The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-26
THE SEIZURE OF THE NEW YORK VESSELS
AT SAVANNAH.

The following are the concluding paragraphs of
the communication of Gov. Brown, of Georgia,
ordering the seizure of the New York vessels in
the port of Savannah, on Saturday last
Regretting the necessity which compelled me to
resort to a means of redress which, while natural
and legal, might interrupt the commerce between
the two States, and expose to temporary hardship
individual citizens of New York, whose property,
under the laws of nations is subject to
seizure for such outrages committed by the
auth hOrities of their own State, though they
NAV disapprove and condemn them, | was deter
mined not to occupy the position of an ag-
gressor for a single hour. So soon, therefore, as
| was informed that the authorities of New York
had made reparation for the robbery, immediate.
ly ordered the release of the vessels. Since that
time directed Mr.. Lamar to have the guns ship.
ped to Savannah, that they might be delivered to
their owners. He informs me that he de.
manded 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
"contraband articles
Twelve days have passed since | mailed to the
Governor of New ork the communication above
referred to- and have received no response from
him. He has not only refused, therefore, to order
the restoration of the property of which his police
had plundered our citizens within the limits of bis
own State, on a demand sent by telegraph, but he
has neglected and refused te a written COM
municatioa upon the esubject, sent to him through
the regular medium of the mail.
While held possession of the vessels seized, my
agent was informed that the guns were at the
command of their owners. Acting upon this as
surance, ordered the release of the vessels, and
INV agent is now informed that the officer in pos
session 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 subject our commerce to a surveillance which
we cannot with honor submit to- and to seize upon
~ and ,Nlu oiF; ~
pleasure.
Under these circumstances, | feel that |, as the
Executive of Georgia, would prove recreant to the
high trust reposed in me by my fellow. citizens
were | to refuse to protect their rights against
such unprOvoked aggression, by all the means
which the laws of nations, or the constitution and
laws of this State, have placed at my command.
1t therefore becomes my duty again to direct YOU
to call out such military force as may be necessary
for that purpose, and to renew the reprisals, by
the seizure, practicable of vessels in the
harbor of Savannah, or other property 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 to
my order; and it will be released when the guns
in question together with any other property Of
our citizens which has been or may, in the mean
time, be unlawfully seized by the authorities of
New 1ork) are actually shipped from the harbor,
and are beyond the reach control of the police
of the city of New York, the authorities of that
State. Respectfully, &C.,
JOSEPH E. Brown.
COL Henry R. jackson, Aid-de-Camp, Savannah,