Mr. Seward to Sir
F. Bruce
Department of State, Washington,
November 26, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a
letter of the 13th instant from his excellency Paul Dillingham, the
governor of the State of Vermont, and the original certified copy of a
joint resolution of the legislature of that State, on behalf of Robert
B. Lynch, John McMahon and others, convicted of treason against the
government of Great Britain in Canada. I also enclose a copy of a
similar communication of the 15th instant to the President, consisting
of a letter from A. H. Boerman, esq., the city clerk of the city of
Chicago, Illinois, and a certified copy of a preamble and appeal of the
common council of that city on behalf of Robert B. Lynch and John
McMahon.
I beg that you will be so good as to communicate these papers to his
excellency the governor general of Canada, and copies of them to those
of her Majesty’s authorities whose province is may be to deal with the
subject thereof; and I will thank you to make known the desire of this
government that they may receive favorable attention.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
obedient servant,
The Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, &c., &c., &c.
Gov. Dillingham to President Johnson
State of Vermont, Executive Chamber, Montpelier,
November, 13, 1866.
Dear Sir By the direction of the
legislature of Vermont, I enclose herewith a preamble and joint
resolutions, passed by them at their present session, addressed to
the executive government of Canada, on the subject of convicted
Fenians.
[Page 264]
Will you be so kind as to forward these resolutions to the governor
general of Canada, adding such words in their favor as shall seem to
you proper? I am happy to know that we are all in accord on this
subject of saving these brave but mistaken men from capital
punishment.
Please accept my personal regards, and believe me, your obedient
servant,
PAUL DILLINGHAM, Governor of
Vermont.
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States.
JOINT RESOLUTIONS relating to the pardons of Robert B. Lynch, John
McMahon, and others.
Whereas Robert B. Lynch and John McMahon, citizens of the United
States, have been recently convicted in a Canadian court, and
sentenced to death upon a charge that they were parties in the
attack made in the month of June, A. D. 1866, at Fort Erie, in the
province of Canada; and
Whereas other citizens of the United States are held for trial upon
charges for similar offences against the Canadian government;
and
Whereas we believe that if the lives of the persons charged and
convicted could be spared, through the humane and generous action of
the Canadian government, it would do more to allay the animosity
felt towards the English government by the countrymen of said Lynch
and McMahon, and to secure immunity against further aggressions,
than a rigid execution of the law: Therefore,
Resolved by the senate and house of
representatives, That we, prompted by the same benevolent
spirit which has moved the government and statesmen of Great Britain
to apply for clemency in behalf of their subjects under similar
circumstances to the United States government, in no unfriendly
spirit, most earnestly recommend tenderness, amnesty, and
forgiveness on the part of the Canadian government towards the
persons charged and convicted.
Resolved, That the governor of this State be
requested to cause a copy of this preamble and resolution to be
transmitted to the President of the United States, as the expression
of the sentiment of the legislature of the State of Vermont; and
that the President of the United States be requested to transmit the
same to the governor general of Canada, commending the
subject-matter thereof to the earnest consideration of the Canadian
government.
JOHN W. STEWARD, Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
A. B. GARDNER, President of the
Senate.
State of Vermont, Secretary of State’s
Office.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy
of a joint resolution adopted by the general assembly at its annual
session, A. D. 1866, as appears from the files and records of this
office.
In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe
my name and affix the seal of this office, at
Montpelier, this twelfth day of
November, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-six.
[seal.] GEORGE NICHOLLS, Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
City Clerk’s Office, Chicago,
November 15, 1866.
Sir I am directed by the common council of
the city of Chicago to send to your excellency a certified copy of
the action thereof, in relation to the accompanying preamble and
appeal.
Respectfully, &c.,
A. H. BODMAN, City
Clerk.
His Excellency Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of
America.
[Untitled]
In Common
Council,
November 5, 1866.
Alderman Talcott presented a preamble and appeal in relation to the
late conviction, by a Canadian jury, of Colonel R. B. Lynch and John
McMahon, priest, for an alleged act of; treason against the rights
and privileges of the Canadian government, and their having been
sentenced to death under the aforesaid convictions.
Alderman Clarke moved the passage of the preamble and appeal.
The mayor directed the ayes and noes to be called, and the motion of
Alderman Clarke prevailed by the following vote:
Ayes.—Aldermen Knickerboker, Carter, De
Wolf, Wicker, Barrell, Wilmarth, Calkins, Kaun, Finnucan, Hatch,
Wallworth, Moore, Schuyler, Talcott, Woodard, Bixly, Holden,
Russell, Ackhoff, Gastfield, Proudfert, Enzel, Shackford, Lawson,
Clarke—25.
[Page 265]
Noes.—None.
The preamble and appeal passed, are as follows:
Whereas Colonel Robert B. Lynch and the Rev. John McMahon have been
tried at Toronto, Canada, and condemned to be hanged as
participators, aiders, and abettors in aid of an alleged armed
invasion of Canadian soil by persons and citizens from the United
States; and whereas, as far as we are advised or can learn, no
positive proof was adduced upon said trials of the participation in
the said invasion, by them or either of them, and it is a well
established fact that the former was here as a spectator and
correspondent, and the latter, as in duty bound by his most sacred
obligation as a minister of God, in the discharge of those important
Christian duties which pertain to his high and holy calling, and
especially to administer spiritual consolation to persons professing
a like Christian faith with himself; and whereas the offence charged
against these men is only political in its character; and as the
subjects of Queen Victoria, both in Canada and in England, have
urged upon our government mercy and clemency in the treatment of
prisoners whose offence, unlike that charged against these men, was
not political, but that of rebellion and treason against their own
government: therefore, pleading the precedent sought to be
established by Englishmen and Canadians, and following their
example, we, as the common council of the city of Chicago, and the
representatives of the citizens, do appeal to the English
government, through the legally constituted authorities in Canada,
and urgently and respectfully ask that the clemency so frequently
and persistently sought by British subjects for rebel prisoners in
our hands, be by them and their government extended at this time to
the Rev. John McMahan and Colonel R. B. Lynch.
And we do most respectfully request his Excellency the President of
the United States to take such action in the premises as this
government may legally adopt in behalf of these-citizens of the
United States, to relieve them from the extreme penalties of the law
as administered by Canadian court and jury.
Alderman Knickerbocker moved that the clerk be instructed to send
certified copies of the preamble and appeal, just now passed, to the
governor general of Canada and the President of the United States.
Carried.
State of Illinois, city
of Chicago, ss:
I, A. H. Bodman, clerk of the city of Chicago aforesaid, do hereby
certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of a preamble
and appeal passed by the common council November 5, A. D. 1866.
I further certify that I am intrusted with the safe-keeping and
custody of the preamble and appeal of which the above and foregoing
is a true and certified copy.
Witness my hand and the corporate seal
of the city of Chicago
this 15th day of
November, A. D. 1866.
[seal.] A. H. BODMAN, City Clerk.
