Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session Thirty-seventh Congress

Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Limburg.

Department of State, Washington, September 30, 1862.

Sir: The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has had the honor to receive the note of Mr. Van Limburg, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of the Netherlands, objecting to a draft of the Netherlands consul at Philadelphia for the military service of the United States.

In reply, the undersigned has the honor to acquaint Mr. Van Limburg that as it is understood that the person referred to has not yet been drafted, this department prefers in this, as it has in other cases, to postpone any consideration of the question of the liability to draft, which it may be proper for the executive government to entertain, until the draft apprehended shall have actually been effected.

The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to offer to Mr. Van Limburg a renewed assurance of his very high consideration.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

M. Roest Van Limburg.