Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-06

country, it was tkn0unCout not sOnB ttSI eH"-
the troops which Great Britain was sending
70 Canada, to be prepared for e war with the
United States, were to be SAINT by the Grand
Trunk road from Portland through the State
of Maine, By consent of the Secretary Of
State. It was argued that it was by no
means incumbent upon this country to ten.
der facilities for It's own foes, as it was conf
dently expected those troops would be. The
following letssr has been LAID before the Leg |
islatofe of Maine BY Gov Washhurn;
DEpARTMRNF OF STATE /
WAsHMaToN, Jan. II, 1861. |
/ 70 His EEcslleRy, Israel WGshbsTn, Jr., Coo
ernor Of the State Of Maine:
Sin: Your Excellency's letter of the 18th
instant has been received. It submits to me
an order Of the Senate Of Maine. This order
recites q statement that dispatch has been
received from the Secretary of SIste of the
United States, addressed 10 the Marshal OF
the United States, and all Federal officers in
Portland, directing that the agents Of the
British government shall have all proper IA
cilitiss for landing and conveying to Canada
or elsewhere troops and munitions Of war Of
every kind, without exception. The order
then requests you 70 communicate with the
Senate Of Maine, If compatible with the pub
lie interests, all information you may have, if
any, in relation to the British troops as 30
recited, and whether any steps have been Ia
ken TO prevent ssch use OF American soil
within the limits of the State Of Maine.
| After referring me to the Senate order, your
Exeellsncy asks me to advise you whether
such permission has been given; and, if such
is the faci, then for any information concerning
it which may think proper to communicate.
cheerfully answer these inquiries.
On the 4th of January instant this depart.
ment was advised, by telegraphic dispatch
from Portland, in the State of Maine, that
the steamship Bohemian, due there on the 7th
inst, was tslegraphed of Cape Race, with
troops for Canada, and enquiring whether,
in case they came to Portland, any different
course was to be taken than what has been
heretofore pursued, and asking instructions,
! in that contingency, by telegraph.
Upon this information replied by the tel
eRraph, giving such directions IS the order
Of the senate Of Maine recites. The imme-
diate grounds for this proceeding were that it
: was supposed that passage of the troops and
/ munitions named across the territory of the
p United States, by the Grand Trunk Railroad,
would save the persons concerned from risk
> and suffering, which might be feared, if they
z were left to make their way, in an inclem-
= nent season, through the ice and snow Of q
n northerly Canadian voyage.
The principle upon which this concession
> was made to Great Britain is that when hu-
d manity, or even convenience, renders it de-
te sirable for one nation to have passage fol
4 its troops and munitions through the terri.
tory of another, it is q customary act of com
u ity to give it, If it can be done consistently
Il with its own safety and welfare. 1t is OF
le this principle that the United States contin
II uslly enjoy the right of the passage of troop
:. upon the Panama Railroad, across the terri
II tories Of the republic of New Granada.
The United States claim and enjoy, bJ
the concession Of ell friendly nations, the
N kindred comfy Of entering their port
with ships and munitions Of war, and they
;! have conceded q reciprocal comfy TO tn
7, naval marine Of Great Britain, France
D. and indeed all other friendly nations.
"a In Withholding this customary comit,
from Great Britain in the present case
government must necessarily act upol
in either g conviction that the passage of tn
s, troops and munitions through our territor,
would be injurious or hazardous to tn
public safety or welfare, or else it mus
oapriciously refuse to that power WhR
IN would bs granted cheerfully to an,
~, other, or refuse to grant to Great Britail
', corded ct another time, and under som
y different circumstances.
- No foreign nation inimicsl to Grea
IL Britain is likely to complain Of the Unite
We States for extending such q comfy TO tha
Mt power. II, therefore, there be any DANCE
az to be Rpprehended from it, it must come i
the form Of direct hostility on the part G
g the British Government against the Unite
N States. The United States have not onl
I'd studiously praeticed the most perfect just
y. ice in their intercourse with Great Britain
~ but they have also cultivated on their PAL
'al q spirit Of friendship towards her as kr
nd dred nation, bound by the peculiar ties {
"a. commerce. The Grand Trunk Railroad,
:, British highway extended through the tel
Lu ritories Of the United States to perhaps th
In finest seaport Of our country, is q monU
he ment Of their friendly disposition. Th
tn reciprocity treaty, favoring the produt
3 tions Of British North America in the NAL
~ kets Of the United States, is 9 simils
N monument Of the same wise and beneVt
K lent policy.
"a shall not affect ignorance of the fac
. that popular asperities have recently appeal
y ed in that portion Of the British empire,
~ we'll as in the British islands, which haT
,ur seemed to indicate growing alienation {
NJ sentiment among portions Of the British pei
a, pie. But the government Of Great Britai
has, nevertheless, during all this time, bel
&c. towards Us its customary language ofrespeC
ct. and friendship. This government, praetil
,nr ing entire trankness, yields its full faith
these assurances of the government of Gres
ss Britain. The popular asperities to which
have alluded are believed TO have had the
ole origin in accidents and misapprehensions
M q temporary character. While the policy
this government has been to fortify its tel
en- ritories 30 as to be able to resist all foreig
ars Is well as domestic enemies, if such enl
pie mics must come, it has been equally careft
uv at the same time to secure even great
=, strength, by showing itself consistent wit
1e1 all things, scrupuiously Just, and if possibl
to magnRnimous towards all other nations.
nd Il was not supposed, when the direction
in question were given, that the State
Maine would feel herself aggrieved by ther
At the same time the Federal GoVernne'
W Is fully sensible that in all its proceedings
owes to each of the States the most exa
eW respect for her rights and interests. II
the State of Maine has been 30 emineRtly 10y
ant and patriotic in the present emergency, tn
the President would not feel himself at Ii
Ah' erty to wound any sensibiliiy that she mig
Tas feel upon the subject
IN II, therefore, you shall advise me that Il
IL directions in question are likely to have th
h effect, they viii be cheerfully modified.
me l have the honor to be, with the highe
'rk consideration, your Excelleacy's obedie
he servant WILLIAM d. SEWARD.
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