"THIS DOCUMENT, FOR THE PRESENT, CAN ONLY BE USED IN A CONFIDENTIAL MANNER"

(HAWAII) SEWARD, William H. Document signed. Washington, DC, September 14, 1867. One sheet of letterhead, measuring 8 by 10 inches, writing on recto. $3800.

Letter signed by Secretary of State William H. Seward, on the topic of a potential trade treaty with the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The document, in a secretarial hand on Department of State letterhead, reads: "Washington, Sept 14th, 1867. Mr. A. Delmar. Supdt: Bureau of Statistics. Treasury Department. Sir, Agreeably to your request of this day, communicated through Mr. James Ryan, I enclose you, confidentially, a printed copy of the Convention recently concluded between the United States and the King of the Hawaiian Islands. This document, for the present, can only be used in a confidential manner. I am, Sir, Your Obt. Servant, [signed] William H. Seward."

Although Seward, Secretary of State for both Lincoln and Johnson, is best remembered for the United States' purchase of Alaska in 1867, it was not his only territorial ambition in the Pacific region. Seward was also keenly interested in the acquisition of Hawaii, believing that there was strong interest among Hawaiians (at least the white planter class of Hawaiians) in joining the Union: in 1867 he encouraged, with little success, the idea of annexing Hawaii, and also promoted a reciprocal trade treaty that ultimately failed to achieve congressional support. The recipient, Alexander del Mar (or Delmar), was the first Director of the Bureau of Statistics at the Treasury Department and a noted historian of money. Neither Seward's career at the State Department nor Delmar's at the Treasury survived the transition from Johnson's presidency to Grant's. Suitable for framing.

Expected fold lines; two hole punches at top of document.