Mr. King to Mr. Seward.
My Dear Governor: In the accompanying despatch, No. 65, you will find the formal reply to yours of October 16, which I duly received two days ago. Both Mr. Hooker and myself inferred, as much from the cardinal’s manner as from what he said, that there would be no difficulty about the surrender of Surratt should he be claimed. In this event, how is he to be sent to America ? Cannot one of our ships of war now in the Mediterranean be directed to come to Civita Vecchia, receive Surratt and St. Marie on board, and convey them to the United States ? Would it not be well to ask also for St. Marie’s discharge, that he may be used, if required, as a witness at Surratt’s trial ? Am I to draw directly on the department, or on Baring Brother, for the sum paid St. Marie and the expense of sending a person to Veroli to identify Surratt ? * *
Faithfully,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.