish blood in my veins, so far offending the majesty of British laws as to be found upon Irish soil. * * * * * * *

WM. J. NAGLE.