The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-05-04


position was that only 10 case tho vics-Consul
y Belfast lhould b satsAcd Of McSwccney's
innonsncs Was tho request to b. made for bin
trial or discharge.
But what investigation In point Of fact Was
made under tho instructions Of tho American
Minister into McSwocney's guilt or innocenco7
Absolutely mono, whatsoever. II was enough
that tho guardian 81 American rights abroad
was answered with insolont brcWty that the
prisoner WAS reasonably suspected" not that
no was charged upon oath or affirmation. not
that no had boon indicted by grand Jury or
committed by IN examining magistrate, not
that no had committed breach Of tho peace or
boon takon In tho oct Of violating law, but that 10
was suspected by some servile English de-
tcct,vo Of feeling not an act--n feeling In
common with tho enlightened and hnmauo SON.
timcnt Of tho whole human race hostile to tho
colossal iniquity Of British spoliAtion, rapino,
lust, and murder IN Irclsnd.
Upon receipt Of this atrocious answer tho
American Minister, In utter abandonment Of
the laws Of his own country, and without pride
or shame, announced that "no further means
Of ascertaining tho justice Of tho accusation
were open TO tho vicc-C0nsul." Ho never aitcr-
ward officially broachod tho subject TO the au-
thoritics Of Great Britain. He tolls us, indeed,
that at . subsequent date Mr.. McSwoensy
having assorted his innocence. no vontured
unonicially, disrobinR himself Of oil wcight -
. representative OF this Government, to COM
municate this circumstance, and to ask that tho
case might DO considered fAvorably. Then,
however, Mr.. Lowell WAS completely and per-
pstnaly silenccd BY the curt and distinct reply
of Lord Granville "that under no circum.
stances would his request DO granted" Brow
hnAf lad vrskh xsnsk
70 resent arrogance or 10 execute American Law,
no sheltered himself undor tho Expressed bc-
lief, a will DO seen on page Of tho published
correspondence. that tho prisoner WAS "no
more innocent than tho majority OF those under
arrest" mo moro innocent"
Mr.. JONES, Of Florida-on that point wish
tho Senator would observe that the language Of
Lord Granville, - reported by Mr.. Lowell to
the State Department. IL that under no circum-
stance conld any explanation be Sirem to tie
American Minister Of the cause OF the arrest OF
| an American citizen, whether naturalixed or
native-born, beyond what could DO found on
the face Of the warrant under which he Was ar
rested.
/ Mr.. vooRHEEs--I have tho statement before
me, and have 80 repeated II. "No moro inno-
cent" says tho American Minister; "thcre 10
no reason to suppose that Mr.. McSwecney Is
any more innocent than the rest of thom." Win
any Senator rise in his place and risk his repu-
tation BY saying that : man who has given such
an expression ~ that ought TO DO retained IN
any branch Of the public service?
Tho American Minister II London asserts .
distinction between naturalixed and native horn
citizens Of tho United States a odious TO every
principle Of justicc a. the ancient spirit Of the
alien and sedition laws. Lot the following lot
ter attest the truth Of this statement =
| location OF TINE UNITED SrArxs !
LONDON. September ~, 1881.
en-l have to acknowledge your letter Of the nth
instaLt. l have not thought Il proper to make any
application for your release fom prison for the fol-
lowing reasons: Tho Coercion Act. however excep.
tonal and arbitrary and contrary 10 the spirit and
fundamental principles cf both English and Amer.
lean jurisp b still the law Of the land. and
controls al parties domiciled in tho proclaimed ds.
trics Of Ireland whether they Britain subjects
not Il would b manieaty futile TO claim that nat.
uralizcd citizens Of tho United states should Do a.
copied nom il operation. Tho only cass. In my
opinion. in which ought TO intervene would be
when American citizen who Wa In ireland attend.
ing exclusively to his own business and takiAg no
part whatever in public meetinss political discus
sions should b arrested. Under these circumstan.
tho Government hero on tho ground of mistake or
misaprrehenson and ask for the release 81 the prs
oner. g.
| have communicated these views to the Depart.
ment Of State and have received far NO instruc.
tons In contrary spirit Il does mot appear 10 me
the above given for Intervention exst
your case - ar = ] understand i'll am cir. your
obedicnt servant u. n. LOWELL
| Mr.. d. McSwxxNEy
Here We fnd the terms anaturalixed citisen'
and American citizen used m contradistinc-
ton 10 each other. For tho naturalized citizen.
Mr.. Lowell says. il would DO manifestly futile
10 claim protection from tho operations Of IN
Act Of Parliament which no admits 10 DO con-
trary to the spirit and fundamental principles
Of both English and American Jurisprudence.
On the other hand, il ian American citizen
Who WAS in ireland attending exclusively to
his own business and taking no part whatever
in public meetings or political discussions
should DO arrested" tho representative Of
American honor abroad thinks he would ven.
ture to appeal 10 the co.stesy Of the British
Government on the ground not Of right, but oi
mistake or misapprehenslon. Il 10 very plain
that do not misinterprct Mr.. Lowell on this
point His letter Of September - WAS replied
to BY Mr.. McSwecney from his jail September
"a, and in that reply tfc prisoner says -
Then learned for the Arst time thai there IL dis.
tincton between natnraxed and born citizens
Of the United States regarding their rights 10 claim
protection abroad But. mir ID 10 evident you Are
laooring under MiaappreAsnsion = ar y my case
Y concerned. did not claim TO BE- excepted nom
tho operation Of the coercion or any other law. Ny
claim Was based on the TACT that violated no law
lewis Cass. near tho close Of his long and
| illustrious lite, while Secretary Of State in
1859. interpreting for tho protection Of IN
American citizen Of German birth, held the fol.
lowing doctrine in \ letter 10 the United States
| Minister d Berlin -
Tho right Of repatriation cannot at this day b
doubted OF denied in tho United Stasea The ides
haa been rcpudiAed aimee the origin IL our Gov
ernment that man ID bound 10 remain forever i
tho country Of his birth The doctrine az perpetual
allegiance 10 . relic Of barbarian which has been die
appearing from Christendom during the last cen
| fury.
Sir, this rule Of bArbarisnl, a. il il here Justly
styled, has practically disappeared from every
quarter If Christendom. except tho American
embassy in London and ths british iAils in lre-
land. But still earlier than tho letter Of Gen,
eral Cass. from which I have read. tho Law d
American honor. strength, end glory Vas an
nonnccd in snch majesty Of truth and power
that recnr 10 il now in these degenerate dAys
with the feeling Of traveller in the burning
desert ~ he approaches tho cooling, healing
waters Of : fountain In the depths ot : grove
William L. Marcy, honorel forever be his
name! What American can read his immortA
letter 10 halseman, touching tho arrest AND
imprisonment Of Martin kesxta by the Austrian
Empire, without feeling his PATRIOTISM kindls
into flame and hss pride Of country rise high
toward tho xeaths On the 18th day of Sep
TENDER. 1854. tho great Democratic Seeretar,
Of State proclaimed the following grand utter