[*Rec 11. Jan*] United States Custom House. Naval Office. New Orleans, Jany 2d, 1864 My Dear Sir I have very great pleasure in being able to enclose you from the "Lone Delta" of the 1st Inst the valedictory of my brother in law & the Salutatory of Mr. Hahn on the assumption of the proprietorship & editorial direction of that paper. Since my arrival here to enter upon discharge of public duties, I have labored continually to have this end accomplished, first, because the paper had the largest circulation; Second, because it reaches every citizen of this state & adjacent country, that is union in feeling & heart, & thirdly because I clearly perceived, that newspapers owned as confiscated property & edited by strangers who aggravated asperities instead of promoting conciliation [*29165*] among the people, must be fatal to the success of the policy of the President. The paper is now purchased by Mr Hahn & is the first I believe in the whole country started independently to sustain the President, support his recommendations & conservative principles & to raise the banner for his reelection- Commending "our organ" to your friendly consideration I am Dear Sir with much Respect Your friend Cuthbert Bullitt To Hon Wm H Seward Secretary of State Washington [*29166*] Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.