New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-11-05
1.ettsr oeaEr, seward to sir Frederick nsruee.
NEw YoRk, Sunday, Oct. 28,-The following
.laeunlanls hMNe been rhnhiNna here:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Washington, Oct. q, 1866.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE. !
Washington, Oct. n, 1866. |
D. Thurston Esq. U. S Consul, Toronto Q. W:
Sif--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 conviction and sentence Of
James Lynch and John MeMahon, by colonial
court of Canada, on the charge of completely and
participation in the late attack on Fort Erie.
In accordance with the purpose expressed IN
that communication, you are expected to procure
without delay, for the use of this department
eonv Of the record Of the trial and conviction OF
Lynch and Mediation, and also of all further trials
and convictions of similar character which shall
take place in Canada with the least possible delay
after their termination.
| am, sir, your ohedient servant,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD. 4
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Saturday, Oct. ~, 1861
SiI-It is understood that James Lynch and
John MoMahon have been recently convicted IN a
colonial court in Canada, and sentenced to death
upon charge that, being citizens OF the United
States, they were actors inthe asssultmade IN the
month of June last, at Fort Erie, in that colony.
1t can hardly be necessary to direct your atten-
ton to the fact that the government OF the United
States is required by the highest considerations
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 careful scrutiny we shall ex-
| pect to make known to her majesty's government
such opinions as the President upon due consider
| alton shall adopt
| with this view the consul of the United States
at Toronto is this day instructed to procure for the
information of this department, copy of the trial
and conviction Of Lynch and MeRIahon, and also
of all further trials and convictions of similar
character which shall take place in Canada.
While no unnecessary delay in the examinations
Of the cases which are thus expected to come be-
| fore this government is intended it may neyerthe
less happen hereafter that delays may unav0idably
result from past incidents, or from future events,
which cannot now be foreseen. l have now the
/ honor to request Youto take such proceedings as
4 you may think proper, to the end that such appi-
/ cations of the consul shall be promptly granted
\ The President directs me to assure you of his
\ confident hope that her majesty's goyernmentwill
not only cheerfully comply with the request Ihaye
thus made but that they will think it proper also
\ to examine into the judicial proceeding aforesaid
4 with careful regard to the rights OF the United
1 States, and to the maintenance Of good relations
4 between the two countries. Such relations are
always difficult ana delicate in States that adj
iacent to each other, without being separated by
| impossible boundaries. For this reason it would
be very gratifying to the President If you should
be ableto give me an assurance that the execu-
| ton of the sentences pronounced upon the con-
uicted persons will be suspended, if occasion for
| delay shall arise in the manner before mentioned
| to make it desirable.
| Finally, deem it proper to say that the of
| lenses involved in these trials are in their nature
eminently political. 1t is the opinion of this gov
ernment that sound policy comedies with the best
impulses Of 4 benevolent nature in recommending
tenderness, amnesty and forgiveness such cases.
This suggestion is made with freedom and earnest
| ness, because the same opinions were proposed
| to MS in our recent civil war by all the govern
ments and publicists Of Europe, and by none Of
them with greater trankness and Kindness than by
| the government and statesmen of Great Britain. 1
am very sure that you will find that these recon-
mendations Of policy of elenency and forgive
ness in the case of the parties concerned are in
entire harmony with all the suggestions and repre-
sensations which this government has made to her
majesty's government in regard to the aggressions
| which have been made on the Canadian frontier,
and that they are alsoin harmony with thu pro.
| ceedings which this government has thought it
inst wise and prudent to pursue in regard to the
violation Of its own neutrality laws, which was in.
Evolved in those aggressions.
/ have the honor to be, with the highest consid-
Grafton, sir yeur obedient servant,
/ To Hon Sir Frederick w. A. Bruea. A.