Mr. Plumb to Mr. Seward
Sir: In the absence of Mr. Campbell, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 20, of the 2d instant, transmitting for his information copies of letters received by the department, relating to a reported decree of the President of Mexico, restricting foreigners in Mexico from the retail trade, and to the subject of forced loans in Mexico.
[Page 369]With reference to the latter subject, as it is one certain to be pressed upon the attention of the legation at once, upon its arrival in Mexico, by American citizens residing there, I trust I may not be considered as presuming, if I beg respectfully to take the liberty of calling the attention of the department to the correspondence upon this subject which was communicated to the Mexican government in 1862, by the then minister, Mr. Corwin, and to inquire if the position at that time officially taken by Mr. Corwin will govern the future action of the legation in the attention that necessarily will have to be given to this important and prominent subject of complaint.
The correspondence referred to will be found on page 9 of volume 2 of the diplomatic correspondence relating to Mexico, (1863.) The only intimation of the views of the department upon this subject that appears in the published official correspondence, is that contained in a despatch which will be found on page 34, volume 1, (1861,) of same correspondence, which refers to a previous correspondence of Mr. Corwin upon the same subject, (volume 1, page 26,) in which the position taken by him does not appear to have entirely met the views of the department.
I am, sir, with the highest respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.