Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-25

lingly listen to the suggestion which
have been directed to make in behalf of
all the prisoners; and | repeat, with still
more strengthened conviction, the sen,i-
mcnt which | expressed in my despatch
No. AS, that the restoration ofperiect har
mony and solid and durable peace be-
tween the two countries will be aided and
promoted by the release ofall these mise
rable men from further imprisonment.
With view to its safety and dispatch,
this instruction is sent to you by a special
bearer. am, sir, very respectfully.
Your obedient servant.
DAN'L. WEBSTER.
To DANIEL NJ. BARRrNGER, ESQ, &c. &c.
Madrid.
The above communication and accom-
panying documents, on motion of Mr..
Hunter, were referred TO the Committee
on Foreign Relations, and ordered to be
printed.
THE AFFAIR OF THE PRONE
THEUS.
The Chair laid before the Senate the
following message from the President of
the United States:
To tie Senate ofMc United States:
have received resolution OF the SEN
ate. adopted on the 18th instant in the fol-
lowing terms:
"Rcsolved, That the President of the
United States be requested to communi-
cate to the Senate, if not Inconsistent with
the public interest, any information the
Executive may have received respecting
the firing into and the seizure of the A
merican Steamship Promctheus by Brit
ish vessel war, in November last, near
Grey Town, on the Mosquito coast; and
also what measures have been taken by
the Executive TO ascertain the state of the
facts, and to vindicate the honor Of the
country"
In answer to this request. | submit here
with the accompanying extracts from
communication addressed TO the Depart
ment of State by Mr.. Joseph L. White as
counsel of the American Atlantic and Pa
cifc ship Canal Company dated I'd instant.
This communication is the principal source
of the information received by the Execu-
tive in relation TO the subject alluded TO-
and is presumed to be essentially correct
in its statements of the facts. Upon re-
receiving this communication, instructions
such as the occasion seemed to demand,
were Immediately dispatched to the Min
lister Of the United States in London
Sufficient time has not elapsed for the re-
turn fany answer to this dispatch from
him, and in my judgment it would at the
present moment be inconsistent with the
public interest to communicate those in
structions. A communication, however,
of all the correspondence will be made to
the Senate at the earliest moment at which
proper regard to the public interest will
permit;
AT the same time instructions were CIV
en- to Commodore Parker, commanding
the home squadron copy Of which, so
far as they relate 10 the case of the Pro.
metheus, is herewith transmitted No the
Senate WILLARD FILLMORE.
Washington, Dec Is 1851.
The following are the instruction. al
luded to in the message.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 3, 1851.
Sir The President has learned that
an English ship-oi-war, the Express" ~
ing in the harbor of San Juan de Nicara-
qua, has recently fired. upon the Amcri-
can steamer Prometheus, while in the act
Of departing from that harbor, and com.
PEELED her to pay certain demands, alleged
TO be port charges, and claimed by per-
sons protesting TO act under the authority
of the local government
The particulars oithe affair will be found
IN letter ofthe agent of the Prometheus
already published in the newspapers ofN. |
York, copy of which is herewith trans
miiied.
Whatever may have been the merits of
the question between the Captain of the |
Promethus and the authorities of Nicara- |
qua, the United States acknowledge no
right In the government or vessels Of |
Great Britain TO exercise airy police or
supervision over American merchant ves-
sells in Nicaragua or elsewhere out ofthe
British dominions; on the contrary, the |
fist article of the convention between the |
United States and her Britannia majesty. |
relative to Nicaragua, expressly excludes
each ofthe contracting parties from assu-
ming or exercising any dominion.
You WILL therefore, as soon as the Sa- |
ranac shall bein all respects ready for sea,
proceed in her to SanJuande Nicaragua,
for the purpose of affording protection to
American commerce and interests on that |
coast against any such interference for
the future And on your arrival there,
You will notify the officer in command of
her Britannic Majesty's naval forces in
that barber, or on that coast, Of the OBJ
ject ofyour visit
At the same time, you will assure the
local authorities of the port that the Uni
ted States will not justify non-payment
of any lawful and proper port duties on
the part Of their merchant vessels, and that
rhey desire the most friendly relations
with the government of Central America,
ard Will faithfully maintain on their part
the sripularions Of she treaty already re-
ferred to.
.
am. very respectfully,
Your obi. serv't.
WILL. A. GRAHAM.
Gam A p.prpp