Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Washington, October 29, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you, and to recommend to your serious attention, a copy of a despatch which I have received this morning from the governor general of Canada.

The governor general states that his attention has been called to an extract from the New York Post, purporting to give the words of an order telegraphed to the officer commanding at Burlington, Vermont, by Major General Dix, on the occasion of the late outrage at St. Albans; and his excellency requests me to bring the subject to your notice, with the view that the order may be disavowed or explained.

I enclose a copy of the newspaper extract, and have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

LYONS.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.

Lord Monck to Mr. Burnley.

Government House, Quebec, October 26, 1864.

Sir: My attention has been called to the accompanying extract from the New York Post, purporting to give the words of an order telegraphed to the officer commanding at Burlington, Vermont, by Major General Dix, on the occasion of the late outrage at St. Albans.

I have, of course, no means of knowing whether such an order as that alluded to was ever issued by Major General Dix; but as it has appeared uncontradicted in the public papers, and contains express directions, on the part of an official of the United States, for the entry of the troops of that power on the territory of her Majesty, I think it my duty to ask you to bring the subject under the notice of the Secretary of State of the United States, with the view that the order may be disavowed or explained.

While no one would be inclined to scan too narrowly the conduct pursued by the citizens of St. Albans, while smarting under the effect of the outrage to which they have been lately unfortunately subjected, it is obvious that an order such as that to which allusion is here made, if issued by a responsible officer of the United States, would be liable to a different construction, and might, unless remonstrated against, be drawn into a precedent in the future. You may assure Mr. Seward that there exists among the British authorities in Canada the most earnest desire to use all the powers which the laws confer upon them, in cooperation with the officials of the United States, for the repression and punishment of outrages such as that which has just occurred at St. Albans.

I trust that the proceedings lately adopted in this province will prove that this declaration is not an empty profession, and will show that the most energetic measures will at all time’s be used to prevent any aggression on the territory of the United States from Canadian soil, or any abuse of the right of asylum allowed in her Majesty’s dominions.

I am sure that Mr. Seward will, on the other hand, see that it is necessary, in order to the maintenance of these amicable relations, that no act should be done by any civil or military officer of the United States which might bear the construction of being an infraction of the rights of her Majesty, or a violation of the soil of her dominions, and that he will believe that this remonstrance is made in no unfriendly spirit, and is prompted by a sincere desire to prevent any just cause of complaint between the countries.

I have, &c., &c.,

MONCK.

J. Hume Burnley, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

[From the New York Evening Post]

THE RAID AT ST. ALBANS.

The organization of bands of rebel marauders in Canada for the purpose of coming within our lines, committing depredations on our property, and shooting down our citizens, is of so grave a character as to demand the prompt and decisive action of the government. If measures are not adopted to put an end to I this abuse of the right of asylum, and the violation of the duties of neutrality, our citizens on the frontier will take the matter into their own hands. We should deeply regret such unauthorized acts of reprisal. Whatever is done should be done under the authority of the government. Either the Canadian authorities should be called on to send the rebels who are getting up predatory enterprises against us out of Canada, or we should have armed forces on the frontier, ready to take summary vengeance on these marauders, and for that purpose to follow them, as we have a right to do, across the lines, if the pursuit is instant. When General Dix was advised of the outrage at St. Albans, he sent the following despatch to the commanding officer, at Burlington, Vermont: “Send all the efficient force you have to St. Albans, and try to find the marauders who came from Canada this morning. Put a discreet officer in command; and, in case they are not found on our side of the line, pursue them into Canada, if necessary, and destroy them.”

The order was carried out, so far as to pursue the marauders into Canada, where eight of them were captured. If they had been shot down, as they shot down the peaceful citizens of St. Albans, it would have been no more than exact justice. A single example of stern retribution would go far to break up these piratical expeditions. But the government should take the matter in hand, as a grave international question, and not leave it to local commanders.