Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-03-01
GEORGIA GUNS vs.. YANKEE SHIPS

| We find in the Savannah papers of Saturday
the order Of Coy. Brown, directing the seizu re
Of the New York vessels in that port The
| order is directed to II. r. Jackson, and as The
SUBJECTS of interest," we transfer a portion Of
the order, which explains this second seizure
ofvessels. Afterareferring to his former sez
nre' and saying that on the strength of a ,ele
graphic dispatch from Mr. Lamar, his agent, he
mad released the vessels then in the custody of
the State, he proceeds:
kegretting the necessity which compelled
me to resort to a means of redress which, while
natural and legal, might interrupt the com.
merce between the two States aud expose to
temporary hardship individual citizens of New
York, whose property; under the laws of ua
tions, ID subject to seizure for such oa,ray .
committed by the authorities of their own
= State, though they may disapprove aud. con-
denim them, l was determined not to occunv
the position of an nggressor for a single .hour
So seon, therefore, as was Informed that the
authorities of New York had made rep.raton
for the robbery, Immediately ordered the re.
lease Of the vessels. Since that time direct
cd Mr.. Lamar to have tho guns shipped to
Savannah, that they might be delivered to
their owners He now Informs me,that he de
n,anded their shipment, and was informed by
the Superintendent Of the Police of New York
that he had changed his mind, and that he would
not now permit the guns to be shipped; but
that he would order further seizures of what
he is pleased to call "eonlraband articles"
Twelve days have passed since mailed to
the Governor Of New York the communication
above referred to- and have received NO res.
ponse from him. He las not only refused
therefore, to order the restoration of the prop.
erty of which his police had plunde, ed our cit.
liens, within the limits of his own State, on a
demand sent by telegraph, but he has neglect
ed and refused to answer written communi.
cation upon the subject, sent to him through
the regular medium of the mail.
"While ! held possession Of the vessels eeiz
ed, my agent was informed that the guns were
at the command Of their owners. Acting up-
on this assurance, ordered the release Of the
vessels; and NY agent is row informed that
the officer in possession of the guns has changed
his mind and that he will not now permit
them to be returned to their owners These
facts show very clearly that it is the settled
policy Of the authorities Of New York to sub
ject our commerce to q surveillance which we
cannot with honor, submit. TO, and to seize upon
our property and plunder oui citizens at their
pleasure.
"Under these circumstances, feel that l, as
The Executive OF Georgia, would prove recre.
ant to the high trust reposed in me by my fell
low citizens. were to refuse to collect their
rights against such unprovoked aggression, by
all the means which the laws of nations. or the
and laws Of this State, Lave pla.
ced at my command.
ut therefore becomes my duty again l. to d. |
rectyou to call out such military force as may be
necessary for that purpose, and to renew the
reprisals, by the seizure, us soon as practicable
Df vessels in the harbor of Savannah, or other |
in the city, or elsewhere within your
reach. belonging to the State or to citizens Of
New York, at least equal in value to double |
The amount of the original seizures made by |
you You will hold the property SO seized.
subject 10 my order; and it will be released |
when the guns in question (together with any |
other property Of our ctizeus which has been, !
Or may in the mea mime be, unlawfully seized |
by the authorities of N-v Yofk) are actually
shipped from the harbor and are beyond the |
reach or control of the police of the city Of
New York, or the authorities of that State.
Respectfully, DO
JOSEPH E BROWN.
"Col HENRY r. JACKSON, Aid de. Camp.
Savannah, Gs."