ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Whereas, Cornelius Vanderbilt of New York, did, during the spring of 1862, make a free gift to his imperilled country of his new and staunch steamship "Vanderbilt," of five thousand tons burthen, built by him with the greatest care, of the best materials, at a cost of eight hundred thousand dollars, which steamship has ever since been actively employed in the service of the republic against the rebel devastations of her commerce; and
Whereas, The said Cornelius Vanderbilt has in no manner sought any requital of this magnificent gift, nor any official recognition thereof; therefore,
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be presented to Cornelius Vanderbilt for this unique manifestation of a fervid and large-souled patriotism.
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, which shall fitly embody an attestation of the nation's gratitude for this gift; which medal shall be forwarded to Cornelius Vanderbilt, a copy of it being made and deposited for preservation in the library of Congress.
Approved January 28, 1864.
The Secretary of State to Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Department of State,
Washington, April 17, 1866.
To
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Esq.,
New York.
Sir: I have to inform you that the Congress of the United States, by a resolution of the 28th of January, 1864, an attested copy of which is herewith sent, offered you their thanks for your generous gift to the nation during the last war, of the steamer "Vanderbilt," and requested the President to cause a gold medal to be struck and forwarded to you, commemorative of that gift. It is now my pleasing duty to forward the medal to you accordingly. I avail myself of the occasion to express a hope that it may prove acceptable, and also to congratulate you upon the proud consciousness, which you cannot fail to cherish, of having, by the act referred to, rendered your country a signal service at a critical period in its history.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
William H. Seward.
Cornelius Vanderbilt to the Secretary of State.
New York, May 3rd, 1866.
To the Honorable
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Sir: Your communication of the 17th of April ult., informing me that the Congress of the United States had, by their resolution of the 28th of January, 1864, tendered to me their thanks for the gift of the steamer "Vanderbilt," and requested the President to cause a gold medal to be struck and forwarded to me in commemoration of the gift, has been placed in my hands.
I have also received the medal, together with an attested copy of the resolution in compliance with which you have caused it to be transmitted.
You have been pleased to express the hope that the medal would be acceptable to me, with your congratulations for the consciousness which you consider I cannot fail to cherish of having, by the act which its presentation commemorates, rendered a service to my country at a critical period in its history.
Permit me, Sir, to return my acknowledgment for this national recognition of the act referred to, and to express the satisfaction with which I have received this generous token of remembrance. It may not be inappropriate for me to refer to the transaction which gave rise to the resolve of Congress which your Department has now so gracefully executed.
About the year 1856, I formed the design and commenced the work of a steamship for the purpose of demonstrating that individual enterprise could, without the aid of governmental encouragement, place upon the ocean steamships equal at least in magnitude, power and speed, to any which had been constructed under governmental patronage and protection in any part of the world. An expenditure of about one million of dollars produced the steamship "Vanderbilt," which carried the flag of our country across the sea in a lesser space of time than any national banner had been hitherto borne.
On the 16th of March, 1862, I received at my residence in this city a letter from the War Department enquiring if I would undertake to prevent the Confederate steamer "Merrimac" from coming out of the harbor of Norfolk, and urging my immediate attention, as the danger was most imminent and "there was no time to be lost." I answered by telegraph that I would go to Washington the next day. On the morning of the 17th of March I called at the War Department, where I saw for the first time Mr. Stanton, the Secretary of War. He requested me to accompany him to the executive mansion, where I was introduced to Mr. Lincoln, to whom I was then personally a stranger. The President asked me if I thought I could, with the aid of my steamships, do anything to prevent the "Merrimac" from getting out of Hampton Roads. I replied to him that it was my opinion that if the steamship "Vanderbilt" was there properly manned, the "Merrimac" would not venture to come out, or if she did, the chances were ten to one that the "Vanderbilt" would sink and destroy her. Mr. Lincoln asked me to name the sum of money for which I would undertake the service; I replied to him that nothing would induce me to become a speculator upon the necessities of the government, and that I would not mention a sum as the value of her charter, but that I would make a gift of her to the government for the service proposed. The President replied, "I accept her." I left him promising that the "Vanderbilt" should be at Fortress Monroe properly equipped and officered under my direction within three or four days at the farthest, and she was there within the time. The requisite instrument of transfer was subsequently executed by me and transmitted to the War Department.
The resolution of Congress of which you have informed me truly states that I have in no manner sought requital for the gift, and the recognition of it, which in the discharge of your official duty you have given me, was altogether unsolicited. I shall proudly preserve the splendid token of appreciation which you have transmitted to me, and it is my hope that those who come after me, as they read the inscriptions of the medal and are reminded of the event in their father's life which caused it to be struck, will inflexibly resolve that should our Government be again imperilled, no pecuniary sacrifice is too large to make in its behalf, and no inducement sufficiently great to attempt to profit by its necessities.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
C. Vanderbilt.
April 16, 1865—March 4, 1869.
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States 1865. ℞. Peace.