The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-04-15
ARREST OF CONFEDERATE STATES
- = CITIZENS IN MOROCCO.


March 18th s.
! Mr. d. Griffith asked the Under Secretary of
State for foreign affairs whether the Lieutenant of
the Sumter and the ex-Consul of the United
States, at Cadiz, who were arrested On landing
from the Willie de Malaga steamer by the United
States Consul at L ngier, were taken down to the
/ harbor and embarked as prisoners on board the
! United States frgate Ino whether the Moorish
Government did not protest against this proceed
ing and only yielded to the threat of the United
States Consul that he would strike his fag and
whether it was the opinion of her Majesty's Gov
eminent that the jurisdiction with which, by the
! capiulatiGns or treaties, European Consuls were
/ invested over their ceuntrymen in Mahomedan
countries empowered them to take judicial cogni-
zance Of alleged political offences committed in
any other country; and, if not, whether the
British Government would take means to protect
our faithful ally the Moorish Government from
such Infringement of its independence?
Mr. Layard said he owed an apology to his friend
! and the House for having on a previous occasion
misin formed them on this subject. In fact it was
only at the close of last week that he received the
! in formation which he was now about to give. He
had stated before that two gentlemen-one the
Purser Of the so-called Confederate steamer Sum-
| ter and the other gentleman who was formerly
| United States Consul at Cadz--werc proceeding
! on a voyage from Cadiz to Lisbon and according
to Mr. Myers, the Pursers statement hearing that
a fellow citizen i'll at Tanger they landed to
see him, and returning to embark when they
were met by the American Consul, accompanied
| by Moorish guards, arrested the spot and
carried to the Consulate They were then loaded
| with irons and confined in improper place.
| The commander of the Sumter, hearing what had
occurred, wrote a letter to the Moorish authori-
ties, and sent it to MIR Hay, her Maesty's Consul,
requesting him to deliver it, and to make use of
his influence on behalf of the prisoners. MIR
Hay delivered the letter, but declined to take any
steps in the way Of interference. That happened
on the 18th.
On the 10Th, the United States sloop Inc ar
rived at Tangier, the Captain landed with
Der Of his crew armed, and proceeded to the Con-
sulate. The Moorish Government in the mean
time had learnt that these gentlemen had been
arrested upon political accusations alone, and they
sent letter OF rcmonstrance to the Consul The
Consul declined to surrender the prisoners, and
fell back upon article in. the treaty between
Morocco and the United States The 1th article
of general treaty between her Majesty and the
Sultan Of Morocco stated that should the British
Consul, vicc-consul consular agent, have at any
time occasion to request from the Moorish Gov
crnncnt the assistance of soldiers, guards or
armed force for the purpose of arresting any
British subject, the demand should be complied
with on payment Of certain fees. BY the 23d
article Of the treaty between Morocco and the
United States it was said that the Consul of the
United States should reside at any seaport of the
Moorish doninions, and should enjoy all the priv
ilcges which the Consuls Of any other nation en-
joyed.
| " hen it became known in Tancier that those
gentlemen were about to be transferred to the
sloop Ino, large assemblagc of Europeans and
natives took place. They threatened the United
States Consul, and for some time serious riot was
unprecedented. The United States Consul sent for
Mr. Hay, but he declined to Interfere and at the
same time demonstrated with the Consul, who fell
back on the treaty. Mr. Hay pointed out that the
right of atfording asylum belonged to the Moorish
Government and that the article of the treaty re-
icrred to, really applied only to criminals, and not
to persons charged with political offences. The
United States Consul declined to receive that in
depreciation OF the treaty, and the remon-
STRANGE of the Moorish authorities, he threatened
not only to lower his flag, but declare against
Morocco The authorities alarmed BY
this threat that they felt compelled to give the
! troops required. and the gentlemen were
marched down under the guard Of these armed
troops and of the seamen Of the United States
sloop, who were also armed, and put on board the
mo. Her Majesty's Government belivcd that
Mr. Hay took right view of his duty throus hout,
and approved his conduct. (IIcar, hear.)
In reply to a question Put by my honorable
friend the other nj "ht stated that they had been
released, but that mistake was owing to a despatch
which had been received at the Foreign Office
from Lord Cowley announcing that circumstance.
Not hearing any such Intelligence from other
sources the Foreign Office applied for information
again, and Lord Cowley stated in reply that NJ
| Thouvcncl had received similar despatch The
| Var Office then tecsraphed to her AIajesty's
Minister at Madrid but got an answer that he
had got no official intelligence whether they had
been released or not Upon that the War Office
telegrarhed to Sir w. Codriugton, the Governor
of Gibraltar, and it was not until late on Friday
! nj ht that his answer was received That answer
stated that the gentlemen arrested were carried off
to the United States. The facts required no
comment. For the sake of justice, of humanity
of the right of afording yum to persons accused
of political Offences claim preferred by the
weakest and recognized by the strongest powers
he ight be permitted to express earnest hope
that when the circumstances come to the knowl-
edge OF the President of the United States he
would order the release of the prisoners.
THE FEELING IN NAsnvIILE.-The Hunts
vile Democrat derives the following from a gen
tleman who left Nashville on the 18th March,
All but few of the people arc sullen and un-
sociablc to the Lincolnite horde of vandals and
some boldly avow their sympathy with the South
crn cause. Mrs McEwen, mother-in-law of John
Trimbc, visited by several officers, and she
unhesitatingly told them that she had been the
last person in Nashville to take down the Stars