The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-11-02

OEOHNNO NhthfMNhNg ~ -
VtctiOn and Sentance OF the
Fenian Prisoners Lynch and
McnahOn.
New York, October 2S.-The fol-
lowing documents have been received
here:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., Oct, %, 1866.
D. Thurston, Esq, United States Con-
sui at Toronto, Canada West
SIN: For your information | inclose
a copy of a note of this date, which |
have addressed to Sir Frederick w.
A. Bruce. the British Minister here,
upon the subject of the convictiun and
sentance Of james Lynch and John
Mcmahon by a Colonial Court of Can
ada, on the charge of completely and
participation in the late attack on Fort
Erie. In accordance. with the purpose
expressed in that communication, you
arc expected to procure, without de-
lay, for the use of this Department, a
copy of the record of the trial of
Lynch and Mcmahon and also, of
all further trials and convictions Of n
similar character which shall take
place in Canada, with the least posi-
Bile delay.
l am. sir, your obedient servant,
W. III. SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WASHINGTON, ID. G., Oct. 26, 1866.
SIR: 1t is understood that James
Lynch aud John Mcmahon have been
recently convicted in a Colonial Court
of Canada, and sentenced to death,
upon a charge, that being citizens of
the United States, they were actors in
the assault in tho month of June last
at Fort Erie, in that colony. 1t can
hardly be necessary to direct your at
tention to the fact thattho Government
of the United States is required by the
highest considerations of national dig
nifty, duty and honor to inquire into
the legality, justice and regularity of
the judicial proceedings which have
thus taken place; and that after max
ing such Il careful scrutiny, we shall
expect to make knownto her Maiesty's
Government such opinions as the Pres
ident, upon due consideration, may
adopt.
With this view the Consul of the
United States at Toronto is this day
instructed to procure for the informa-
ton of this Department a copy of the
trial and conviction of Lynch and Nc
Mahon, and also of all further trials
and convictions of a similar character
which shall take place in Canada.
While no unnecessary delay in the ox-
animation of the cases which are thus
expected to come before this Govern
ment is intended, it may nevertheless
happen hereafter that delays may un-
a~voida6ly result from past incidents or
from future events which can not now
be forscen. | have now the honor to
request you to take such proceedings
as you may think proper, to the end
that such application 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 that they will
think proper also to examine the judi
cial proceedings aforesaid, with ? care
full regard to the rights of the United
States, and to the maintenance 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 beverly gratifying tothc Pres
ident il you should be able to give me
an assurance that the execution Of the
sentences pronounced uponthe convict
cd persons will be suspended if occasion
for delay shall arise, II the manner be-
fore mentioned, to make it desirable.
Finally, / deem it proper to say that
the offenses involved in these trials are
in their nature %eminentiy political. 1t
is the opinion Of this Government that
sound policy comedies with the best
impulses Of II benevolent nature in
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, amnesty and
forgiveness in such cases.
This suggestion is made with free
dom and earnestncss, because the same
opinions were proposed to us in our
recent civil var by all the Govern.
ments and Publicists of Europe, and
by zone fthem with greater frankness
and kindness than by the Government
and statesmen Of Great Britain. an
very sure that you will find that thes,
recommendations Of II policy Of elem
ency and forgiveness in the case OF tn,
parties concerned, are in entire harmo
7 ny with all the suggestions and repre-
+, seEtations which this Government ha
made to Her Majesty's Government II
regard to the aggressions which hav,
= been made on the Canadian frontier
and that they are also in harmon.
with the proceedings which this Gov
| eminent has thought it just, wise an
: prudent to pursue in regard to tn
violation of its W neutrality law
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