The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-11-30

mayor. ....................... Nov. %
Your committee have sought further evidence as all
the facts and suspicious comprised in these papers
Proceeding consider their import it is to be remarked
that the firm in question American merchants of this
city, having number of vessels chiefly employed in the
Pacific China and India seas being perhaps largely
engaged in this branch OF commerce than any other house
the United States that they directors and managers in
many important commercial institutions of high
lnercal standing and well known of probity
ard honor.
Your committee find that the barque Maury built in
IL city, during the past summer for this firm that she
advertised by them for thirteen days before the date
OF the affidavit under their name in five daily papers,
wit the Courier and Enquirer Journal of Commerce,
Commercial Advertiser New York Express, and EVENING
Posr, for Shanghai in China; loading wholly in
freight and having taken her first clearance her
register had not been then issued from the custom-house
that there board armament of four guns with
moderate supply of small arms, and also ten guns on
freight and that other cargo being received These
guns first placed in the lower hold temporary bal
last afterwards raised to the betweendecks and
never concealed in any way whatever
Such armament and freight not unusual for vessels
bound for the China and vessels similarly equipped
have heretofore been despatched from this and other ports
in the United States without suspicion notice; and,
apart from other circumstances armament and in the
CHINA trade afford cause to suspect any intended in
fraction of the neutrality laws any intended
illegal questionable employment Your committee have
not been able to ascertan and do not believe that there
any other facts which could reasonably lead to such
suspicious regard to the vessel 1t is manifest however
that they entertained by the British consul here and
by the British minister Washington for upon the a
davits and submitted by these unctionares
without full ascertainment of the truth in matter
Important and without inquiry from the owners and
chiefly on an oath of belief without statement OF the facts
on which it founded, the Maury" taken posses
sion of by the United States marshal the afternoon of
the 7h October under process from the United States
court founded libel to by the British CONSUL
as forfeited for a breach Of the neutrality laws
IN the view of your committee the feelings Of respect
able firm and the character of New York merchants have
been needesy dispaaged and assaed through needless
ness and cupabe want of inquiry strange creduty
the part of those making the to the officers
OF the American government for 1t is clear that in the
lapse OF seven days between the day which the nfda-
Wits made and the day of the SEIZURE the dest
nation of the vessel and all the facts Of the case could
have been ascertaned. The statement of Messr Low,
satisfactory after the seizure could have been easily OBJ
tanned before it made by simple application to them
Their advertisements of the vessel were in five daily
pers from the 9th OF September to the Gath of October
and the SEIZURE suspicious careessy creduous
~ entertained is truly remarkable
The appearance of the marshal the first ntimaton to
the house that their standing and character had not pro-
ected them from the charge of being engaged unlaw
ul and dsgraceul undertaking. But these sanderous a
hdavlts could not stand any examination and instantly
vanished before their simple The exhibition of
the unaccountahe Misrepresentation ignorance and credu
y on which the charge based, alone survive. The
proceeding OF Mr. Barclay withdrawn the second
day. day being lost by his unwingncss to act at all
without seeing Mr. Edwards. The chamber will remark
that the aldavs all upon the day, the
10Th OF OCTOBER and that the steamer Pacific which left
this port the nth of October took out the information
which has caused much excitement and alarm the
other side of the Atlantic unless it forwarded by
prior to the day Of the seizure of the Maury parte
entirely and explanation could accompany it.
by public card of the Goth instant, MIR. Barclay de-
mics having written despatch to her Majesys govern
nent in regard to that ship" Therefore, from whom it
smanaied and by whose ndscreon the relations between
the two countries rudely Jared is wholly in the
dark The letters Of Mr. Barclay and Mr. Champion leave
upon them the burden of answering the inquiry. Your
committee were greatly surprised to observe by Mr. Cramp
tons note 10 the Secretary Of State that he had been in
formed by Mr. Barclay not only that he has good
10 believe that this vessel 1.-THE Maury) sis Intended for
the service OF Russia in the present but that plan
exists for fitting vessels of similar description in other
Ports OF the United States with the express design of
committing hostility against her Majestys government
aud more particularly Of ntercepting and capturing the
British mail steamers plying between Liverpool and
BOSTON,
For such statement yonr committee have been able to
nod no warrantn the affidavit by any person. of any
c or indeed, of any belief They believe that fact
lets warran,.ag any such statement and they share
surprise that any living in this city having
communication with il, should for moment believe it,
On tue contrary the committee have it from the highest
authority that the has knowledge belief
suspicion that any privacer other armed vessel is
against any of the European belgerents.
The committee further report that the following card
from the British consul appeared in the New fork Herald
81 the 2th Of October and do not find that was publish
"a ia any other paper:
Misrepresentation the above subject (regardng the
Nauy) having been published in various newspapers among
that munitions of found board secreted
nnde quantity OF cotton desire dsabuse the mind OF
e pabc that impression by stating that such was not the
ease.
Had my endesvors made before information formal
" lodged 20 ascertain the the ship Mauy. succeed
a. the explanations which that rNpectAble hrmMessrs. A.
A, Low Brothersgsv after the libel was filed would