DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. Lieutenant West to Mr. Welles. NAVAL STATION, SIR: The dismasted schooner Douglas, which was picked up at sea, abandoned, by the Beaufort, N. C., July 28, 1865. United States steamer Monticello, is still lying here. I have received instructions from Admiral D. D. Porter to deliver her to her owners, upon condition of their not demanding compensation for any use which she may have been put to while lying here. No application has as yet been made for her delivery, and I respectfully request directions as to what disposition shall be made of her on the breaking up of this station. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. GIDEON WELLES, WILLIAM C. WEST, Lieutenant Commander, Commanding Naval Station. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward. WASHINGTON, August 10, 1865. SIR: I had the honor, on June 10th, to express the anxiety felt by my gov ernment to obtain the assistance of the cruisers of the United States in putting down the slave trade, and their hope that the time had arrived when the treaty of July, 1862, in this respect, might be carried into effect. Your reply, while expressing a desire to postpone the consideration of this subject for reasons the justice of which were only too evident, encouraged me to bring the proposal again to your notice, now that I understand you can entertain it without inconvenience. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 12, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 10th instant, renewing a proposal which you did me the honor to make on the 10th of June last, on behalf of her Britannic Majesty's government, to obtain the cooperation of the cruisers of the United States in putting down the slave trade. In reply, I have the honor to state that a copy of your note has been submitted to the Secretary of the Navy, and I have recommended to that officer the adoption of the proper measures to carry into effect the treaty of 1862 in this respect. The kindly motive which induced you to forbear pressing this proposition at an earlier day is thankfully appreciated. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient ser vant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 15, 1865. SIR: The note of the 25th of July last, in which you inform me that the chargé d'affaires of Hayti has requested her Majesty's government to concur in guaranteeing the neutrality of the peninsula of Samana, and that he appears to suppose that the government of the United States might not be disinclined to concur, has been received. Having taken the instructions of the President, I have now to state, for the information of her Majesty's government, that the government of the United States are sincerely desirous that the entire island of Hayti may now and henceforth remain subject exclusively to the government and jurisdiction of the people who are the dwellers and occupants thereof, and that they may never be dispossessed or disturbed by any foreign state or nation whatever. This desire is increased rather than diminished by the fact that the inhabitants or people have chiefly derived their descent from former African slaves. The United States sincerely hope that the people of St. Domingo may be able, by the exercise of independent sovereignty, to elevate themselves and contribute beneficently to the elevation of that hitherto unfortunate and injured race. The question, however, which is submitted in your note could never have been propounded at all by the government of Hayti if that government had not in some degree apprehended an inability on the part of the occupants of the island to maintain the sovereignty and independence desired. I admit that if the United States were to allow themselves to consider these apprehensions well founded, that then the United States, from reasons derived from proximity of territory and political sympathies and interests, might not only be very much indisposed to see the peninsula of Samana pass into the hands of any foreign state, but that in that case the United States would deem themselves justified in considering whether they would not be authorized to seek to bring the peninsula within their own jurisdiction by just, lawful, and peaceful means. But the United States do not desire nor do they think it expedient to anticipate or apprehend a failure of the inhabitants and people of St. Domingo to maintain their proper sovereignty and independence, and therefore they do not contemplate in any case any proceedings to gain any possession of or control within the island. It is not deemed unreasonable on the part of the government of Hayti that it should ask leading maritime states to guarantee their sovereignty over Samana. The government of Hayti very properly consults the United States government with reference to such a guarantee. The President is gratified, also, that the Haytien government has submitted its views in a proper spirit to Great Britain. Nevertheless, the question unavoidably calls up that ancient and settled policy of the United States which disinclines them to the constituting of political alliances with foreign states, and especially disinclines them to engagements with foreign states in regard to subjects which do not fall within the range of necessary and immediate domestic legislation. This policy would oblige the United States to refrain from making such a guarantee as Hayti desires; but disclaiming for themselves all purpose or desire to disturb the peace and security of Hayti, the United States would be gratified if Great Britain and other maritime states should see fit to regard the wishes of the government of Hayti in the same spirit of justice and magnanimity. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM. H. SEWARD. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward. WASHINGTON, August 19, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I forwarded to her Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs a copy of the note addressed to me by the Acting Secretary of State on the 16th of June, cancelling the notice previously given respecting naval armaments on the lakes. Her Majesty's government has instructed me, while expressing the satisfaction with which that note is received, to state that they understand thereby that the notice abrogating the agreement contained in the convention of 1817, limiting naval armaments on the lakes, is absolutely withdrawn, and that the convention of 1817 will continue in force unless it shall be hereafter terminated by a fresh six months' notice, to be given by either of the parties thereto. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 22, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 19th instant, informing me "that her Majesty's government understand that the notice abrogating the agreement contained in the convention of 1817, limiting naval armaments on the lakes, is absolutely witdrawn, and that the convention of 1817 will continue in force unless it should be hereafter terminated by a fresh six months' notice, to be given by either of the parties thereto." In reply, I have the honor to inform you that the statement of her Majesty's government is accepted as a correct interpretation of the intention in this matter of the government of the United States. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 19, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have been officially apprised that the Canadian authorities have paid to the banks at St. Albans, in the State of Vermont, thirty-nine thousand five hundred and twelve dollars and seventy-five cents in gold, and thirty thousand and ten dollars in bank notes, in compliance with an act of the Canadian parliament, on account of the amount deposited with the authorities of that province upon the arrest of the St. Albans marauders. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient ser vant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward. WASHINGTON, September 22, 1865. SIR: I transmitted to her Majesty's government copy of the note you did me the honor to address to me, informing me that you had recommended to the Secretary of the Navy of the United States the adoption of proper measures to carry into effect the treaty of 1862 for the suppression of the slave trade. I am instructed to express, in reply, the satisfaction felt by her Majesty's government on receipt of this intelligence. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 2, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 22d ultimo, informing me of the satisfaction felt by her Majesty's government with the proceedings of this government to carry into effect the treaty of 1862 for the suppression of the slave trade, and inform you, in reply, that I have communicated the approval of your government to the Secretary of the Navy. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient serWILLIAM H. SEWARD. vant, Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter. WASHINGTON, October 23, 1865. SIR: In accordance with instructions which I have received from her Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, for the information of the government of the United States, two addresses from the legislative council and assembly of Victoria, Australia, to her Majesty the Queen, on receipt of the intelligence of the assassination of the late President Lincoln. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, &c., &c., &c. FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter. WASHINGTON, October 23, 1865. SIR: In accordance with instructions which I have received from her Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, I have the honor to transmit to you an address of condolence* to the honorable Mrs. Lincoln from the *See Appendix, separate volume. municipal council of Sydney, and to request you to have the goodness to forward the same to its destination. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Hon. WILLIAM HUNTER, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Hunter to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 25, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23d instant, together with two addresses to her Majesty the Queen from the legisla tive council and assembly of Victoria, Australia, inspired by the assassination of the late President Lincoln, and to inform you, in reply, that the expressions of sympathy therein contained are gratefully received by the government of the United States. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Hunter to Sir F. Bruce. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 25, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23d instant, and its accompanying packet, containing an address of condolence to Mrs. Lincoln from the municipal council of Sydney. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that it will give me pleasure to comply with your request by forwarding the communication to its destination. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your obedient servant, W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary. Hon. SIR FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, &c., &c., &c. Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Seward. Washington, October 30, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to enclose copy of a letter addressed by her Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs to the admiralty and other departments of her Majesty's government, directing that all measures of a restrictive nature on vessels-of-war of the United States in British ports, harbors, or waters are now to be considered at an end; and apprising them that it is the desire and intention of her Majesty's government that the most unrestricted hospitality and friendship should be shown to vessels-of-war of the United States in all her Majesty's ports, whether at home or abroad. I am at the same time instructed to assure you of the satisfaction which her Majesty's government have felt in issuing these orders to her Majesty's authorities. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. |