Butler, and that you said you would have to "think of it. " What I have done is entirely without Mr. Butler's knowledge. What he would like would be a trial here in the city of his birth. Conscious of his innocence he will ask no favor from those who imprisoned him. His daughters are both strong Northern women, and they are deeply distressed by their father's imprisonment. One is married to one of the staunchest of our party. As Mr. Butler was arrested by your order and as he is innocent, on your own account, on the Administration's and on his children's the sooner he is released on a proper parole and bonds the better. It will much oblige me.

Yours, truly,

C. H. FISHER.

[Indorsement.]

SEPTEMBER 21, 1861.

Mr. Butler declines taking the oath of allegiance in the belief that he might lose his property in the South. I would let him go if he would promise to remain.

SIMON CAMERON.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 21, 1861.

Colonel MARTIN BURKE, Fort Hamilton, N. Y.

COLONEL: Pierce Butler, a prisoner at Fort Lafayette, may be released upon giving his pledge in writing that during the present troubles he will do no act hostile to the United States Government and will not visit South Carolina without a passport from the Secretary of State.

I am, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

FORT HAMILTON, New York Harbor, September 24, 1861.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, Pierce Butler, have given my solemn pledge that during the present troubles I will do no act hostile to the United States and will not visit South Carolina without a passport from the Secretary of State.

PIERCE BUTLER.

[Witness:]

G. V. S. AIKIN,

Second Lieutenant, Eighth Infantry, U. S. Army.

WASHINGTON, April 18, 1862.

TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

I transmit to Congress a copy of a correspondence between the Secretary of State and Benjamin H. Brewster, of Philadelphia, relative to the arrest in that city of Simon Cameron, late Secretary of War, at the suit of Pierce Butler for trespass, vi et armis, assualt and battery and false imprisonment.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.