No. 6.
Major-General Doyle to the Duke of
Newcastle.
Government House, Halifax, Nova
Scotia,
December 24, 1863.
My Lord Duke: My despatch to your grace of
the 23d instant, and of same date to Lord Lyons, a copy of which is
herewith enclosed, explains fully the action of this government in
relation to the Chesapeake.
2. After the steamer left with my despatch to Lord Lyons, I received
from his lordship a telegram dated December 22, stating that an
official requisition had been made by the Secretary of State at
Washington for the extradition, under the treaty, of John C. Braine
and others therein named, charged with the crime of piracy and
murder on board the United States steamer Chesapeake.
At the same time I received a second despatch, dated December 22,
informing me that the United States government had intercepted a
letter, which had excited apprehensions that the Chesapeake would be
seized in this port by confederates, and inquiring when this
government would give her up to the owners, on the requisition of
the United States government.
To this I replied by telegram, that my government had decided to put
the Chesapeake into the court of vice-admiralty, and that she could
only be given up upon the order of that court, but that proper
precautions had been taken for her safety.
3. A communication having been received by the provincial secretary
from the United States vice-consul, also exhibiting anxiety
respecting the Chesa peake, I directed a reply to be sent to Mr.
Gunnison, informing him that no danger need be apprehended.
[Page 487]
4. The legal questions connected with the Chesapeake will thus be
judicially disposed of by a competent tribunal; and I have
instructed the crown officers to take the necessary steps to bring
to justice the parties charged with obstructing the execution of the
warrant against Wade.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 1 in No.
6.]
Major General Doyle to
Lord Lyons.
Government House,
Halifax,
December 23,
1863.
My Lord: The unexpected arrival of the
steamer from England compels me to send, for the information of
your lordship, a copy of a despatch which I had prepared for
transmission to his grace the Duke of Newcastle, instead of a
full report which I had intended to prepare upon the subject of
the Chesapeake and matters connected with her, especially for
you. I may add, that the government had decided to put the
Ghesapeake in the court of vice-admiralty here for the purpose
of obtaining a judicial decision upon every question arising in
connection with her.
Your telegram, received late last evening, will be placed in the
hands of my government this morning, when, after receiving their
advice, based on the opinion of the crown officers, I will reply
by telegraph to the proposal you have communicated from the
honorable W. H. Seward to have the Chesapeake delivered to the
owners upon the requisition of the United States government.
As at present advised, I do not see how the Chesapeake can
properly be delivered up except upon an order from the court of
vice-admiralty; but I presume it will be quite competent for
that court to surrender her to the assumed owners, upon their
giving the necessary bail to abide the ultimate decision of this
court.
I trust I need not assure your lordship of the very deep anxiety
I have felt throughout this very complicated question to keep
steadily in view your lordship’s opinion that as much as
dignity, humanity, and law warrant should be done to content the
government of the United States, but of course no more.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 2 in No.
6.]
Mr. Gunnison to Mr. Tupper.
Consulate of the United
States,
Halifax, Nova Scotia,
December 23,
1863.
Sir: I beg to inform the government of
this province that I have received information from my
government of the fact that 1,000 rifles have been shipped from
New York to Nova Scotia by the rebel agents for rebel purposes
in Halifax. The fact is reported to me as certain.
I beg to call the attention of the government to the matter, and
request that steps be taken by the proper authorities for the
seizure of these arms.
I would further say, that I have reason to fear the reseizure of
the Chesapeake by the pirates and their abettors in this
province.
I have, &c.,
N. GUNNISON, Vice-Consul.
[Page 488]
[Enclosure 3 in No.
6.]
Mr. Tupper to Mr. Gunnison.
Provincial Secretary’s
Office,
Halifax,
December 24,
1863.
Sir: I have it in command from his
honor the administrator of the government to say, in reply to
your communication of yesterday, that proper precautions have
been taken to insure the safety of the Chesapeake.
I have, &c.,
CHARLES TUPPER, Provincial
Secretary.
