Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward
Sir: I received, on the 30th ultimo, a letter from Mr. Eastman announcing to me the fact that a person by the name of Michael McKeen had been arrested at Queenstown “on suspicion of evil purposes,” and that he had claimed his protection as a naturalized citizen of the United States. Mr. Eastman reported that he had at once made the usual application to the authorities at Dublin for his release. It would appear from the consul’s statement that Mr. McKeen had no papers whatever in his possession to prove his naturalization, and that Mr. Eastman proceeded solely on his belief of the truth of the account which he personally gave to him. In his application Mr. Eastman, therefore, could describe him only as “claiming to be a citizen,” &c. The result was, in due course, an order from Dublin for the discharge of Mr. McKeen. He was accordingly released on the 30th ultimo.
This is one of many cases in which there seems a necessity that parties liable to be stopped at Queenstown should be provided with some sort of [Page 152] evidence of their status; especially such persons as are natives of Ireland. It might be expedient that, in order at least to avoid the inconvenient delay required to obtain evidence, their own comfort would be consulted by some warning given at home of the propriety of being provided before starting from America with such reasonable proofs of their status as citizens as might be obtained by them with little trouble. Such a precaution would materially increase the confidence in prompt intervention on the part of the officers who have the matters specially in charge here.
Meanwhile, I fully bear in mind the fact that this has been heretofore made the subject of representation to the government here. As it is impossible to be sure of the time in which action may be come to here in the matter, and some personal inconvenience might be avoided in the interval I have taken the liberty to make the present suggestion.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.