New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-01
Yours very respectfully. JANE, BUCHANAN
igoKos BANCROFT. Esq Sc. Nc g..


uErAArMENr OF STATE.
EIrr.t| WAuuNCIoN Dee Isl l-i-
sin. ina President has directed mo 90 express O.
YOU biz appreciation of Your able persrfrtins snd
successful efforts % ohtui the release of NJ James
bergen aud Mr Richard Ryan. the Two American
cifI.srs Imprisoned 10 NcNcstc Dublin under toe tcl
of the British Government of 10Th July sst i'm aud
lath Victoria Cap 80 upon suspicion OBJ u"asN nap'e
practices gsinst the British Government You nave
correctly designated this at thoroughly arbitrary
and utterly dcspouc. 10 not only susptnjs the
hshsas corpus act-s measure which our Own Ion
gress possesses the power under toe Constitution
% adopt when In cases oi rebellion OF INVASION
the public safety may require a. but DE
riyes the unfortunate objects OF Government su'
pcion even OF the small protection aesiost unjust
imprisonment which previous ~ parie accusation
under oath or sitrrsstion would afford u the ndisi
dual be merely suspected Of high treason or treason
able practices by any Of the agents of the irish Tow
eminent warrant signed by six members Of the frlFy
Council or By the Lord Lieutenant or Chief secretary
Is of itself sufficient 10 commit him to prison without
bsil or Inainprsc lie Is thus doomed q dresfy ini
prisonment without the melancholy satisfaction
ct knowing me specific nature Of the crime with "h'eh
be- Is charged. ,-
N this law arbitrary and d-spotc IL i-, mad been
carried into execution ia the sane Impartial mali
uer against the citizens and subjects OF All infean nH
lions. this Government especially after the release oi
Messrs Bergen aud Ryan might have submitted IN 81
lencc But IL appears that an inNdious hnd "nrhrNo
distinction has been made against American ctllrns IN
executing rs provisions. They have been placed ia
worse and more degrading condition thsn those Ct any
/ other nation They have been singled out rom the
rest al the world and an persons coming from Anne
rcs" from this fact alone sud without any other eva
dence have been subjected by the Government on IRE
land acting Of course under thr authority 81 mat ~
Great Britain the language 90 me law tu tne 81. pl
c.nu oil hirh treason or reasonable practices Tue
exercse of wise discretion is more necessary n ih'
execution of dcspOtic law than with regard to anJ
other enactment yet the irish Government has en'fty
re,sei seif from this duty by declaring la advance
| that an persons coming from America, without
| exception shall be- imprisoned under this law. To
I'll. -. Ittatrs ~
dsnce 10 doom the traveller for pleasure, tho man Oh
business and all others 70 rs penalties, and thi. TOO
without having received any previous warning
such is the character Of the printed order oi the "a
August as ~ which you refer In your note 70 L0fd
PaIuerston of the l0h November, as secretly Issued
aud circulated In Ireland, directing the arrest OF All
persons coming from America the examination 81 thef
baggage, papers and persons and their de1enuon "a
| impr-onment No authority was given % SET ife'
Americans mus arrested where u was admitted
By the OH making the arrest that no ground what
/ ever. even Of suspicion, existed
IL does appear from the letter OF your Irish CORE
.oondent Of sept T. lsls that on the lrlh OF August
! l-,- this order was modified 40 81 limit the ares
and incarceration seizure and search 10 fdhrHsa rml
grants and 10 those Americans against whom tnere may
exist suspicion II nothing should DO found ~ Warrant
such suspicion these latter were " be liberated bd
| watched
The distinction. thus In enec, drawn, between na'o
rallied and native American citizens 10 inVhiou' ah'
unjust Our Obligation b. protect both these classes, 10
Ina all respects equal We recognize no difference
between the one and the other nor can We permit u
10 be done by any foreign Government without protest
ing and demonstrating against Ia tbs strongest Terms
The subcts A other countries who, from choice, have
abandoned thor native land and accepting me INVITA-
| ton which our avs present have emgrated " tn'
United states and become American citizens are snu
lied ~ toe very same rights and privileges, As they
had been born ia the country To treat them ia ar
| fercut manner would be violation VI our plightee
| iath as well as Of our solemn duty
me Precedent hss therefore directed me b. Instruct
YOU 10 protest ~ the most solemn aud earnest manner
which official propnety will warrant against TIE order
of the lrsh Government issued on the q snd lsln o
August last and against the arbitrary and offensive DIS
tncton which they make between our citizens and th
citizens and subjects VI other nations and, also be
tween native and nsturalized citizens me i'Dera
ZION Of Messrs Bergen and Rysn without trial the on
ly American cit known By the DEPARTMENT. Law
been under this act Is almost equaito demon
sraton tina, reasonable cause existed Tor tne.e "
der. The form and language Of this protest with IN
present dispatch general guide Is submitted I'o
| zetner 10 your own discretion.