The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-25

| President had been 90 much occupied recently in
the changes of his Governrzepe that he had no 60
portunity of delivering the award sooner, orsi
person. II -
| the United States of the claim relative to the
| American privateer General Armstrong" which
was destroyed in the port of Fayai on the 9th
of September, 1914; and states that having ma
turely considered and examined the documents
&C., It Is clear to him that the United States were
az war with Great Britain at that time; that Por
tugal was preserving her neutrality; that the
General Armstrong, commanded by Captain Reid,
legally provided with letters Of marque, and arm
ca ior prlvateering, cast anchor at Fayal on the
zotn september, 1914, in the dominions of the
queen OF Portugal On the same day an English
squadron entered the same port That it is equally
clear that during the following night without any
respect for the rights of sovereignty and of neu-
Americans and the EnsIisb and that on the next
day an English vessel came to range herself near
the American privateer for the purpose of cannon
aiding her; that this determination being followed
by the act, induced Captain Reid and his crew to
abandon and destroy her.
He does not consider it clear that. fcertain British
longboats on the night of the Goth approached the
General Armstrong, that these boats were manned
by men provided with arms and ammuniti n.
But he considers it clear that those ongboats hav.
ing approached the brig, the crew of the latter
having hailed them and ordered them to be off,
Immediately fred upon them, killing some and
wounding others mortally, without any attempt
having been made by the longboats to repeI force
by force The American captain did not apply to
the Portuguese governor for protection until blood
had been shed, and when the fire ceased The brig
came to anchor under the castle at the distance Of
stone throw. The Portuguese governor was then
informed of what was passing in the port, and he
did on several occasions interpose with the British
commander to obtain cessation of hostilities and
to complain of the violation Of neutral territory
and effectively prevented some American sailors
on land from embarking for the purpose of pro.
longing the conflict, which was contrary to the
laws OF nations. The weakness of the garrison
prevented any armed Intervention.
Considering in this state of things that Captain
Reid not having applied from the beginning for
the Intervention of the neutral sovereign, and
having had recourse to arms in order to repel an
unjust aggression, has thus failed to respect the
neutrality of the territory the foreign sovereign,
and released that sovereign of the obligation in
which he was to afford him protection by any other
means than that of a pacific intervention. From
which it follows that the government of her most
faithful majesty cannot be held responsible for the
results of the collision which has taken place in
contempt of her rights of sovereignty in violation
OF the neutrality of her territory and without the
local officers or lieutenants having been required
in proper time, and enabled to grant aid and
protection to those having right to the same:
Therefore, WE have decided and WE declare,
that the claim presented by the Government of the
United States against her most faithful majesty
had no foundation, and that no indemnity is due
by Portugal in consequence of the loss of the
American brig General Armstrong, armed for
privateering purposes"
This was referred, and ordered to be printed
At four O'Clock the doors were opened
And the Senate adjourned.