The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-31
Tho Fsnians.


MESSAGE OF THE PRECEDENT IN REPLY TO HOUSE
RESOLUTIONS.
The President on Thursday, sent to the House
OF Representatives a message In reply to resolu-
lions OF that body-arst, requesting him to urge
upon the Canadian authorities, and also the
British Government the release OF the Fenian
prisoners recently captured in Canada; and
secondly, also that he cause the prosecutions in
stituted in the United States Courts against the
Fenians to be discontinued, il compatible with
the public interest.
A. communication from the Secretary OF State is
enclosed, in which he aays, in regard to the fret
resolution, that the Government OF the United
States holds no correspondence directly, upon any
subject, with tho Canadian authorities mentioned
in the resolution, or with the authorities Of any
colony, province, dependency Of any other
sovereign State; and that, on the contrary, all it's
in Qr relate to such coiones provinces
with such sovereign Governme6t -
On the 11th Of June last a note was addressed
the State to tine aon Sir
| tiary residing In the United States, OF which
copy Is annexed.
| that the reports mentioned therein, to the effect
that prisoners had been taken on the soil Of the
United States and conveyed to Canada, and
eaeeuon wout legal 'n found on
animation to be untrue and without foundation
| in fact.
| 1t Is due TO the Br1tf6h government 10 say, IN
the second place, that the representations made
in the said note have been received and taken into
consideration by the British Government and by
the Canadian authorities in friendly manner.
| The resolution Of the House first recited, har-
monizing as it does with the spirit Of the afore-
said note will be brought to the attention OF her
thorities, with the expression of belief on the
part Of the President that affairs upon the from
tier have happily come into D condition in which
the clemency requested by Congress may be ex-
ypithnnt m nnhliN and
with advantage to the interests OF peace and har-
mony between the two nations.
The Secretary further says he has already re:
ceived tho Presidents directions that the second
OF the resolutions be taken into consideration by
| the proper departments of the Government with
desire that 1t may he found practicable TO re-
maintenance Of law and order, the safety of the
public peace, and the good faith and honor of the
The following is the letter to Sir Frederick
Bruce:
DEPARTMENT OF srATE,
| WARRINGTON, June II, 1866.
! SIR: The Secretary Of War has laid before the
President several dispatches which were received
yesterday and to-day from Major General Meade,
who Is commanding the United States forces on
the Canadian frontier.
These communications warrant the President
in believing that the so-called Fenian expedition
Is now entirely at an end, and that order and
upon that border.
! I regret, however, that I am obliged to connect
with this gratifying Information the further state
ment that reports have reached Ma General
Meade to the effect that some Canadian or British
troops have crossed the line and entered within
the territory and jurisdiction OF the United States.
It is even said that the entry took place after the
disturbers OF the peace, under the command OF
their leader, named.Bpear, had relinquished their
ss and wlshasswn within the
The reports go so far as to say that prisoners
have been taken on the soil Of the United States
and conveyed to Canada, and that the Canadian
agents have threatened that these prisoners, to-
| gether with suoh sraggiers as may now be found
within the Canadian lines, will be Immediately OK.
ecuted without legal trial.
| It is believed that these reports are exaggera-
! ted. Care has been taken by Major General
Meade to have them promptly investigated. In
| the meantime, I am instructed by the President
| to represent to you-and through you to the Bri-
| tish and Canadian authorites-that this Govern.
ment could not look without serious concern upon
the practice Of any unnecessary severity, and es-
pscially upon the exercise OF retaliation or other
illegal proceedings, upon the persons OF such OF
the offenders have fallen shall hereafter fall
into the hands OF the Canadian authorities
Irespeotfully invite your attention to this sub
ject, with confident expectation that no proceed
inga that shall not be authorized by and be In
conformity with law will be taken against persons
Of that class, and in the hope that even the
customary administration of the Law will be tenn.
pered with special forbearence and clemeney.
In view OF the effective proceedings which this
Government has adopted In regard TO the distur-
bances on The frontier, now 80 fortunately ended,
| these representations would have been made by
mn without waiting to be moved from any other
AkA tAxy. H. A. 49,