Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-03-30
IxrRrsoaED AxEs1oas CITIZENS.
The Gases Of D. Mcswssnsy and othes Amsri-
ican Oitissns Imprisoned in Ireland About
to bs Investigated by 0ongrsss-Lettsr
from McSwseney.

The Gases OF d. McSWeeney and Ufhes Ameri-
ican Oitssns Imprisoned in Ireland About
to be Investigated by 0ongrsss-Lettsr
from McSwseney.
| CHICAGO, March 2Sth.--The
Timers Washington special says:
The ease of Daniel McSweeney, a
citizen OF the United States incsr.
cerated in Ireland under the pro.
visions OF the Coercion Act, Is at
tracting q good deal Of attention in
the Senate, and 1t Is probable ac-
ton Will be taken there upon the
subject. The State Department
has not yet taken any steps to re-
sent the alleged affront put upon
Minister Lowell by Lord Gran
Vile. Congress may, therefore,
take some action in the matter,
and has already asked the Presi.
dent for all documents In the case.
LETTER FROM M'swEENEY.
In q letter tn bis daughter, Ma
ME Daniel McSweeney says: 81
appealed to Mr.. Lowell, United
| States Minister at London, for pro-
lection, but he answered it was
absurd for q naturalized citizen Of
the United States to claim protec.
tion. He says that even an Amer
lean citizen could only have re-
course to an appeal to the British
Government to be released. He
added in q latter communication,
that the British Government re-
fused to give any information
about the charge against me, and
that they snubbed him. Your
mother wrote to Mr.. Blaine about
my case, but that gentleman did
not deign even to reply. I heard
nothing whatever from him.
About q couple of weeks ago l saw
in an English paper report Of his
speech in Philadelphia, wherein
he states he is more loyal to Queen
Victoria than q British subject, so
it would appear we appealed to the
wrong man. 1 am now in Jail 60
Ing on seven months, charged with
no crime, aud not even shadow
of suspicion that / violated any
law, and when our American Min.
lister asks q civil question about me,
he is snubbed, insulted andhis flag
trampled on. But he does not APP
pear to make much fuss about 1t,
and the American Government
takes no notice OF the question any
more than the King Of the Sand.
wich Islands would. Truly, 1t is q
rather awkward position for me.
l swore allegiance to the United
States and renounced my allegi.
ance to all Kings, Princes, or for
eign potentates forever. but most
particularly to Queen Victoria, OF
whom, It was alleged, I was q
subject, but which l deny. But I
went through the form lest che
might claim me-"
THE CASE TO RECEIVE IMMEDIATE
ATTENTION.
In transmitting.a petition from
over sixty prominent citizens of
California to Secretary Frsling-
huysen In McSweeney's behalf,
the entire delegation OF Senators
and Representatives in Congress
from that State second the wishes
of the petitioners, and ask that
what is right will be promptly and
effectively done.
In q cipher telegraph, dated
March 3, 1882, from FreliDghuysen
to Lowell, the former instructs the
latter to use all diligence in regard
to the late cases, especially of Hart
and McSweeney, and report his
action by cable. A reply was rs.
ceived by cable, In cipher, the next
week, March 4, 1882. Lowell says
that on the 10th of June, 1881, he
instructed the Vice Consul at Bel
fast to ascertain the cause of arrest,
and If the prisoners were innocent
to present the matter in the com.
petent quarter, and ask that Nc.
Sweeney be released or brought to
trial. The same day Mr.. Lowell
asked Lord Granville to furnish
particulars In the case. The Under
Secretary at Dublin meanwhile in.
formed the Vice Consul at Belfast
that the prisoner was reasonably
suspected OF exciting persons to as
semble unlawfully, and commit
riot and assault. No further means
Of ascertaining the justice of the
accusation were open to the Vice
Consul. Later, on the Goth of
June, Lord Granville informed
Lowell that, irrespective of the
nationality of arrested parties,
whether native or alien, in no case
could Information be given beyond
statements OF the warrant Of ar
rest. Mes weeney having asserted
his innocence, Lowell communi-
Gated this circumstance, ,unofficially,
on the Sth Of July, and asked that
the case might be considered favor.
ably. Lowell was thsreupOn dis
tinctively assured that Mc5weepey
could not be discharged from Gus
tody, his conduct having brought
him under the operation of the
Coercion act. Frelinghuysen then
sent the following:.
The Secretary of State refers to the
cause OF O'Connor, Hart, McSweeny,
Walsh, McEnery and Dalton, and directs
Mr.. Lowell to inform the British Govern
ment that the President hopes that, with
cut discussing the applicability of the
existing coercive statute to the citizens of
the United States, the Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland will be instructed, under the first
| section Of the act, to exercise the discre-
ticnary powers conferred thereby, in these
and all cases Of imprisoned Americans by
ordering prompt trials.
In reply to this, on March 7. 1882,
Lowell says the instructions of Free
linghuysen have been obsyed, and
Earl Granville has informed him