Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-01-04
THE CONTROVERSY WITH BRAZIL.
New IoRE, December 80.


Seward wrote to Minister Webb that this
Government had just heard of the cap
tnre Of the Florida by the Wachusett at
Bahia, and Of the consequent hostilities
adopted by the brazilian forces in that
port; and that, in this stage Of the matter
the President thought 1t proper that MIR.
Webb should inform the minister for For
ei.n Affairs that we were not indisposed
to examine the subject as to its merits, and
u consider whatever questions might arise
out OF it in friendly and becoming spirit,
if that spirit should be adopted by his
imperial Majesty Government
On the 18th Of December, Mr. Barbosa,
Charge d Affaires al iaterim, addressed
Secretary Seward a letter in regard to the
seizure Of the Florida, calling = an act Of
the most ransccndent gravity, which in
volved a manifest violation of the terrific
rial jurisdiction Of the empire, and an Of
Tense to It's honor and sovereignty. He en-
tered into the particulars of the seizure,
and concluded by saying "On this occa-
sion. remembering that The United States,
whose anteccdents are we'll known, is no.
ted in history by her energetic defense of
neutral rights, the undersigned cannot
consider the event which occurred at Ba-
hia otherwise than as an inditi dual act
hv the commander Of the Wachusett, not
authorized or appro cd by the Govern
ment; and that it will consequent gre
to the Government Of His Majesty the en-
peror the explanation and reparation
which are due under international law, to
a power which maintains friend Y and pa
cifc relations with the United States The
Just reclamation Of the Imperial Govern
mcnt beng thus presented. the undersigned
awaits the reply Of Hon. Mr. Seward and
fully confidinG in his exalted wisdom and
the Justice of the Government of the Uni
ted States, he has not even for a moment
doubted but what it will be as satisfactory
as the inccntestible right which aids the
empire and the vast gravity OF the ofcnse
which was done to it may require"
Secretary Seward, in his reply, says :
Jealousy Of foreign Intervention in any
form, and absolute n-interrc ntion in the
domestic affairs of foreign nations, are
cardinal principles in the policy of The
United States. You have, therefore, just
" expected that the President would dis
a-ow and regret the proceedings Mt Bahia.
He will suspend Captain Collins, and di-
rect him to appear before 4 court martial
The Consul at Bahia admits that he ad-
vised and melted the Captain, and was &C
ii in the proceeding He will therefore
be dismissed The flag of Brazil will re-
eeiye from the United Stats Navy the
honors customary in the intercourse of
friena.y maratime powers The Secre-
tary says: - IS not to he understood,
however, that this Government admits or
gives credit 10 the charges Of falsehood,
trcach'r etc, brought against the Captain
and Consul. These charges are denied
on the authority Of the officers accused. "
The Secretary also takes occasion to say
that this Government disallows the as
sumption that the insurgents of lhis eoun-
try are lawful naval insurgents On the
contrary it maintains the assumption O!
that character ~ the Government of Bra
I'll to lie an insult To recognize as bel
ligerents citizens Of the United States who
have been and still are destitute Of naval
!, / =
vcntion in dero-ation Of the law of ma
tons, and unfriendly as it is manirestly
injurious to the United States" After
further remarks the Secretary says: At
does not, however, be.op@ to Captains If
ships oG-war Of tie United States, or to
c0mman lars oC their armies, or to their
Consuis residing in foreign ports, acting
without authority Of Congress, and without
even Executive direction, and choosing
their own time, manner and occasion, to
assert the rights and redress the wrongs
Of the country This power can be law
ful ' exercised only by the Government OF
the United States. Although the crew are
enemies Of the United States. and, as we
contend, enemies of the human race. yet
the offenders were, nevertheless, unlaw-
fully brought into the custody Of this Gov
ernment; therefore they could not awful
y he Subjected here to the punishment
wl'eh they have dcserved; nor coull they,
being enemies, be allowed 70 enjoy the
protection ofthe United States They will,
therefore, be set at liberty. TO seek refuge
where they can find it, with the hazard of
recapture when beyond the Jurisdiction of
this Government The entire correspon-
dence will soon be officially promulgated.