Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-11-20
Tho Fauinu Couyiction-.-mr Sow.
ard,s Note 70 Sir Frederic Bruce.

afd'9 Noto 70 bIF
New YoRx, Oct. 2s.-Th' following
documents have been received here:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WASHINGTON,
Oct. 81, ls68.-D. Thurstop, Esq" US.
Consul, Toronto, G. W.: Sir: For your
information I enclose q note Of this data,
which I have addressed to Sir Frederick
n. A, Bruce, the British Minister mere,
upon the subject Of the conviction OF q sen-
tsnce Of James Lynch and james McMa.
han, BY q Colonial Court OF CANADA on
the charge Of completely and participation
In the late attack on Fort Erie.
In accordance with the purpose sx-
pressed in that communication, you are
expected to procure, without delay. for the
use 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 q similar character
which shall take place in Canada with
the least possible delay after their sermina-
ton. I am, cir, your obedient servant
WIN. H. SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON.
October 27.-Sir: It is understood that
James Lynch and John McMahan have
recently been convicted in = Colonial court
Of Canada and sentenced to death upon a
charge that, being citizens OF the United
States, they were actors in the assaults, IN
the month Of June last, at Fort Erie, in
that Colony. 1t can hardly DO necessary
to direct your attention to the fact that
the Government Of the United States Is
required, BY the highest considerations OF
national dignity, duty and honor to in
quire into the legality, justice and regu-
lsrity Of the judicial proceedings which
have thus taken place. and that after max
ing such a careful scrutiny, we shall ex-
pect to make known to Her Majesty'i
Government such opinions ~ the Presi-
dent upon due consideration shall adopt.
With this view the Consul Of the United
States at Toronto is this day instructed to
procure for the information Of this depart.
ment a copy Of the record Of the trial and
conviction Of Lynch and McMahan, and
also of oil further trials and convictions Of
q similar character which shall take place
in Canada.
While no necessary delay in the exami-
nation of the cases which are thus OK
pected to come before this Government is
intended, it may nevertheless happen here
after that delays may unavoidably result
from past incidents or from future events
which cannot now DO foreseen. / have
now the honor to request you to take such
proceeding as you may think proper. TO
the end that such applications Of the
counsel shall be promptly granted.
The President directs me to assure you
of his confidence, and hope that her Majes-
tvs Government will not only cheerfully
comply with the request l have thus
made, but that they will think proper also
to examine the judicial proceedings afore.
said with a careful regard to the rights OF
the United States and the maintenance
Of good relations between the two coun-
tries.
Such relations are always difficult, and
in States that are adjacent to each other,
without being separated by parallel boun-
diaries; for this reason it would be very
gratifying to the President If you should
be able to give an assurance that the exc
cution Of the sentences pronounced upon
the convicted persons will be suspended.
II occasion for delay shall arise in the
manner before mentioned to make it de-
sirable finally to deem it proper to say
that the offences involved in these trials
are in their nature eminsntly political. il
10 the opinion Of this Government that
sound policy accords with the best i'm
pulses Of a benevolent nation in recon-
mending tenderness, amnesty and forgive
ness in such cases.
This suggestion is made with freedom
and earnestuess, because the sam opinions
were proposed to the United States in our
recent civil war by all the Governments
and Republics of Europe, and by none
with greater frankness and kindness than
by the Government and statesmen OF
Great Britain. I I'M very sure that you
will find that these recommendations Of a
policy of clemency and forgiveness in the
case Of the parties concerned are in entire
harmony with all the suggestions and rep
reservations which this Government has
made to Her Majesty's government in re-
gard to the aggressions which have been
made on tho Canadian frontier, and that
they are also in harmony with the pro-
ceedings which this Government has
thought it just, wise and prudent to pur-
sue in regard to the violation of its own
neutrality laws which was involved in
these aggressions.
have the honor to be, with the highest
consideration, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) WIN. H. SEWARD.
To the Hon, Sir Fred'k w. A. Bruce.