The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-31
.Commodore vanderbilt,s Response.

Governor Seward having, by direction of the
President transmitted to Commodore Wander
bili the gold medal unanimously voted MN Oy
Congress In acknowledgment of his generous
rift to our country, in her hour OF darkest peril,
Of the steamship VdnderbM, worth Sl,OOO,OOO,
Mr.. Vanderbilt responded as follows:-
NKw YORK, May 8, 1866 -Sir:-Your communi.
cation of the 18th of Apnl, informing me that the
Congress OF the United States had by their resolu-
ton o. the 2sth OF January 1864, rendered TO me
and requested the President to cause a gold medal
70 be struck and forwarded to me IN commemora-
ton OF the gift has been placed in my hands
] have also received the medal, together with an
attested copy OF the resolution, in compliance with
which you have caused II to be transmitted
You have been peased to express the hope that
the medal wou be acceptable TO me, with your
cOnpratn ations for the consciousne which you
CONSIDER cannot aIl to cherish OF having, by the
act which its presentation commentaries, rendered
service to my country at critical period in Its
Permit me, SIR, to return my acknowledgment for
this national recognition OF the act referred to- and
TO express the satisfaction with which have re-
ceived this generous token OF remembrance IL may
not be inappropriate for me refer TO the traDsac-
ton which gave rise to the resolve OF Congress
which your department has now SO gracefully
executed
menced the work of steamship, for the purpose
of demonstrating that individual enterprise could,
without the aid of Governmental encouraReme ment,
place upon the ocean steamships equal at least IN
magnitude, power, and speed to any which had been
constructed under Governmental patronage and pro-
lection in any part of the world An expenditure of
&1 COO 0O0 produced the steamship Vanderbilt whcn
carried the flag of our country across the sea IN
less space of time than any national banner had
on the 10th of Ma ch, 1862 received at my resi-.
dence N this city letter nom the War Department,
inuuIring If would undertake TO prevent the Con.
teaerate steamer MeTTiHidc from coming out OF the
harbOr Of Norfolk, and urging my immediate atten-
ton, as the danger was most imminent, and there
was no time to lost" l answered by telegraph that
woulu 20 to Washington the next day On tne
morning OF the 18th OF March, called at the War
Department, where saw for the first time Mr. STAN
ton the Secretary of War. He requested me to ac-
company HIM to the Executive Manion, where l
was introduced to Mr. Lincoln, 10 whom was then
personally stranger. Tho President asked me If
thought could, with the aid OF my steamships do
anylhing to prevent the AerTindc from getting out
of Hampton Roads. replied to him that it was
my opinion that II the steamer Vanderbilt was
there, properly manned, the MerTindc would
that the chances were ten to one that the Vanderbilt
would sink and destroy her. Mr.. Lincoln asked
me TO name the sum of monev for which would
undertake the service replied to him that nothing
would induce me TO become specu atOr upon the
necessities OF the Government, and that would not
mention sum as the value OF her charter, but that
i won make gltt of her to the Government for
the service proposed. The President replied "I
accept her." LETT HIM, promising that the Vdnder-
bit should be at Fortress Monroe properly equipped
and OfHcered, under my directions within three or
tOur DAYS at furthest and she was there within the
tune. The requisite instrument OF transfer was sub
Eequently executed by me, and transmitted to the
War Department.
formed me, truly states that have IN no manner
sought requital for the g1tt and the recognition of
which, in the Discharge OF your official duty, YOU
have Slven me, was altogether unsolicited. 1 shall
proudly preserve The splendid token OF appreciation
which on have transmitted 10 me, and 1t IS nv
hope that those who come after me- as they read the
ingcrip ions Of the medal, and reminded OF the
event IN their fathers lie which fused it to be
struck, will n1exlby resolve that, should our Gov
eminent be ag ain mperlled, no pecuulary sacrifice
is too large to make in its behalf and inducement
sufficiently great attempt to profit by necessi-
ties am SIR your very obedlent servant.
Hon. VIM. II. Seward, Secretary OF state