The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-05
From New Orleans.

From New Orleans.
| THE BRITISH CONSUL AND HIS SUGAR PuRcHAsEs
In note dated at New Orleans, June 18th.
1862, addressed to Msjor-General B. F. Butler
we find that George Coppel III. B. N. Acting
Consult Chas. Aejan French Consul,) and n.
| ". benachi Greek Consul, state that the firm
OF Covas Negropoute made purchase of gu.
gars conjointly with Ralli Benachi, all of New
Orleans, and that said sugars are not allowed to
DE sold without orders from Gen. Butler. They
represent that the sugars in question, 8, 205
nogsneads, are the property of British, French
and Greek subjects, purchased at various times
IN the usual manper, e., by the.proceeds of bills
OF exchange, &c, that the shipment of these
sugars has been prevented by the commanders
| proclamation, thus entailing great loss to the
torelgn owners; and they beg that the order may
De rescinded; and that the sugars in question
may be placed at the disposal Of the purchasers,
a1f they will waive all past proceedings. In re.
ply to the sbove, Gen. Butler says:
HEADQUARTERS Dept OF THE GuIr,l
NEW ORLEANS, June IL, 1862.
GENTLEMEN: In the matter of the sugars in
possession of Mr.. Covas, who is the only party
known to the United States authorities, I have
examined with care the statement you have sent
| me. had information, the source of which
you will not expect me to disclose, that Mr..
Covas had been engaged in buying Confederate
notes, giving for them sterling exchange, thus
transferring abroad the credit of the States in
the rebellion and enabling these bills of credit
to be converted into bullion to be used there,
as it has been, for the purpose of purchasing
arms and munitions of war. That Mr.. Covas
was one Of and the agent of an association or
company of Greek merchants residing here, in
London and in Havana, who had set apart a
| large fund for this enterprise. That these Con
federate notes so purchased by Mr.. Covas, had
been used in the purchase of sugars and cotton,
OF which the sugars in question, in value almost
$500, 900, are part.
directed Mr.. Covas to hold these sugars until
this matter could be investigated.
| am satisfied Of the substantial truth of this
| Information. Mr.. Covas's own book will show
| the important fact that he sold sterling ex
| change for Confederate Treasury notes, and then
bought these sugars with the notes.
Now this is claimed to be "strictly mercan.
tile"
1t will be denied that the sugars we're intend
ed for foreign market.
| But the Government of the United States had
| said that with the port of New Orleans there
should be no "st-ictly mercantile" transac.
| tions.
1t would not be contended for moment that
the exchanging of specie for Confederate Treas
ury notes, and sending the specie to Europe to
enable the Rebels to buy arms and munitions of
war there, we're not q breach of the blocka
as we'll as the violation Of the neutrality law 8
and the proclamation of their lAajesties, the
Queen of Great Britain and the Emperor of
France What distinguishes the two cases, save
that drawing the sterling bills is more safe and
convenient way of eluding the laws, than send
ing bullion in specie, and thus assisting the re-
bellion in the point of its utmost need!
1t will be claimed that to assist the rebellion
was not the motive.
Granted "causa argumenti!"
l twas done from the desire of gain, as doubt
less all the violations of neutrality have beer
done by aliens during this war-a motive which
is not sanctifying to acts by foreigner, which
If done by subject, would be treason or higt
misdemeanor -. s -
Ny proclamation of May let assured respect te
all persons and property that were respectable
It was not an amnesty to murderers, thieves, and
criminals of deeper die or less Nervousness mol
a mantle to cover the property of those aidert
of the rebellion, whether citizens or aliens
whom might find here.
If numbers of the foreign residents here have
been engaged in aiding the rebellion, either di
rectly or indirectly, from spirit of gain, and
they now find themselves objects of watchfu
supervision by the authorities of the United
States, they will console themselves with the re-
Election that they are only getting the "bittel
with the sweet" Nay, more; if honest and quiet
foreign citizens find themselves the objects oil
suspicion to, and even their honest acts subjects
of investigation by the authorities of the United
States, to their inconvenience, they will, upon
reflection, blame only the over rapacious and
greedy of their own fellow-citizens, who have,
by their aid to rebellion, brought distrust and
suspicion over all. Wishing to treat you, gen
tlemen, with every respect, have set forth al
length some of the reasons which have prompted
my action. There is one phrase in your letter
which do not understand, and cannot permit
to pass without calling attention to it. You say
''the undersigned are disposed to waive all pas,
proceedings" &c. ,s-..g ~. .-a.,5.. a.. .
What proceedings" have you, or either Of
you, to "waive" if you do feel disposed so to do:
What right have you in this matter? What au
thority is vested in you by tie laws of nations OF
of this country which gives you the power to use
such language to the representative of the United
States in quasi official communication b..
Commercial agents, merely of subordinat.
, class, CoDsuls have no power to waive or con
done any proceedings past or present of thu
Government, under whose protection they ar,
permitted to reside, so long as they behave we'll
Ill have committed any wrong to Mr.. Covas
you have no power to ''waive" or pardon tn
penalty or prevent his having redress! If h,
has committed any wrong to the United States
you have still less power to shield him from pun
ishnent. va.
I take leave to suggest, as possible explana
ton of this sentence that you have been so lonl
dealing with Rebel Confederation, which ha
been duplicating you to make such representa-
tions to the Government whose subjects you are
+ 40 would induce your sovereigns to aid it in it
traitorous designs, that you have become rust,
in the language proper to be used in represent
ing the claims of your fellov-citizens to the con
sideration Of great and powerful Government
entitled to equal respect with your own.
In order to prevent all misconception, ant
that, for the future, you gentlemen may know
exactly the position upon which l act in regars
to foreigners resident here, permit me to explai,
,, to you that think foreigner resident her,
has not one right more than an American citi