Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-07-05
To Major General Benjamin +. Butler, Com
manding Department of the Cult, New
Orleans, Louisiana.
HEADQUARTERS DErARTM'T OF THE GULF, J
Moo Orleans, Juae IL, 1862.

HEADQUARTERS DErARTN'T OF THE GULF,
.Neio Orleans. Juae IL, 1862.
Cr.r,ru In tho r,ottor Of tbo sucars
i, tha nosscesior of Mr. Coyas who ;s thc
onlv ,,drty lnn,rr 70 tbo Itr;,od Sto,os a,,o
thor;ties 7 have examined With c,ro tbo
statements Won have sent me- " had infor-
nation. the sources of which Won viii not
expect me To disclose that Mr. Covoa had
been engaged in hu1inr Confederate notes
GIVING for tbcm strri;nr, cxchonup tlue
Transferring abroad thc credit of tLc Stotos
in the rebellion. and enahlino those hills of
credit to bc converted into bullion. tn I've
uscd there. as If has heen, for thc nurnosc
of nurcbasinr arms and Munitions Of war
Mr.. Coyas was one of and thc agent of an
association or comnanv of Greek merchants
rcsidinr here in London and in Havana
who had set apart n LARGE FIND for this
enterprise That these Confederate notes 50
purchased bv Mr. Gowns had been used in
The purchosc of s,toars and cotton of which
the sugars in question, in value almost
5000 600 are n mart
I directed MIR Covas TO hold these suoors
until the matter could he investigated
| am satisfied of the substantial truth of
this information. Mr.. Coyos, own books
will show the important fact that he sold
sterling exchange for Confederate Treasury
notes. and then bought these surars with
the notes.
Now this is claimed TO be "strictlv mer
cantilen
1t will not be denied that the sugars were
intended for a forcirn market
But the government of the United States
had said that with thc mort of New Orleans
there should be no sstrictly mercantile"
transactions
It would not he contonded for moment
that the exchanging of specie for Confcde-
rate Treasury notes and sending the specie
to Europe to enable the Rebels 70 buy arms
and munitions of war there. were not a
breach of the blockade as well "a a violation
of the neutrality laws and the proclamation
of their Maiesties. the Queen of Great Bri
tain and fhe Emncror of France What
DISTINGUISHED the two cases. save that draw
inc the sterling bills il n more safe and
convenient wov of cldinr tbe laws than
sending bullion in specie, and thus assisting
the Rebellion in the point of its utmost
need
II will be claimed that to assist the rebel
lion was not tho motive.
Granted "cqvsa aygumentiw
It was done from the desire of gain. rs
doubtless all the violations of neutrality
have been done bv aliens dprinr thi. war.
Z
4 FOREIGNER which If done hy n sub;cct
would be treason or high misdnmeanorl
Nv nroclamation of Nav lat assured rc-
spect to all persons and property that were
! rrsncctohle If was not nm amnesty m mur-
dcrcrs, thieves and criminals of dccper dive
or less heinousncss. nor n mantle 10 cover
the nroncrtv of those ailcrs Of thc rebellion
whether citizens or aliens whom 7 miuht
find here If numbers of tbe fnrcion resi-
dents here have beer enooncd in oidino the
rebellion either directly or Indirectly from
a spirit of pain. and they now find them
selves ohiccts Of votchtnI snncrvieion NV tho
authorities of the limited States. they will
console Themselves with the reflection that
they arc only rcttino the s.bitter with the
sweet"
Nav, more, if honest and quiet Corcicn
citizens find Themselves the objects of aus
picion TO. and even their honest nets subjects
of investigation bv. the authorities Of thc
limited States to their Inconvenience thev
will. mon reflection. blame only the over
rapacions and greedy of their own fellow
citizcns who have. NV tbcir aid to thc
rebellion. BROUGHT disgust and suspicion
over all, Wishing to treat YOU. gentlemen.
with every rcspcct | have set forth Mt lcnoth
some of the reasons which have prompted
nv action. There is one phase in vour let
ter which do not understand, and cannot
permit to pass without calling attention to
it. You saw. "the undersigned are disposcd
TO waive ali mast proceeding. etc
What PROCEEDINGS have YOU, or either of
YOU. to s.waiye" if do feel disposed so to
do, What right have YOU in the matter
What authority is vested in YOU by the laws
of nations or of this country which gives YOU
the power to use such language to the rep
rescntatiye of the United States in a Quasi
official communication
Commercial agents, merely of a subordi-
nate class, Consuls have no bower to waive
! or condone any proceedings, past or present
of the Government. under whose protection
they are permitted TO reside. so long AS they
| behave well. If | have committcd any
wrong TO Mr., Covas, YOU have no power t0
waive or pardon the penalty, or prevent his
having redress. If he has committed any
wrong to the United States YOU have still
take leave 10 elppCSt nOSSlIlp OK