Andrew Johnson to Charles Francis Adams, July 30, 1866

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams

Sir: I transmit herewith, for your information, a copy of the President message to the House of Representatives, together with copies of the documents which accompanied it, in answer to two resolutions of the House of the 23d instant, in regard to the disposition of the Fenian prisoners.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD

Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

To the House of Representatives:

In answer to two resolutions of the House of Representatives of the 23d instant, in the following words:

“Resolved, That the House of Representatives respectfully request the President of the United States to urge upon the Canadian authorities, and also the British government, the release of the Fenian prisoners recently captured in Canada.

“Resolved, That this House respectfully request the President to cause the prosecutions instituted in the United States courts against the Fenians to be discontinued, if compatible with the public interests”—

I transmit a report of the Secretary of State upon the subject, together with the document which accompanied it.

[Untitled]

The Secretary of State, to whom were referred two resolutions of the House of Representatives passed on the 23d of July instant, in the following words, respectively:

“Resolved, That the House of Representatives respectfully request the President of the United States to urge upon the Canadian authorities, and also the British government, the release of the Fenian prisoners recently captured in Canada.

“Resolved, That this House respectfully request the President to cause the prosecutions instituted in the United States courts against the Fenians to be discontinued, if compatible with the public interests”—

has the honor to report, in regard to the first resolution, that the government of the United States holds no correspondence directly upon any subject with the Canadian authorities, mentioned in the said resolution, or with the authorities of any colony, province, or dependency of any other sovereign state; and that on the contrary, all its correspondence concerning questions which arise in, or affect or relate to, such colonies, provinces, or dependencies, is always conducted exclusively with such sovereign government.

On the 11th of June last a note was addressed by this department to the honorable Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, her Majesty’s minister plenipotentiary residing in the United States, of which a copy is hereunto annexed.

It is proper to say, in relation to that note, first, that the reports mentioned therein to the effect that prisoners had been taken on the soil of the United States and conveyed to Canada, and threatened by Canadian agents with immediate execution without legal trial, were found on examination to be untrue, and without foundation in fact.

It is due to the British government to say in the second place, that the representations made in the said note have been received and taken into consideration by the British government and by the Canadian authorities in a friendly manner.

The resolution of the House of Representatives first recited, harmonizing as it does with the spirit of the aforesaid note, will be brought to the attention of her Majesty’s government, and of the Canadian authorities, with the expression of a belief, on the part of the President, that affairs upon the frontier have happily come into a condition in which the clemency requested by Congress may be extended without danger to the public peace, and with advantage to the interests of peace and harmony between the two nations.

I have already received your directions that the second of the said resolutions be taken into consideration by the proper departments of the government, with a desire that it may be sound practicable to reconcile the humane policy recommended with the maintenance of law and order, the safety of the public peace, and the good faith and honor of the United States.

The President.