Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-30
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Oct. q, 1866.

SIR: 1t is understood that James
Lynch and John Mcmahon have been re-
Gently convicted in a colonial court oil
Canada and sentenced to death, upon a
charge that being citizens of the United
States they we're actors in the assault in
the month of June last at Fort Erie, in
that colony.
1t can hardly be necessary to direct
your attention to the fact that the Gov
eminent of the United States is required
by the highest considerations of national
dignity, duty and honor, to inquire into
the legality, justice and regularity of the
judicial proceedings which have thus
taken place; and that after making such
a careful scrutiny we shall expect to
make known to Her Msjestys govern
ment such opinions as the President,
upon due consideration, shall adopt.
With this view, the Consul of the
United States at Toronto is this day in
structed to procure for the information of
this department copy of the record of
the trial and conviction of Lynch and
McMahon, and also of all further trials
and convictions of similar character,
which shall take place in Canada.
While no unnecessary delay in the ex-
animation Of the cases which are thus
expected to come before this Government
is intended, it may nevertheless happen
hereafter that delays may unavoidably
result from past incidents or from future
events which cannot now be foreseen.
have now the honor to request You to
take such proceedings as you may think
proper, to the end that such applications
of the consul shall be promptly granted.
The President directs me to assure you of
his confident hope that Her Majesty s
Government will not only cheerfully
comply with the request | have thus
made, but they will think proper, also,
to examine the judicial proceeding afore-
said, with careful regard to the rights
of the United States, and so the mainte-
nance of good relations between the two
countries Such relations are always
difficult and delicate in States that are
adjacent to each other, without being
separated by impossible boundaries.
For this reason it would be very gratifying
to the President if you should be able
to give me an assurance that execution
Of the sentences pronounced upon the
convicted persons will be suspended if
occasion for delay shall arise in the
manner before mentioned to make it de-
sirable.
Finally, / deem it proper to say that
the offenses involved in these trials are
in their nature eminently political. 1t
is the opinion of this Government that
sound policy comedies with the best i'm
pulses Of benevolent nature in recon-
mending tenderness, amnesty and for
giveness in such cases This suggestion
Is made with freedom and earnestness,
because the same opinions were proposed
to us in our recent civil war by all the
governments and publieists of Europe,
and by none of them with greater frank
ness and kindness shown than by the
Government and statesmen of Great
Britain.
/ am very sure that You will find that
these recommendations of q policy of
clemency and forgiveness in the case of
the parties concerned are in the entire
harmony with all the suggestions and
representation which this Government
has made to her majestys government
in regard TO the aggresssions which
have been made on the Canadian frontier,
and that they are also in harmony
nth iae proceedings which this Govern
ment has thought 1t just, wise and pru-
dent to pursue in regard TO the violation
of its own neutrality laws, which was in
involved in these aggressiOns.
have the honor to be, with the high
est consideration, sir, your obedient ser
want,
(Signed) VIZ II. SEWARD.
To the Hon. Sir Fred W. A. Bruce.