Letter from Charles Sumner to William Henry Seward, May 9, 1863
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Letter from Charles Sumner to William Henry Seward, May 9, 1863
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:msr
student editorTranscriber:spp:crb
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1863-05-09
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Letter from Charles Sumner to William Henry Seward, May 9, 1863
action: sent
sender: Charles Sumner
Birth: 1811-01-06
Death: 1874-03-11
location: Unknown
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: msr
revision: crb 2017-05-12
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Page
1
F st.
9th May ‘63
My dear Secretary,
I seem to have offended
you. If so, most unin-
tentionally.
After conversing at
some length on our
relations abroad, while
you spoke with freedom
& listened to me kindly,
I turned to speak of the
latest incident, affecting
Page
2
our relations with France,
whose Govt. I had special
reason to believe felt
wounded. Believing most
sincerely that the quicker
the question was settled
by a frank explanation,
without any delay, I said
so. It was with true
pleasure that I learned
that you thought so too,
& had already acted
accordingly.
Page
3
I then remarked that it
seemed to me important for
us at Paris & at Lon-
don to have new Secre-
taries of Legation; that
I had no personal interest
in any candidates for the
place, but that I spoke
simply for the public in-
terest, which would be pro-
moted at each place by
an accomplished substan-
tial Secretary, who would
do credit to the country in
social & business intercourse,
& be a friend & companion
Page
4
of the Minister. From your
manner, & the nature
of your criticism, I inferred
that, in your opinion, I
erred in making the
suggestion; especially as I did not
take into view the political claims of the
two secretaries.
Perhaps I exaggerate the
importance of good Secre-
taries at Paris & London,
but knowing something of both
these places, I think not.
At all events, I pray you
to consider that in making
the suggestion; I supposed that
I was saying nothing in any
way unwelcome to you, or in-
consistent with those habits of con-
versation which had prevailed between
us. Faithfully yours,
Charles Sumner
F st.
9th May ‘63
My dear Secretary,
I seem to have offended
you. If so, most unin-
tentionally.
After conversing at
some length on our
relations abroad, while
you spoke with freedom
& listened to me kindly,
I turned to speak of the
latest incident, affecting
our relations with France,
whose Govt. I had special
reason to believe felt
wounded. Believing most
sincerely that the quicker
the question was settled
by a frank explanation,
without any delay, I said
so. It was with true
pleasure that I learned
that you thought so too,
& had already acted
accordingly.
I then remarked that it
seemed to me important for
us at Paris & at Lon-
don to have new Secre-
taries of Legation; that
I had no personal interest
in any candidates for the
place, but that I spoke
simply for the public in-
terest, which would be pro-
moted at each place by
an accomplished substan-
tial Secretary, who would
do credit to the country in
social & business intercourse,
& be a friend & companion
of the Minister. From your
manner, & the nature
of your criticism, I inferred
that, in your opinion, I
erred in making the
suggestion; especially as I did not
take into view the political claims of the
two secretaries.
Perhaps I exaggerate the
importance of good Secre-
taries at Paris & London,
but knowing something of both
these places, I think not.
At all events, I pray you
to consider that in making
the suggestion; I supposed that
I was saying nothing in any
way unwelcome to you, or in-
consistent with those habits of con-
versation which had prevailed between
us. Faithfully yours,
Charles Sumner