Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-25
THE DILLON CASE.

1ppeared In the semi-oihcial columns OF the Paris
Constitutional for the expulsion of Mr.. SoULE
ffnna the territory of France among other pleas Of
Justification brought forward, readers will have
observed the case of the arrest of the French Cen
sui, Mr. DILLON by order of Judge of the
Eaited States, at San Francisco in April last Our
f1aqnaship for the estimable gentleman who filed
fRe office of Judge of the United States for the
District of California, (Judge HOFFMAN, whose
szfacial conduct brought in question by the ap-
parsnfly grave act of putting under compulson the
a.ssuzsui of foreign friendly Government, induced
us ts give more attention than we perhaps might
otherwise have done to that transaction when the
newa Of it first reached here, but it did not appear
taz US inquiry, to be worthy Of any serious notice
%seina, however, the matter formally revived un-
,3ss the reputed sanction of the French Goyern-
x1enf, together with some strong animadversions by
. guriioa of the New York press on the alleged i'll
treatment of Mr. Dillon by Judge HOFFMAN, we
arc ES ts think that the facts of the affair not
well understood, and to conclude-passng by the
sxscAEe inconsequence of the French Government in
xIs1tRsS upon Mr.. SoULE the assumed Injury to Mr..
MJEEs5S-that justice to Judge HOFFMAN, as well
rs ca the truth Of history, imposes US the duty
aE EsEing the case fully before our readers. We
nrupnsse to do this by a concise statement of the
f.ts as they occurred with such reflections their
czlafIau to our Government TRUTH without regard
az party feeling, seems to demand.
DER Government had received information that
certain citizens of the United States, in the State Of
GAlsfasaia, were engaged in organizing military
expedition there for the purpose Of making hos
esls descent on the Mexican territories of Lower
California and Sonora. Thereupon the President
EsaGsi proclamation, calling on the officers of the
GnFt States in the State of California to interpose
ca prsyent, if possible any such violation of our pa
s relations with the Mexican Republic and special
EnstrEntions to the same effect were dispatched
"a tho commanders of our military and naval forces
aE& 10 the law officers of the Government. Mean
while eortion of the expeditonary force had sue
~assGfcd in getting to sea, under Walker, and had
sEasehsd landing in Lower California. But the
s.1argefic steps of the Federal authorities in the
8Etc of Calfornia prevented Walker from receiving
zay Eoiaforcements, that the expedition failed,
AID some Of the leading parties embarked in it, on
sAeir return to California, were indicted and two of
Eisag, Watkins and Emory, were convicted. The
Gsvcsnment had thus, in good faith, maintained
tie law against citizens, and manifested its
gnosI faith towards the Mexican Republic.
Subsequently to this the Mexican Consul as San
HEanrisco, Mr.. Del Vale, was found to be openly
sarlged in recruiting French subjects, sojourners
In California for the military service Of his Govern
aart. This act was contrary to the policy of the
Eni&ed States, cvinced by provision of act Of
Congress which forbids even friendly foreign Gov
aransent to open recruiting station, either for its
2iElary marine or for its army, within the United
sssahs, Accordingly Mr.. Del Vale was indicted
mad convicted of misdemeanor in the violation of
salls law.
As to the Mexican Consul, the case was plain
suf simple one. He had, ignorautly perhaps, vio-
lated the law yet he had not done this IN any sense
purpose of infringing the neutral relations Of the
&2ar1ed States. But the persons whom he recruited
Wsrr Trenchmen and it had been done with perfect
nasnriety, under the eye and with tie apparent
pTiHity of Mr.. Dillon, the French Consul This
Eact complicated the matter because it was gene
rally believed in San Francisco, if not known that
alEhSsgh the recruits were professedly engaged for
zAG service of the Mexican Government, yet the
e purpose of the thing was hostile to Mexico, and
aaaa Il was iJustero plot of Raousset de Boalbon
sGsr si,e invasion of Sonora. If So and if Mr.. Dill
asn vas concerned in it, then he guilty of
sassble delinquencyfrst, in recruiting troops appa
Eztay for the service of Mexico, and secondly in
aprkisiug them really against Mexico, and Of course
IN violation of the neutrality Of the United States
Mr.. Dillon, therefore, was himself indicted
IInder these circumstances, when the trial Of Mr.
aask Vale came on, Mr.. Dillon was summoned to
spgsaar asa witness for the United States, and re-
fnsed under claim of his privilege as Consul, which
.sIaiEa was acquesced in by the District attorney
Afterwards Mr.. Dillon was summoned as wit
nsss by the defendant, Mr. Del Vale, and again
.-iained his privilege as Consul. But Mr.. Del
Wales attorneys we're not satisfied with this They
insisted that the party trial had constitutional
1rff TO the benefit of his testimony, and demanded
Danpulsory process from the District Court to en-
esyre, his attendance The Court (Judge Hoffman)
rra11ei this but, on the appearance Of Mr.. Dillon
ud after full argument Of the question Of his rights
.s Syousul the Court decided in favor of his pre-
ssusion, and he was discharged Mr. Dillon, how
crr. chose to consider his arrest as national IN
fenity, took down his flag, and consigned the busi-
usrss of his Consulate to the Consul of another
gsssyernment This is the alleged outrage Oh the
,cu1