New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-27
SEIZURE or VESSELS AT SAVANNhH

The following is Gov. Crowns explanation oil hls
order TO seize certain cessels belonging TO eiHehs OF
New. York, lying N the harbor at Savannah:
ExpCvTNH DFBPARTMENr,
MntFpGrvIrIE, Feb. 81, 1861.
s.R On the 9Th day Of this month directed you 10
then in the barbor of Savannah belonging TO citizens OF
the State of New-YoIk. The reasons for the seizure
were briefly stated in the order. CITIZENS OF TINS
State had been robbed of their property by the ponce
Of Ne-York acting under the authority OF that STATE
bad demanded the restoration OF the properly 10 lls
owners The Governor of that State had gwen an
evasive reply excepting to the form OF the demand se
by telegraph which clearly evnced his disposition not
If the protection of this State not in such care al
forded TO its citizens it not only invited funeI aS
Cressions upon their rights but forfeited all Just ci
20 their allegiance. therefore had no alternative le
but to order reprisGis. This is the mldest remedy
provided not only by the law OF nations, but by me
law Of nature for the redress of grievances between
sovereign States in the last resort
Your prompt execution OF the order, by me seizure
of five vessels owned by citizens OF 1ork, met by
highest approval The seizure made on the morl-
inc of the 9Th of this month"; On the evening OF that
day I mailed to the Governor OF New-iork, al
Albany communication stating the Tact OF the seizure
with the reasons for it, and that should hold the ships
till Justice should he done the injured citizens OF this
State, by the restoration OF the property OF which
they had been robbed by the police Of the City OF New
York.
dispatch from Mr.. q. Il. Lamar of New-YOrk, whom
had appointed agent to receive the guns seled by the
police if delivered up by the authorities, stating that
the guns then at the command oil Their owners,
and asking me 10 release the ships. AT the same lne
| received dispatch from Mr. John Boston, the Col
lector of the port Of Savannah stating that he bad
lust been informed by Mr.. Lamar that the guns had
been delivered M.
sort 10 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 usr the laMs
of nations ia subject TO seizure for such outraes COM
mtted by the authorities Of their own State, though
they may disapprove and condemn them, was deter
mined not to occupy the position OF an aggletsS: lor
that the authorities of NewlOrk had made reparation
for the robbery Immediate ordered the release OF
have the guns SHIPPED to Savannah, that they might
be delivered to their owners. lie now informs me
that he demanded their shipment and was informed
bv the Superintendent OF the Police of kewloTk that
he had changed his mind, and that he would not
permit the guns 10 be shipped but that he would
order the further seizure Of what he is pleased 10 call
"eonraband articles"
erpor of New.York the communication above referred
TO- and have received no response from him. He has
not only reused therefore, 20 order the restoration OF
the property OF which his police had piundered our
citizens within the limits Of his own State, on de-
maDd sent by telegraph, but he has neglected and re-
fused to answer written communication upon the
subject 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 COM
mand Of their owners. Acting upon this assurance,
ordered the release of the vessels and my agent lie
informed that the officer in possession OF the guns hds
changed has mtnd, aud that he will not now permit
them 10 be returned TO their owners. These facts show
very clearly that it is the settled policy Of the author
ities Of New-YoIk 10 subject our commerce TO a
VIGILANCE which we cannot with honor submit to- and
to seize npon property and plumber citizens at
their pleasure.
Under these circumstances feel that IA the EY-
ecutive of Georgia would prove recreant to the high
trust reposed in mo by my fellow citizens, 10
refuse 10 protect their rights against such unprovoked
aggression, by all the which the law OF nations,
or the constitution and laws Of this State have placed
az my command.
II 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 rprisds, by the sez
ure practicable OF vessels in the barb0r Of
Savannah or other property in the city elsewhere,
within your reach, Belonging 10 the State to ci-
zens of New-York at least equal in value to double
the amount Of the original seizures made by you You
viii hold the property seized subject to my ORDER
and il will be released when tie guns in question to-
gether with any other property OF our citizens which
has been, or may, In the time, be unlawfully
seized by the authorities OF NewYork, actually
shipped from the harbor and beyond the reach
control of the police of the City Of NewYork, the
authorities of that State.
Respectfully, JOSEPH z. BROWN.
Col. HENRY t. JACKSON, ABIDE Can p, Savannah, Ga
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