THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THE FENIANS.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 177, 2 March 1867, Page 3

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THE FENIANS.

(Fn ma London Paper.) '■''. We have received the following ., despatches regarding the action of the United States and the Fenians in Canada. We' are. sorry- -to observe., that Mr Seward still indulges in "a 'spirit of diplomatic impertinence, and his demands are veiled in a flimsy attempt at civility :— Department of State. " Washington, Oct. 27, 1566. Sir —For your information I enclose a copy of a note of this date, which I have addressed to Sir Frederick W. A.- Bruce, the British Minister here, upon the subject of the conviction and sentence of James Lynch and John M'Mahon, by a colonial court of. Canada,' on the charge of complicity and. participation itf the' late attack at Fort Erie. In accordance with ths purpose oppressed in that communication, you arc expected to procure without dcL'iy, for the use of this department, a copy of the record of the trial and conviction of;. Lynch and'*M'Mahou, and also of all further trials and convictions of a similar character which shall take place inCanada, with the least possible delay after their determination.— l am, sir, your obedient servant, William H.Sewaud. D. Tliurston, Esq. , - United States Consul, Toronto, B.W. Mil. SEWAKD TO SIR FREDERICK BRUCE. ' Department, of . State, Washington, Oct. -2*l, 18b'O.— Sir— It is understood that James Lynch and John ' M'Mahon have been recently convicted in a colonial court of Canada, and sentenced to .death, upon a charge that, being citizens of the United States, they were actors in the assault made in the month of June 'last, at Fpi* i Erie, ..in that colony. It can hardly be necessary to direct yoiir attention to the fact that the Government of the United States is required by the highest considerations of national dignity, duty, and honor, ,to inquire into the legality, justice, and regularity of the judicial proceedings which have thus taken place, and that, , after \<_ making such a carefnl scrutiny, we shall expect to niake ■ known to her ; •• Majesty's Government such opinions as the President, .upon, due consideration, shall adopt. With this view the consul (>f the United States at Toronto is this day instructed to procure, for the information of this department, a copy of the record of the trial and conviction of Lynch' and M'Mahon, and also of all further trials and: convictions: of- a similar- character which shall take place in* Canada. While no unnecessary delay in the examinations of the; case 3; winch are. thus expected to cbirie before this Government is intended, it may nevertheless happen hereafter that delays may unavoidably result from past incidents, or from future events which cannot now be foreseen. T'have now the. honor to request you to take such .proceedings as you may think' proper to the end that such .applications of "_ the consul shall be properly granted. The President directs me to assure you of his confident hope that her Majesty's Government will not only cheerfully comply with the request I have thus made, but they will think it proper also to examinethe judicial proceedings aforesaid, with a careful regard to "the rights of the United States, . and to the maintenance of good relations between the two countries. Such relations are always difficult and delicate in states that^are adjacent to each .other, without being separated by impassable boundaries. For this reason it would ,be very gratify^ ing to the President- if you -should be" "iMt>le to give me an assurance that the execution of^tfseiitehce pronounced/upon convicted persons will be suspended, if occasion for delay shall arise in the manner before mentioned to ma« it. desirable. Finally, I deem it proper to say that the offences involvedin- these trials are in; their nature eminently political. It is the opinion of tin's Government that sound policy coincides with the best impulses of a benevolent nature ' mjrecqmmendihg tenderness/ amnesty, and forgiveness iri such cases. This suggestion is made with freedom and earnestness, because the :' same opinions were proposed to iis in our-- recent civil war by aljJthe^Governments and publicists of Europe, and by non 6 of 'them with" greater frankness and "kindjless than by the. Government and statesmen; of Great Britain." I uiu_sui;e tliat yo.ii.-.will iiiid-. :,/ - : J«t&s?^.. -.;:-. ■'.' -. ... '.-tf;

that those recommendations of a x>olicy of clemency and forgiveuess.|ii the case of the parties concerned are in entire harmohey with all the suggestions and representations which this Government has made to her Majesty's Government in regard to the aggressions which have been made on the Canadian frontier, and that they are also in harmony with the proceedings which this Government has thought it jnst, wise, and prudent to pursue in regard to the violation of its own neutrality laws which was involved in those aggressions; 1 have the honor to be, with the consideration, sir, your obedient servant, William H. Seward. To the Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce.