James Speed to William H. Seward, 14 August 1865

About This Item

Title: James Speed to William H. Seward, 14 August 1865
Date: August 14, 1865
Creator(s): James Speed | Walt Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: nar.00038
Source: National Archives and Records Administration. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the manuscripts, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang John Schwaninger Nima Najafi Kianfar Kevin McMullen
Cite this page: Speed, James and Walt Whitman. "James Speed to William H. Seward, 14 August 1865." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 09 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: nar.00038.xml (TEI)

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Attorney General's Office. August 14, 1865. To the Secretary of State. Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 19th July, 1865, with a copy of the dispatch of Mr. Charles Francis Adams. In regard to the inquiries of the Messrs. Lockwood, I can only answer them, as I do all others who apply to me. The Proclamation of the President is a part of the law of the land, and open to the construction of all. When the fact of any particular case or cases are presented, I can say whether I will recommend them to mercy or not. But I can not, & I think ought not, to say whether they are or not within the excepted classes. I have the honor to be, Respectfully yours, &c. James Speed Attorney General.