You will judge how far the submission of these resolutions, which are so
just in themselves, and so humane, to the notice of Earl Russell may
conduce to the desired ends of redress for the past and prevention for
the future which are indicated in another instruction sent to you under
this date.
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Circular—No. 27.]
Department of State,
Washington,
October 2 7, 1862.
To the diplomatic and consular representatives of
the United States:
Under the leave of the President, I transmit herewith loyal,
patriotic, and humane resolutions which have been adopted by the
Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York in relation to the late
destruction of American vessels in the vicinity of the Azores by
vessels built, equipped, armed, manned, and despatched for that
enterprise in the ports of a friendly nation.
Representations upon the same subject have been made by this
department to the government of Great Britain. It will, therefore,
not be expected that you shall publish these resolutions or adopt
any official proceedings thereon, but will regard them as sent to
you simply for your own information with reference to the condition
of public sentiment in our country.
Chamber of Commerce of the State
of New York.
At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York,
held to consider what action, if any, should be taken in consequence
of the burning at sea by the steamer Alabama of the ship Brilliant
and other vessels, the following resolutions were unanimously
adopted, to wit:
Resolved, That this chamber has heard with
profound emotion the graphic account given by Captain Hager of the
burning of his ship Brilliant on the 3d day of October instant, a
portion of which is in the following words :
“At sunset the Brilliant was fired—at 7. p.m. was in flames fore and
aft, the E. F. lying about a mile from her. The ship continued to
burn all night. In the morning the steamer was close at hand, and
the ship seen the afternoon before had worked up to the burning
wreck during the night, probably with the expectation of saving
life, but at daylight found herself in the clutches of her
destroyer! It continued calm during all day, and but a light air
during the night. Towards midnight a bright light was seen in the
direction of the steamer, and it is more than probable it was from
the third ship.”
Resolved, That, in view of this atrocity, it
is the duty of this chamber to announce, for the information of all
who are interested in the safety of human life—the life of
shipwrecked passengers and crews—that henceforth the light of a
burning ship at sea will become to the American sailor the signal
that lures to destruction, and will not
be, as in times past, the beacon to guide the
generous and intrepid mariner to the rescue of the unfortunate.
Resolved, That henceforth self-preservation
will be the first dictate of prudence, as it is the “first law of
nature,” and, consequently, that the destruction of the Brilliant
can be only characterized as a crime against humanity; and all who
have knowingly and willingly aided and abetted must be considered as
participators in the crime.
Resolved, That this chamber has not failed to
notice a rapid change in British sentiment, transforming a friendly
nation into a self-styled “neutral” power—the nature of which
neutrality is shown in permitting ships to go forth with men, and in
permitting an armament to follow them, for the detestable work of
plundering and destroying American ships; thus encouraging, upon the
high seas, an offence against neutral rights, on the plea of which,
in the case of the Trent the British government threatened to plunge
this country into war.
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Resolved, further, That the outrage consigning
to destruction by fire, without adjudication, British and American
property together, is an aggravation of the offence against the
rights of neutrals, and ought to be denounced as a crime by the civilized nations of the world.
Resolved, That this chamber has heard with
amazement that other vessels are fitting out in the ports of Great
Britain to continue the work of destruction begun by the Alabama—an
enormity that cannot be committed on the high seas without
jeopardizing the commerce and peace of nations.
Resolved, further, That it is the duty of this
chamber to warn the merchants of Great Britain that a repetition of
such acts as the burning of the Brilliant by vessels fitted out in
Great Britain, and manned by British seamen, cannot fail to produce
the most wide-spread exasperation in this country; and hence they
invoke the influence of all men who value peace and good will among
the nations to prevent the departure of other vessels of the
character referred to from their ports, and so to avert the calamity
of war.
Resolved, That it is the desire of this
chamber, as it is the interest of all its members, to cherish
sentiments of amity with the people of Great Britain, to maintain
those* cordial relations which have led to profitable intercourse,
and to strengthen the ties that knit them together in mutual
courtesy and respect.
Resolved, That copies of the foregoing
preamble and resolutions be sent to the Hon. Secretary of State of
the United States and to the Board of Trade of London and Liverpool,
and that the Secretary of State be requested to transmit copies of
the same to the diplomatic agents of the United States for
distribution in other commercial countries.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the resolutions
from the minutes of the chamber.
JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, Jr.,
Secretary.
