Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Sir: With reference to your note of the 24th
ultimo, and to my answer dated the following day, I have the honor to
inform you that the governor general of Canada has lost no time in
giving directions that inquiry shall be instituted relative to the
arrests stated to have been made at Port Huron by Canadian constables,
and that, if the case shall prove to be as represented, his excellency
will take measures to redress the grievance in the present instance, and
to prevent a recurrence of it in future.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
Memorandum submitted to the Secretary of State
by Lord Lyons.
There is an impression in England in regard to the recent cases of
wrong on the part of American authorities which is still more
serious than the wrongs themselves. It is an impression, widely
spread and deeply felt, that it is the intention by the American
government, by captures without cause, by delays of adjudication, by
wanton imprisonment of the masters and part of the crew of captured
vessels, to put a stop to the British trade to Matamoras
altogether.
The trade to Matamoras is, however, a perfectly legitimate trade. It
is carried on from New York as it is from London and Liverpool. To
pretend that some goods carried to Matamoras may be afterwards
transported across the frontier to Texas does not vitiate the
legitimate character of that trade. How is it possible to say
beforehand that certain goods will be consumed in Mexico, and
certain other goods will be carried into the so-called Confederate
States? It might so happen that all the goods earned from London
might be used in Mexico, and all the goods sent from New York might
be transported by land to Texas. This is a matter beyond the scope
and destination of the sea voyage. If, therefore, it should appear
that from jealousy of trade, or unjust suspicion of contraband, or
any other motive, the British trade were deliberately and
systematically made subject to vexatious capture, and arbitrary
interference, it is obvious that Great Britain must interfere to
protect her flag. While submitting to the most severe interpretation
of the law of nations, she cannot allow that, under presence of that
law, hostilities should be carried on against a lawful branch of her
commerce.
