Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-04-10

StItUteS BEeaCn OF NCuIT AMY
Washington, April 6.-The state de-
partment yesterday made public the
correspondence that so far has taken
place between the United, States gov
eminent and the governor OF Loulsl-
ana, representing the latters state
ment touching the shipment Of live
stock and supplies for the British
army in south Africa from Chalmette,
La. There are three principal letters
and a number of appendices. The
principal letter is one from the gov
ernor of Louisiana, dated March 18th,
touching conditions at Chalmette; the
reply from Secretary Hay dated April
4, announcing that he had ordered an
investigation (Which would be made by
an army officer and long opinion
from the attorney general on the legal
points involved in the Chalmette ship
ments.
Governor Herds letter has already
been outlined In the press dispatches
He begins with the statement that he
had received from the mayor of New
Orleans a copy of letter from Secre-
tary Hay calling attention to the
threat of Samuel Pearson Ito commit
a breach of the peace in New Or
leans," referring that letter to the
mayor for consideration. Pearson's
letter is one heretofore published
dated New Orleans, February l, ad-
dressed to the president, calling atten-
tion to the condition Of affairs at New
Orleans and Chalmette.
The mayor transmitted this cores
pondence to the governor of the state
on the grounds that the acts COM
planned of were permitted in the par
ish of St Bernard, out of the jurisdic-
ton of the city authorities. The gov
ernor Immediately wrote Sheriff MI
neg of that parish in regard to the
matter. The sheriff's reply-part of
the governors letter-is dated St
Bernard, La, February %. He reports
concisely that mules and horses were
being loaded at Chalmette for the Brit
ish government, either directly or in
directly, but that the loading was
done by longshoremen of the city Of
New Orleans, supervised by English
men. who might or might not be Of
fcers of the British army. Certainly
there was no one there in uniform.
Governor Herd says it is conceded by
the British officers themselves that
the animals were for the British army
in south Africa.
The governor says it is his opinion
that it is the function of the national
government and not of the state to
enforce obedience to the neutrality
laws; yet if such duty belongs to the
state where the violation occurs, he
would not hesitate to act as the law
may warrant, calling on the secretary
of state for his opinion in the matter.
In the postscript the governor reports
the arrival at New Orleans of Gen. Sir
Richard Campbell Stuart, an aide in the
British army. on a tour of inspection
Of the transport service in the vicin-
ity of New Orleans He also enclOses
a number of letters from individuals
protesting against the continuation of
animal shipments.
Secretary Hays letter III answer to
that from the governor says:
Il have received your letter of the
29th of March and submitted it to the
president, who directs me to inform
you he has requested an opinion from
Nae attorney general in regard to the
FONTS of law involved in the matter
sered an immediate investigation OF
the facts in the case"
The attorney generals opinion is
dated April 4. He says the principal
question, and a delicate one, is wheth
er or not there has been a departure
from neutrality on the part of our gov
eminent in this matter, and notwith-
standing the urgency of Pearson AMI
Governor Herd he thinks this gov
ernment should not take any action
without mature consideration by the
president and his advisers"
In conclusion the attorney general
says:
"A number of allegations and some
testimony have been sent me, ana
they are sufficient to challenge atten-
ton. But the first thing to be done
rs to ascertain whether the allegations
are true. Among the points by which
to be guided are the systematic char
acter of the transactions, their greater
or less extensiveness, their persist
ence in time, or the reverse, their gov
renmental character or the absence OF
it, their objects and results. and prin-
clpally, of course, their re .ations, ii
any, with the prosecution of military
operation in south Africa"