Mr. Seward to Sir
F. Bruce
Department of State, Washington,
August 7, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 7th instant, in which you ask whether this
department is in possession of any information regarding the alleged
forcible removal, by the captain of the United states corvette St.
Mary’s, of a seaman from on board a British merchant vessel, who it is
stated had deserted from the St. Mary’s. In reply, I have the honor to
acquaint you that, attention having previously been called to the
subject
[Page 186]
by the United States
minister in Peru, inquiry in regard to it was made of the Secretary of
the Navy, a copy of whose answer is herewith enclosed,
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient
servant,
Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Welles to Mr. Hunter
Navy Department, Washington,
August 3, 1865.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your
letter of the 26th instant, enclosing a copy of a despatch from the
United States minister in Peru “relative to the forcible abduction,
by Commodore Colvocoresses, of the United States sloop-of-war St.
Mary’s,” of a deserter from his vessel, from the English ship Star
of Hope,
The department has no hesitation in disapproving the conduct of
Commodore Colvocoresses in the matter referred to, and I enclose
herewith a copy of a letter addressed to that officer on the
subject.
Although the department deems the course pursued by Commodore
Colvocoresses in a high degree censurable, there does not appear to
be an entire absence of palliating circumstances in the case.
It is evident, beyond question, that the man was an American citizen
and a deserter from a United States ship-of-war; that the master of
the merchant vessel was determined to harbor and employ the
deserter, knowing him to be such; that the British vice-consul, Mr.
Dartnell, after ascertaining the facts of the case, readily assented
to his surrender, but was unable to enforce this decision; and that
Commodore Colvocoresses, not being well versed in public law, was
thus naturally led to infer that in doing himself what the
vice-consul, would promptly have done for him had he possessed the
necessary power, he committed nothing more than a nominal
aggression. Neither of them appears to have had sufficient capacity
to comprehend that, in the manner of arriving at substantial justice
in this case, an important principle was overlooked; a principle
which this government has so often, in other days, had occasion most
strenuously to contend for, and would still be among the last to
disregard.
Very respectfully, &c.,
GIDEON WELLES,Secretary of the
Navy.
Hon. William Hunter, Acting Secretary of State.
Mr. Welles to Commodore Colvocoresses
Navy
Department,
July 31, 1865.
Sir: The department has received your
communication of the 10th and 29th ultimo, in relation to the
forcible removal by you of a seaman from a British merchant vessel
at the Chincha Islands. A letter on the same subject has also been
received from the Department of State submitting, for the
consideration of this department, a copy of a despatch from the
United States minister at Lima.
Your course in the matter referred to is disapproved. The want of
intelligence and judgment which you have manifested has placed the
department in the unpleasant position of being constrained to
disavow your proceedings, and tender such apology for them as the
facts of the case furnish, and which it is hoped will be received as
satisfactory.
An officer occupying your position in the service should be better
informed and educated, and better versed in the history of his
country than to be required to be taught now the meaning of the word
“impressment.” You should have known that while this government has
always and at all hazards exacted the respect due to its flag
abroad, it has always as faithfully respected the flag of every
other nation, weak or powerful; and it can no more countenance your
forcible intrusion on board the merchant vessel of a friendly nation
than it could submit quietly to a similar proceeding on the part of
a foreign naval commander with regard to an American vessel.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the
Navy.
Commander Geo. M. Colvocoresses, Commanding United States ship St.
Mary’s.
