Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress
Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
Sir: Herewith I transmit a copy of a letter, together with its accompaniments, which, on the 26th of July, was addressed to this department by Bernard [Page 118] Dwyer, esq., on behalf of his brother, Owen Dwyer, who has been arrested at Carlisle Pier, England, on a charge of complicity in the Fenian movement in that country.
You will acquaint yourself with the facts of this case, and will demand his release or interpose your good offices in behalf of the accused, as the circumstances shall, in your judgment, warrant.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, &c.,&c., &c.
Mr. Dwyer to Mr. Seward
Sir: The Boston Pilot of date June 27, 1867, contains notice of the arrest, as a Fenian, at Carlisle Pier, England, of Owen Dwyer, a citizen of the United States, resident of the State of Tennessee, and that after a preliminay examination had he was remanded. This communication is addressed you to request the immediate interposition of the United States in his behalf.
The said Dwyer has been a citizen of this State, and the United States, for many years past, has never affiliated in manner or form with the late Fenian movement, and in no manner connected therewith, and was, at the time of his arrest, on a visit to relatives in the kingdom of Great Britain.
I would state that said Dwyer removed to this country when a youth, has ever, without intermission, continued to reside here, is a large property-holder in this city and State, and has enjoyed all the rights of citizenship, and that his arrest and detention is most unjust and wrongful. I, his brother, therefore request and claim at your hands, as the representative of the government, the aid and protection of the United States in obtaining the release of this citizen.
Hoping that such steps as may be necessary and proper to attain the end desired, and afford the relief prayed for, may be immediately taken by the government,
I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Address all communications to Humes & Paston, Memphis, Tennessee.
[Untitled]
We the undersigned, citizens of Memphis, Shelby county and State of Tennessee, certify that we are personally acquainted with Owen Dwyer, and have known him for many years.
We further know that he is a bona fide citizen of this State, a large property-holder in this city, and has ever enjoyed the rights of citizenship. We further state that said Dwyer is a quiet, peaceable citizen, never having taken part in the late national struggle, and that he has never expressed any sympathy for or taken any interest in the late Fenian movement, to the best of our knowledge and belief, and we have known him well and intimately, as before stated.
W. O. LOFLAND, Mayor of Memphis.
THOMAS L. POWER, O. P., Pastor of St. Peter’s Church.
MICHAEL D. LILLY, O. P.,
JOHN DWYER.
BERNARD DWYER.
DANIEL SLENLIN.
ROBERT CARSON.
P. O’NEIL.
THOS. KELLY.
M. GARVIN.
G.W.TAYLOR.
M. MAGEVNEY, Jr.
MICHAEL MAGEYNEY.
H. CLOTHS.
HENRY E. GREEN, Prest. St. Geo. Benev’t Ass’n of Tenn.
JOHN DAVIS, Member of St. Geo. B. A. United States.
JACOB STEINKUHL.
[Page 119]Memphis, July 26, 1867.
This is to certify that we have known Owen Dwyer for many years; have been his counsel and attorney in all matters requiring our services; that his visit to England was for no other purpose than as above stated. Moreover, that he has ever claimed to be a citizen of the State, where he has acquired a large property, and that he is a peaceable, quiet citizen, abstaining from all political controversies and disputes.
[Untitled]
Be it remembered, that on this 26th day of July, A. D. 1867, before me, Fearn Penn. United States commissioner for the district of West Tennessee, duly appointed under the laws of the United States to take acknowledgments of bail, affidavits, &c, personally appeared W. O. Lofland, mayor of the city of Memphis, John Dwyer, Bernard Dwyer, Daniel Slenlin, Robert Carson, P.O’Neil, Thomas Kelly, M. Garvin, G. W. Taylor, M. Magevney, jr., Michael Magevney, H. Cloths, Thomas L. Power, Michael D. Lilly, Henry E. Green, John Davis, and Jacob Steinkuhl, all to me personally known, who being by me duly sworn, say that the statements contained in the foregoing certificate in regard to Owen Dwyer are the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and subscribed the same in my presence.
[Untitled]
United States of America, State of Tennessee, District of West Tennessee, City of Memphis:
I, Fearn Penn, United States commissioner for the district of West Tennessee, duly appointed under and according to the laws of the United States, do hereby certify that John Donovan, clerk of the criminal court of Memphis, Tennessee, whose genuine official signature is signed to the attestation to the annexed declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States of America by Owen Dwyer, formerly a subject of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, is and was at the time of signing the same the clerk of said court, duly commissioned and qualified as such; that the attestation of said declaration is in due form of law; that the impress of seal is of the true and only seal of said court, and that all the acts of said Donovan, clerk, &c., in all his official capacity as such, are entitled to full faith and credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, this 26th day of July, A. D. 1867.
[seal.]
Declaration of intention
United states of America:
At a term of the criminal court of Memphis, begun and held at the court-house, in the city of Memphis, for the 5th, 13th, and 14th civil districts of Shelby county, State of Tennessee, on the second Monday, being the 11th day of February, 1867, present the Hon. William Hunter, judge, &c, presiding; and to wit, on the 12th day of February, 1867, one of the days of said February term of said court, the following is of record, to wit:
Be it remembered, that on this 12th day of Ferbruary. 1667, Owen Dwyer, an alien, declares on oath, in open court, that it is bona tide his intention to become a citizen of the United States of America, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatever, and particularly to Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, whose subject he now is.
OWEN DWYER.[Untitled]
State of Tennessee, Shelby County:
I, John Donovan, clerk of the criminal court of Memphis, do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration of intention of Owen Dwyer to become a citizen of the United States of America, is a true and perfect copy of the record of the same now in my office.