Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-30
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CON
DENINED FENIANs.
Official correspondence.
New YORK, Oct. 2S.-The following doc
uments have been received here:

New YORK, Oct. 2S.-The following doc
uments have been received here:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON,
Oct. 81, l866:-D. THURsToN, Esq, United
States Consul, Toronto Canada West =
| SIR-For your information l enclose a
copy of note Of this date which have adj
dressed to Sir frederick w. A. BRUCE, the
British Minister here, upon the subject Of
the conviction of a sentence of JAS. LYNCH
and JOHN MCMAHON by colonial court Of
| Canada, on the charge Of completely and par
| ticipation 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, a copy of the record of the trial
and conviction of LYNCH and MCMAHON,
and alse of the further trials and convictions
of a similar character which shall take place
in Canada, with the least possible delay after
their termination.
am, sir, your obedient servant,
WIN. ii. SEWARD.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON,
Oct. q, lS66.-SIR: 1t is understood that
JAMES LYNCH and JOHN MCMAHON have
been recently 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 assault in the
month of June last at Fort Erie, in that
colony.
1t can hardly be necessary to direct your
attention 70 the fact that the Government 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 careful scrutiny we shall e1
pect to make known TO Her Majesty's Gov
eminent such opinions as the President,
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 trial and conviction Of
LYNCH and MCMAHON, and also of all fur
Their trials and convictions of 4 similar char
acter. which shall take place in Canada.
While no unnecessary delay in the exam
nation of the cases which are thus eX-
pected to come before this Government is in
tended, II may nevertheless happen here
after that delays may unavoidably result
from past incidents or from future events
which cannot now be seen.
| 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 10 assure yOuof his con-
fdent hope that Her Majesty's Government
will not only cheerfully comply with the
request have thus made, but that they will
think proper, also, 10 examine the judicial
proceedings aforesaid, with careful regard
TO the rights Of the United States, and 10 the
maintenance Of good relations between the
two countries. such relations are always
difficult and delicate in States that are adj
iacent 10 each other, without being separated
bv impossible boundaries. For this reason
il 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 suspend
ed if occasion for delay shall arise in the
manner before mentioned 10 make 1t de-
sirable.
THE REroRr COURTEOUS
Finally deem it proper TO say that the
offences involved in these trials are in their
nature eminently political. 1t is the opinion
Of this government that sound policy coin
cides with the best impulses Of a benevolent
nature in Recommending tenderness, amnesty
and forgiveness in such cases. This sugges-
ton is made with freedom and earnestness,
because the same opinions were proposed 70
us in our recent civil war by all the govern
ments and publicists Of Europe, and by
none Of them with greater frankness and
kindness shown by the government and
statesmen Of Great Britain.
| am very sure that you will find that
| these Recommendation Of policy Of elem
encv and forgiveness in the case Of the par
ties concerned, are in the entire harmony
with all the suggestions and representations
which this Government has made to her
| Majesty's Government in regard 10 the ag-
gressions which have been made on the Ca
madam frontier, and that they are also in
harmony with the proceedings which this
Government has thought it just wise and
prudent TO pursue in regard 10 the violation
OF its own neutrality laws, which was in
/ VOWED in these aggressions.
/ have the honor 10 be, With the highest
| consideration, sir your obediont servant
Nm II SFNgkRn