The New York herald., 1871-10-22
WASHING cTON.
First Gun from the GlOuces-
ter War.
The Owner Of the Horton Asks for New
Papers for His Vessel.
Secretary Boutwell, Between
Two Fires.

The Treasury department. was TO-DAY the theatre
on which the Gloucester fishermen played their In
teresting little game. The Collector Of Customs at
Gloucester officially notified the Secretary Of the
Treasury or the seizure OF the schooner Edward A.
Horton on the 1st of September 1871, by the Do
minion cutter Sweepstakes, for an alleged violation
OF the Canadian fishery laws She was taken into
Guysooro, N. 8. About wees ago the owner went
TO GuysborO to look after his vessel and found her
lying at wharf. He quietly and peaceably took
possession OF his vessel and sailed for Gloucester
where he arrived the 18th inst. As the papers of
the schooner have been lost the owner respectfully
asks that new papers may be issued, as provided in
section 81 OF the Revised Regulations. There has been
no condemnation OF the vessel by the English courts.
1t will be that the question Of the SEIZURE OF
the Horton must necessarily be settled before the
recapture OF the schooner could be OF any value TO
her owner.
Section 81 OF the regulations referred TO
by Collector Babson refers only to vessels sold ana
transferred by process or law. bus another Sec
ton. and the one upon which the Secretary
is bound 10 act makes 1t applicable also
TO papers lost to the owners use and
control by reason OF their being wrongfully with
held and detained from his possession. II can easily
be understood how important the issuance OF new
papers Is to the owner as in the present state of
the case he cannot take his vessel out OF port his
seizure being practically without any benefit to
him, and 1t was asserted to-day that Secre-
tary Boutwell, had ordered the Collector at
Gloucester 10 give the necessary documents
and remit all fines and orfeifures; but Mr. Boutwell,
says he has as yet taken steps in the matter and
will not comply with the request made through Col
lector Babson without further Information on the
subject He has so informed the Gloucester Collec-
tor, and the fishermen OF that ancient town nave
the satisfaction OF knowing, after all their feast
hugfpf SchOOnpr a
useless as II she were still tied up at the wharf
at Guysboro Our own registration laws make 1t
impossible for the Treasury Department to author.
ze the vessel to leave the port on any pretext what
ever unless in the hands OF ber Blue Nose captors
without involving the Government IN endless COM
plications. mere compliance with the request OF
Collector Babson would be an assumption OF
the act OF the Horizons owner by the
United States, and 1t would place the Govern
ment in worse position Than we held
toward Brazil in the case OF the Florida, because it
would be an affront to Great Britain by Cabinet
Minister; consequently the Dominion authorities
may, II they choose, compel our government 10 take
the inlatlve in the settlement OF the question,
or look on and laugh while the schooner
is rotting IN the harbor OF Gloucester. The
latter couse, which is not at all improbable,
would he one OF the funniest settlements OF grave
International question recorded IN history. ana
the law into one's own bands which even fishermen
would not he likely soon to forget. Canada has
virtual control OF the schooner. and nothing except
the voluntary return OF the papers. the ustica-
ton OF the act OF her owners by the United
States enable the Horton again to
walk the water like thing OF
life." This phase or the case will
make Secretary Boutwell's purposed visit TO Massa
chusetis next week particularly delightful, and
between General Ruler md the New En- gland fish,
ermen he may expect happy time. He has his
| choice between dong his duty and dispeasing the
Yankees, or making 'earIul international blund er
and securing weeks reposeiat Groton. 1t is no
wonder, therefore, that Mr.. Boutwell, is waiting for
further Information.
The seal Lock Controversy.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has suspended the
operation OF the instructions OF The department OF
the 4th inst which require after the lst OF December
the use OF the American seal lock conveying
domestic goods through Canada until the lst OF Feb
ruary. Al that date Iur,her Instructions Will be
ssued.
The Hazins Midshipmeu.
The names OF the five cadet midshipmen recently
dismissed from the Naval Academy for ''hazing''
win not be officially promulgated, as the dismissal
itself Is considered SUFFICIENT punishment. Nume-
rous letters have been received asking for their
reinstatement. young gentleman OF this city
one OF the unfortunates, Is now suffering a bed
OF sickness from the effects Of being held an hour
under a well, and thrown into q river besides.
by these ex-cadet midshpInen