Page images
PDF
EPUB

the insurrection, and the altered condition of affairs resulting therefrom, the decision already stated has been adopted.

In compliance with your request, I now return the certified copy of the shipping articles which accompanied your note of the 17th of May, the affidavits enclosed in your note of the 1st instant, and the certificates of discharge of the men from the City of Richmond, which were sent to this department by General Dix, and which contain the indorsement of the United States consul at Nassau.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary.

Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Hunter to Sir F. Bruce, Marquis de Montholon, Mr. de Stoeckl and Mr. van Limburg.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, June 26, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit, for your information and that of your government, six copies of the President's proclamation of the 23d instant, relative to the blockade.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &, &c.

[Rescinding the blockade as to all ports of the United States, including that of Galveston, June 23, 1865.]

By the President of the United States of America.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, by the proclamations of the President of the nineteenth and twenty-seventh of April, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, a blockade of certain ports of the United States was set on foot; but whereas the reasons for that measure have ceased to exist:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby declare and proclaim the blockade aforesaid to be rescinded as to all the ports aforesaid, including that of Galveston and other ports west of the Mississippi river, which ports will be open to foreign commerce on the first of July next, on the terms and conditions set forth in my proclamation of the twenty-second of May last.

It is to be understood, however, that the blockade thus rescinded was an international measure for the purpose of protecting the sovereign rights of the United States. The greater or less subversion of civil authority in the region to which it applied, and the impracticability of at once restoring that in due efficiency, may, for a season, make it advisable to employ the army and navy of the United States towards carrying the laws into effect, wherever such employment may be necessary.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-third day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the independence of the United [SEAL.] States of America the eighty-ninth. ANDREW JOHNSON.

[blocks in formation]

Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce.

Department of STATE,

Washington, July 1, 1865.

SIR: Ihasten, immediately after my return to the seat of government, to reply to your note of the 20th of June last, which was duly received at this depart

ment.

The President is pleased to know that, in your excellent opinion, the application, in certain cases contemplated by her Majesty's government, of the twentyfour-hours rule to naval vessels of the United States in British ports, harbors, and waters, is more guarded than had been supposed when my note addressed to you on the 19th of June was written.

It is the desire of the United States that, as far as possible, all injurious effects of the questions which have arisen between this government and that of Great Britain during the internal disturbances which have prevailed in this country for the last four years may be removed. We hail, therefore, as of good augury every demonstration of liberality and consideration which comes to us from her Majesty's government.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c.

Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward.

WASHINGTON, July 3, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 1st instant, in reply to the explanation I offered of the meaning of the despatch of Earl Russell to me of the 2d June, copy of which I communicated to the gov ernment of the United States.

It is with much satisfaction that I shall communicate a copy of the note to her Majesty's government by this day's mail.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c.

FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward.

WASHINGTON, July 7, 1865.

Sir Frederick Bruce presents his compliments to Mr. Seward, and has the honor to forward to him the enclosed letter and resolution of the Methodist New Connexion church of Canada, which have been transmitted to him by his excellency the governor general of Canada.

Mr. Tindall to Mr. Seward.

AYLMER, CANADA WEST, June 20, 1865. SIR: I am directed to transmit to you the enclosed resolution, which was unanimously passed at the late session of the conference of the Methodist New Connexion church of Canada;

And remain, yours, with respect,

WILLIAM TINDALL,
Secretary of Conference.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington, U. S.

* See Appendix, separate volume.

Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward.

WASHINGTON, July 10, 1865.

SIR: I am instructed by Earl Russell to convey to the United States government the thanks of her Majesty's government for the information contained in Mr. Hunter's note of the 27th of May, relative to the steamer under Mexican colors called the Margarita Quintero, and to state that the vessel in question is the notorious Spanish slave steamer Ciceron.

There is reason to believe that she has changed her name and flag in order that she may be the better able to carry on the traffic in slaves, in which, for the last two years, she has been engaged.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c.

FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce.

Mr. Seward presents his compliments to Sir Frederick Bruce, and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of his note of the 7th instant, enclosing a letter and resolution of the Methodist New Connexion church of Canada, which had been transmitted to Sir Frederick Bruce by his excellency the governor general of that province.

Mr. Seward begs that Sir Frederick Bruce will convey, through his excellency the governor general, and William Tindall, esq., their secretary, residing at Aylmer, Canada West, to the respected body from which the friendly and humane expressions in regard to the assassination of the late President of the United States, to the question of slavery, and the relations, past and future, between the two nations, emanate, an assurance that they are gratefully appreciated by the government and people of the United States.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, July 11, 1865.

Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward.

WASHINGTON, July 12, 1865.

SIR: Her Majesty's government have had under their earnest consideration the record of the proceedings of the naval court of inquiry held at Boston in the case of the Night Hawk, a copy of which accompanied the note addressed to Mr. Burnley by the Secretary of State of the United States on the 6th January last.

I have now the honor, in pursuance of instructions which I have received from her Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, to state to you that her Majesty's government have perused with equal surprise and regret these papers, which, while they in no respect alter the previous impressions of her Majesty's government as to the case of the Night Hawk, or as to the treatment of the British subjects who constituted the crew of that vessel, furnish in themselves serious grounds of complaint, both with respect to the manner in which the naval court of inquiry was conducted, and as to the continued detention in prison, while that inquiry was pending, of the officers of the Night Hawk.

The court of inquiry appears to have been ordered by the Secretary of the Navy of the United States "for the purpose of inquiring into the circumstances attending the capture and destruction of the steamer Night Hawk;" and the court was most properly instructed to "direct its particular attention to the treatment of her officers and crew at the time of and subsequent to her capture and de

struction."

When the inquiry was directed and held, the captain and three officers of the Night Hawk were still detained as prisoners, her crew having been released about a week previously; and the only ground which was or could be alleged for lengthening their imprisonment (originally unjustifiable) was that their evidence would be wanted before the court of inquiry.

How, then, was the inquiry conducted? The judge advocate called as witnesses all the officers and some of the crew of the Niphon, whose conduct was the subject of investigation; among the rest Mr. Seaman, the officer in charge of the boarding party, and the person most directly responsible for any wrong which might have been done. It appeared, even on their own evidence, that while the Night Hawk was lying aground, without any signs of armed resistance, some shots were fired into her by the boarding party. Mr. Seaman, in his evidence, acknowledges to have hailed the Night Hawk to know if she would surrender, and to have at the same time fired several rifle shots into and about the wheel-houses. It appeared, further, that a passenger, Dr. Taylor, was wounded by one of those shots, and that Mr. Seaman used personal violence towards the chief engineer, striking him and knocking him down with the but end of a pistol, so that he remained senseless on the deck, and that this latter violence occurred after he (Mr. Seaman) had set the ship on fire.

The persons responsible for these occurrences were the only witnesses called upon for explanation concerning them. After they were heard, the judge advocate stated that he "knew of no other person whom it was necessary to summon before the court;" and, "the testimony being finished," the court found in accordance with the version of the facts given by these witnesses, and placed upon those facts the most favorable construction. All this time the officers of the Night Hawk (including the chief engineer, whom Mr. Seaman had knocked down) were kept in prison; their evidence was neither asked nor obtained; they had no opportunity of tendering it, and that detention, for which no justification could be alleged except a bona fide intention to secure and make use of their testimony, resulted in its total suppression.

Her Majesty's government, I am directed to state, are convinced that the government of the United States would never be satisfied with such an inquiry, or admit that the imprisonment of their citizens was justified under such circumstances if the case were their own. Nor can her Majesty's government forget the recent case of James O'Neill, in which, after an ex parte inquiry had resulted in the exculpation of an officer of the United States navy by whom O'Neill had been causelessly wounded, a subsequent inquiry by court-martial, which the justice of the United States government induced them to direct, resulted in the condemnation and dismissal of that officer.

Her Majesty's government cannot but hope that the government of the United States will acknowledge that the course actually followed in the present instance is not that which the Secretary of the Navy of the United States intended when he directed the inquiry to be instituted, and that, upon further consideration or further examination, some satisfaction may yet be given to her Majesty's government in the case of the Night Hawk.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c.

FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, July 18, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 12th instant, in which, under instructions received from her Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, you present the views of your government in regard to the proceedings of the naval court of inquiry, held at Boston, in the case of the Night-Hawk. In reply, I have the honor to state that the subject will receive proper consideration.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c.

Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward.

WASHINGTON, July 25, 1865. SIR: The chargé d'affaires of Hayti has requested her Majesty's government to concur in guaranteeing the neutrality of the peninsula of Samana, a step in which he appears to think the government of the United States might not be disinclined to concur.

Before replying, her Majesty's government are anxious to ascertain the views entertained by the government of the United States of the above proposal, and I shall be glad if you can, without inconvenience, enable me to communicate the desired information.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., Sr., &c.

Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward.

WASHINGTON, July 26, 1865.

Sir Frederick Bruce presents his compliments to Mr. Seward, and begs to enclose a copy of a resolution* passed by the grand division of the Order of the Sons of Temperance of the province of Canada, wherein they offer congratulations on the successful termination of the civil war in this country, and at the same time express their sympathy with the national bereavement. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Secretary of State, Washington.

Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce.

Mr. Seward presents his compliments to Sir Frederick Bruce, and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of his note of yesterday, enclosing a copy of a resolution of the grand division of the Sons of Temperance of Canada, congratulating the United States on the successful termination of the civil war, and expressing their sympathy with them in their national bereavement.

Mr. Seward begs Sir Frederick Bruce to accept for himself, and to convey to the respected body adverted to, the thanks of this government for this manifestation of their friendship.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, July 27, 1865.

* See Appendix, separate volume.

« PreviousContinue »