Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, April 24, 1862

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.

My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your consideration copies of certain depositions and other papers which have been transmitted to me by Thomas H. Dudley, esq., the consul of the United States at Liverpool, touching the case of the Emily St. Pierre, a vessel which arrived on the 21st instant at that port.

It would appear from these papers that the Emily St. Pierre, a ship sailing under a British register, and belonging to British subjects residing in Liverpool, was found, on the 18th of March last, by the officer commanding the naval force of the United States, attempting to run into the port of Charleston, in South Carolina, in violation of the blockade there legitimately established. In consequence of this, the ship was seized, the crew, with the exception of the commander, the steward, and cook, taken out, and a prize crew, consisting of three officers and twelve men, put on board, with directions to proceed to Philadelphia, in order that the necessary measures might be at once adopted to submit the question of the validity of the capture to the regularly constituted tribunal for final adjudication. The original papers establishing these facts are now in my hands, prior to their transmission of them to the government of the United States.

It further appears that the captain of the Emily St. Pierre, being, according to the established rule in the case of neutral vessels so seized, left at large and under no constraint, assumed the responsibility of preventing the regular process of adjudication, and of taking the law into his own hands, by contriving a method of surprise and rescue by force of the ship so situated out of the hands of the possessor. Having succeeded in this attempt, he has compelled the United States seamen, by threatening their lives, to navigate the ship to the port of Liverpool, where he threw them upon the mercy of the world, whilst he seeks to shelter himself under the protection of her Majesty’s authority against the consequences of this outrageous proceeding.

Should the facts prove to be as herein stated, I believe I may say with confidence that the law bearing upon the case is quite well established. Such an act committed by the master of a neutral vessel has long since been decided not simply to be wrongful, but even to work a total confiscation of vessel and cargo intrusted to his care. The opposition thus shown to lawful inquiry too strongly indicates the unlawful intent of the voyage to justify the extension to it of any protection by the government of a friendly power. Not doubting the sincere disposition of her Majesty’s government to adhere to the principles which it declared at the outset of the differences in the United States, I pray your lordship’s early consideration of the subject, to the end that suitable directions may be given to restore the vessel at an early day to the authority from which it has been so violently taken.

Renewing to your lordship the assurance of my highest consideration, I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,