This LS (Letter Signed) is 1 ½ pages written in nice dark ink to “His Excellency M. L. Bonham Governor of South Carolina”.  The letter has to do with the authority of private shipping companies – in this case, The Importing and Exporting Company of South Carolina to run cotton and other goods through the Union blockade.  The state of South Carolina had its own rules and Seddon believed that the Confederate Congress was going to establish its own rules.  


                                                                                                                                                 Confederate States of America,
                                                                                                                                                                    War Department,
                                                                                                                                                        Richmond, Va. Feb. 5, 1864

                                                        His Excellency M. L. Bonham,

                                                        Governor of South Carolina

                                                        Columbia, S.C.

                                                                                                    Sir,

                                                                                                        I have received your Excellency’s letter of the 19th 
                                                        of December and 27th of January last, enclosing a Resolution of the Legislature 
                                                        of South Carolina requesting the Confederate authorities to “forego the right 
                                                        heretofore exercised of shipping cotton and bringing freight on the boats owned 
                                                        by the Importing and Exporting Company of South Carolina, in consequence of 
                                                        the ownership by the State of a part of these boats.”

                                    
                                                                                                In reply I have the honor to say, that

                                                         A response to the letter of December 19th was delayed, because the regulation 
                                                        of the exportation of cotton and other products was understood to be under the 
                                                        consideration of Congress, and it was believed in a brief period, legislation would
                                                         be adopted, which would control the whole subject, and either dispense with the 
                                                        necessity of any arrangement on the part of the State, or express the conditions 
                                                        on which such arrangements should be made.  An Act, it is believed, has received 
                                                        the assent in its main features of both Houses, but has not yet been so passed as to 
                                                        become law.  So soon as it terms are announced, some definite understand can be 
                                                        had with you on behalf of your State.  Meantime, as I explained to Mr. Furman, 
                                                        there is every disposition on my part to meet the wishes of your State, and that 
                                                        any vessel engaged by the State and carrying out for it the amount of cotton 
                                                        required by others to be carried out for the Department, would not be interfered 
                                                        with or restrained.

                                    Very Respectfully,

                                                                                                     Your Obdt. Servt.

                                                                                                                            James A. Seddon

                                                                                                                             Secretary of War”

A nicely written letter with great content for the Confederate collector!

#HC78 - Price $695