Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 1, 1890

Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of the United States,
London , March 28, 1890. (Received April 8.)

No. 203.]

Sir: I have the honor to invite your attention to the inclosed copy of a paper issued by the executive of the State of Minnesota, presented at this legation to-day by Mr. Louis Wagner, named therein, he supposing it to be a regular passport. The original is an engraved or lithographed form, completed, for this particular case, by the insertion in writing of the words underlined in red in the copy.

Mr. Wagner states that he is of German birth and a citizen of the United States by naturalization; his plans of travel make a passport desirable, and he is most unexpectedly, in consequence of being misled by the above-mentioned paper, given the trouble of procuring from St. Paul, Minn., the certificate of his naturalization, needed in aid of his application at this legation.

I have, etc.,

Robert T. Lincoln.

[Inclosure in No. 203.]

Certificate of the governor of Minnesota.

State of Minnesota.

To whom it may concern:

The bearer hereof, Louis Wagner, is a worthy and respected citizen of this State, a resident of St. Paul, county of Ramsey, State of Minnesota, United States of America. He is now about leaving home to travel in Europe, and I cordially bespeak for him the kind attention of all to whom these presents may come.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed, at St. Paul, this 24th day of February, A. D. 1890.

[seal.]

W. R. Merriam,
Governor.

H. Mattson,
Secretary of State.