Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-11-01
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Oct. q.
Sir-Itis understood that James Lynch |
and John McMahon have been recent |
ly convicted in a colonial court OF Can
ada.and sentenced to death upon charge |
that being citizens of the United States
thew were actors in the assault made In
the month of June last at Fort Erie in
& the colony. 1t can hardly be necessary
20 direct your attention to the fact that
the government of the United States is
REQUIRED by the highest considerations
4 of national dignity, duty and honor to
INQUIRE into the loyalty justice and reg
ularity of the judicial proceedings which
have thus taken place and that after
making such careful scrutiny we shall
EXPECT to make known TO her MaJestys
government, such opinions as the Presi-
dent upon duel considerations shall adopt.
With this view the consul OF the United
States at Toronto is this day Instructed
to procure for our information a copy OF
the record of the trial and conviction OF
Lynch and Mcmahon and also of all
further trials and convictions of SINH
lar character which shall take place in
Canada while no unnecessary delay in
the examination of cases which are thus
expected to come before this govern
ment is intended, it may nevertheless
happen hereafter that delays may un-
ayoidably result from past incidents vi
from further events which cannot now
DC Nreseen. 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
properly 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 l
have thus made, but that they will
think it proper also to examine the judi
cial proceedings aforesaid with careful
regard to the rights Of the United States
and to the maintenance of good relations
between the two countries. Such rela-
tions are always difficult and delicate in
States that are adjacent to each other
without being separated by impossible
boundaries. For this reason, 1t would
be very gratifying to the President if
you should be able to give me an assur-
ance that the execution of sentence pro-
nounced upon the convicted persons will
be suspended if occasion for delay
shall arise in the manner before men,
toned to make it desirable.
Finally, l deem it proper to say thai
the ofenses involved in these trials are
in their nature eminently political. Il
is the opinion of this government tha
sound policy comedies with the best i'm
pulses of benevolent nature, in re
commencing tenderness, amnesty ant
forgiveness In such cases. This sugges
tion is made with freedom and earnest
ness, because the same opinions wer
proposed to us in our recent civil wa
by all the governments and publicst
of Europe, and by none OF them Wit
greater frankness and kindness than b.
the government and statesmen of Grea
Britain. / am very sure You will fin
that these recommendations of polio
of clemency and forgiveness In the cas-
of the parties concerned, are in entir
harmony with all the suggestions an
representations which this Governmer
has made to her Majesty's Governmel
in regard to the aggressions which ha,
been made on the Canadian frontier ar
that they are also in harmony with Il
proceeding which this Government h
thought it just, wise and prudent
pursue in regard to the violation of
own neutrality laws which was involve
in those aggressieus.
have the honor to be with the hig
est consideration sir,your obedient Sc
want,
(SignedD WM. H. SEWARD.
To the Hon. Sir, Frederick w.
Bruce. ...