ever, while laying in this harbor, but offering every facility to her officers and crew in whatever they should require. I have been compelled to the adoption of the above course from the aggraɣating circumstances attending the landing of General Parades, the ex-president of Mexico, which, if they have not compromised that harmony happily existing between the United States and the nation you so worthily represent, still a gross violation has been committed on the universal standing port regulations, and specially here, where our peculiar position requires the most strict observance of-neutrality from foreign vessels arriving in this anchorage, and have, in consonance with the above, represented the whole circumstance in relation to this case to the honorable Secretary of War, at Washington, for the consideration of the government of the United States. I cannot but regret this untoward occurrence, the means of clouding the sincere good feeling entertained by the authorities here towards the British mail packets, but will, nevertheless, uniformly afford him all the facilities heretofore conceded them, convinced that every endeavor will be made by you for the continuance of that cordiality which your official course has tended to cement. Accept, sir, the assurances of my high consideration and sincere regard. HENRY WILSON, Col. U., S. A., governor of Vera Cruz. FRANCIS GIFFORD, Esq., I certify the foregoing to be a true copy. B. H. ARTHUR, Adjutant, 1st U. S. Infantry. BRITISH CONSULATE, Vera Cruz, August 27, [30] 1847. SIR: I have the honor to ackowledge the receipt of your communication of this day, relating to Captain May, of the royal mail steam packet Teviot, and to state, in reply, that a copy thereof will be laid, forthwith, before her Majesty's govern ment. With renewed expressions of regret that anything should have occurred to cause you personal annoyance, I have the honor to remain, sir, your very obedient, humble servant, To Colonel WILSON, Governor of the city of Vera Cruz. I certify the above to be a true copy. F. GIFFORD, H. B. M. consul. B. H. ARTHTR, Adjutant, 1st U. S. Infantry. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 24, 1847. SIR: Your letters of the 15th and 31st of August have been received, and laid before the President. Your prompt discharge of the inspector, and the officer whose duty it was to board the British steamer, is approved. Whatever may be the effect of the introduction of General Paredes into Mexico, it is not creditable to the post, held by military occupation, that it failed to intercept a known public enemy from passing through the sentries, and successfully evading the regulations adopted to prevent such occurrences. Persons claiming to be American citizens, who may become apprised of the admission of a public enemy of the United States, and fail duly to notify the authorities, are as much wanting in duty, as if they were to withhold notice of the approach of an armed force of the enemy. It is in your discretion to require persons whose views of duty to the United States do not, as they conceive or pretend, call on them to communicate to you such intelligence, to leave the limits of your command. The circumstances, so far as they implicate the commander or officers of the British mail steamer, have been communicated by the Secretary of State to Mr. Bancroft, our minister at London, with a view to have them brought to the notice of the British government. They will, also, I am pleased to observe, reach the same destination through your correspondence with her Britannic Majesty's consul. I enclose you a copy of Mr. Buchanan's despatch, which states very clearly the legal consequences which attached to the steamer, for her violation of the law of nations, in introducing General Paredes into the limits of your command. But any such penalty must be enforced when such vessel is in delicto, but proceedings against her cannot be instituted in case of her return. The President is persuaded that the liberal views entertained for the interest of neutral commerce, pursuant to which the permission was given to the British mail steamers to pass the blockading force, before the capture of Vera Cruz, and to enter the harbor since, will be duly appreciated by her Britannic Majesty's government, and that it will not fail to show its strong disapprobation of the conduct of the officers of the Teviot, and will prevent the occurrence of a similar abuse of the privileges conferred by our government. You will use the utmost degree of vigilance in guarding against such a recurrence. The measures communicated in your letter of the 31st ultimo, are approved, and you will enforce them, until you are otherwise ordered. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel HENRY WILSON. VERA CRUZ, October 19, 1847. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 24th September, enclosing a copy of a communication addressed by the Secretary of State to the honorable Mr. Bancroft, minister to Great Britain, in relation to her Britannic Majesty's steam packet Teviot. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WENRY WILSON, Colonel U. S. Army, commanding. To Hon. Wм. L. MARCY, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, July 27, 1846. SIR: The commissioners appointed by the United States to treat with the Camanche Indians, redeemed from them a captive Mexican boy, by paying a ransom of $150. He accompanied a deputation of the Prairie Indians to this city. It has been determined to restore him to his parents and friends, who reside in the department of Chihuahua; and, in order to do this, he has been sent to the quartermaster at New Orleans, with directions to send him to you. You will, in the way you deem most expedient, return him to his friends. All we know of him, or them, we have learnt from himself. He will inform you of the particular part of the department from which he was taken. By the treaty between the United States and Mexico, that republic would be bound to refund the sum paid for his ransom, and the expenses of returning him, but the occurrence of war has abrogated that treaty in this respect. It is thought that the sending him to his parents would have a good effect upon the people of that province. Mr. William S. Parrott, now of this city, long a resident in Mexico, is personally acquainted with the present governor of Chihuahua, and has written him a letter on the subject of returning this captive. I herewith enclose it to you, to be forwarded to him. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, W. L. MARCY, Major General Z. TAYLOR. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 12, 1848. The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred the resolutions of the House of Representatives of the 4th instant, has the honor to communicate to the President, in compliance with the second resolution, all the orders and correspondence of the govern ment, in possession of this department, in relation to the return of General Paredes to Mexico. JAMES BUCHANAN. To the PRESIDENT of the United States. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 14, 1847. SIR: I transmit you the copy of a letter, bearing date the 15th ultimo, from Colonel Henry Wilson, of the United States army. the acting governor of Vera Cruz, addressed to the War Depart ment. From this, as well as other information, it appears tha Captain May, of the British steamer "Teviot," although fully aware of the character of his passenger, brought General Paredes from the Havana to Vera Cruz, and connived at, if he did not directly aid in, his landing at that port in a clandestine manner, and contrary to the established regulations requiring a visit from the proper inspecting officer before any passengers could be landed. That the captain of the British steamer, by this conduct, has been guilty of a grave and serious violation of the duties of neutrality which Great Britain owes to the United States, can neither be doubted nor denied. It is known to the world that General Paredes, as president of Mexico, was the chief author of the exist ing war between that republic and the United States, and that he Is the avowed and embittered enemy of our country. The British captain must have known that all his influence wou d be exerted to prolong and exasperate this war. It is, indeed, truly astonishing that, with a knowledge of these facts, he should have brought this hostile Mexican general, under an assumed name, on board of a British mail steamer, to Vera Cruz, and aided or permitted him to land clandestinely, for the purpose of rushing into the war against the United States. If any circumstance could aggravate this violation of neutrality, it would be the extraordinary privileges which this government has granted to British mail steamers, ever since the commencement of the present war. The President has not yet determined what course he will pursue in regard to British mail steamers. The great law of self defence would, under the circumstances, justify him in withdrawing the privilege altogether from these steamers of entering the port of Vera Cruz, and thus effectually prevent the landing of enemies in disguise. He will not, however, resort at present to this extreme measure, convinced as he is that the British government will, at once, upon your representation, adopt efficient means to prevent such violation of their neutrality for the future. In the mean time, Colonel Wilson will be instructed to adopt the necessary means, under the law of nations, for the purpose of preventing and punishing similar outrages on our belligerent rights. British mail steamers cannot be suffered to bring to Vera Cruz either Mexican citizens or the subjects of any other nation, for the purpose of engaging in the existing war on the part of Mexico against the United States. A neutral vessel which carries a Mexican officer of high military rank to Mexico, for the purpose of taking part in hostilities against our country, is liable to confiscation, according to the opinion of Sir William Scott, in the case of the Orozembo, (6 Robinson's Reports, 430,) and this even although her captain and officers were ignorant that they had such a person on board. That is their look out. Such ignorance is no excuse, because it is their duty to inquire into the character of their passengers. The consequence is the same to the belligerent as if they had acted with full knowledge. "Otherwise," in the language of that distinguished jurist, "such opportunities of conveyance would be constantly used, and it would be almost impossible, in the greater number of cases, to prove the knowledge and privity of the immediate offenders." You are instructed to make Lord Palmerston fully acquainted with the conduct of Captain May. I do not know whether he, or any of his officers, who may be implicated in this serious charge, are officers in the British service. Should this prove to be the case, then you will ask for their dismissal, or such other punishment as may clearly manifest that the British government has disapproved their conduct. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE BANCROFT, Esq. &c., &c. ANA JAMES BUCHANAN. 90 EATON SQUARE, October 8, 1847. MY LORD: In consequence of instructions from the American government, I called at the foreign office a few days ago, to represent to your lordship the conduct of Captain May, of the British mail steamer" Teviot" who, unmindful of his duty as a neutral, and using improperly the extraordinary privilege which the American government has granted to British mail steamers ever since the commencement of the present war with Mexico, in the month of August last brought from the Havana to Vera Cruz, General Paredes, late President of Mexico, the author of the war of Mexico. against the United States, and their avowed and embittered enemy. By the principles of British law, according to the opinion of Sir William Scott, (6 Robinson's Reports, 430) Captain May has rendered the "Teviot" liable to confiscation, or the President of the United States might effectually prevent similar aid to the enemy by withdrawing from these steamers the privilege of entering the port of Vera Cruz. But I am confident her majesty's government will render such steps unnecessary, by adopting efficient means to prevent for the future such violations of their neutrality. If Captain May, or any of his officers implicated in this serious charge are officers in the British service, I feel bound to ask for their dismissal, or punishment in such other way as may clearly |
