“I have the honor to be, dear Sir,
“Your faithful servant,
“Charles Sumner.
“P. Barton Key, Esq., Attorney of the United States.”
“Silver Spring, July 1, 1856.
“Dear Sir,—I have your letter of 30th June, in which you ask my consent with regard to the course you shall take in the conduct of a criminal proceeding now pending in the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Columbia. I am surprised at this communication. In giving my testimony before the Grand Jury, I stated that I appeared at the summons of the law, and that I wished it distinctly understood that the proceeding was instituted without any suggestion on my part, and that I had nothing to do, directly or indirectly, with its conduct. Nothing has occurred to change my relation to the proceeding. Its whole conduct belongs to the Attorney of the United States.
“I am, dear Sir,
“Your faithful servant,
“Charles Sumner.