On the 4th of June this application was considered by the Executive Council, (Mr. Harris being a member,) and with their advice it was ordered by the Governor that if practicable the Oreto should take in her cargo within the port of Nassau.1 In accordance with the advice of the Council, the Governor appears to have communicated this order to Commander McKillop, and he, under date of the 6th, reports: "I have visited the screw steamer Oreto and examined her. She is fitted in every way for war purposes, magazines, shell-rooms, and other fittings totally at variance with the character of a merchant-vessel. She has no guns or ammunition on board. The Captain does not deny that she is intended for a war-vessel.” 2 This report was referred to the Attorney General, and he on the 7th gave his opinion as follows: "There are no facts set forth in the within letter which would in my opinion authorize the seizure of the Oreto. They constitute only circumstances of suspicion, which if coupled with some actual overt act would doubtless materially strengthen the case against the vessel, but which do not in themselves form a ground of seizure." On the 13th of June the letter of Commander Hickley and the report of himself and his officers, a statement of the contents of which has been already given, was submitted to the Attorney General, and in regard to them he says: "I am of the opinion that there is nothing contained in those documents which would justify the detention of the vessel." On the 15th of June, Commander Hickley, as has been seen, addressed another letter to the Governor, in which, in addition to what has been before stated, occurs this passage: On my former communication to your Excellency of the 13th of June, I have the Crown Lawyers' opinion, and I again bring the facts of the broadly suspicious character of the Oreto before you, with the addition of those of her old crew having left her, and for why, as likewise her entering or attempting to enter a new crew, for your consideration and the Law Officers of the Crown; and failing their sanction to take charge of the Oreto, (and it is improbable, if not impossible, that they can know a war vessel's equipment as well as myself and officers,) I have to suggest that I should forthwith send her to the Commodore or Commander in Chief on my own professional responsibility; as allowing such a vessel as the Oreto to pass to sea as a British merchant vessel and a peaceful trader would compromise my convictions so entirely as to be a neglect of duty as Senior Naval officer here present, and certainly not doing my duty in co-operating with your Excellency for the protection of the harbor of Nas sau. 5 This being submitted to the Attorney General, he replied, that it did not appear to him "to carry the case against the Oreto further than shown in the previous reports of himself and Commander McKillop, and I contend that no case has as yet been made out for the seizure of that vessel under the Foreign Enlistment Act. With respect to the suggestion in the concluding part of Commander Hickley's letter, I have to remark that, if the vessel is liable to seizure at all, it must be under the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act, and if so seized the question of her liability may as readily and efficiently be decided in the Court of Vice Admiralty of this Colony as before any Tribunal in Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions, and consequently that no necessity exists, nor do I think that any excuse can be made, for sending her, as suggested by Commander Hickley, to the Commodore or Commander inChief, who I presume are either at Bermuda or Halifax; while, on the other hand, if I am correct in the view I have taken of her non-liability to seizure, the reasons against sending her hence will of course be far 1See proceedings of the meeting, which are stated in full on page 62 of the British Case. 2 Brit. App., vol. i, p. 20. 3 Ibid. 4 Brit. App., vol. i, p. 23. more powerful; and therefore, on either view of the case, I advise His Excellency to withhold his sanction from the course of action suggested."1 On the receipt of a copy of this opinion, Commander Hickley abandoned his seizure of the vessel, since it was not sanctioned by the Law Officers of the Crown at Nassau, and as he was told by His Excellency that he did not "think it consistent with law or public policy that she should now be seized on the hypothesis that she is clearing out for the purpose of arming herself as a vessel of war beyond the limits of the harbor. We have done our duty in seeing that she does not leave the harbor equipped and prepared to act offensively against one of two belligerent nations, with each of whom Great Britain is at peace." 2 On the 17th, however, notwithstanding the strong opinion of the Law Officer of the Crown who discharged the duties of Queen's Advocate and Attorney General of the Colony, the Governor yielded to the conviction of Commander Hickley and his officers that she was a vessel of war that could be equipped in "twenty-four hours for battle," and consented to her seizure, as the "equipment of the Oreto, the object of her voyage hither, the intent of her voyage hence, the nature of her crew, and the purpose of their enlistment, are all the fair subjects of judicial investigation." In accordance with this view of the case she was seized and the Governor gave "the necessary instructions to proceed.” 4 93 Under these instructions the Attorney General proceeded against her on the theory of his opinions, so often reiterated, that she could only be held for acts of equipment and fitting out actually occurring within the jurisdiction of the port of Nassau. The vessel had arrived at Nassau on the 28th of April, six weeks before her final seizure. From the first she was an object of Seizure of the suspicion and comment. Commander McKillop reported Florida. her arrival and his suspicions to the Admiralty in London, under date of the 30th of April. His report was received in London, so that it was communicated to the Foreign Office, on the 10th of June.5 Not a word went from any other officer at the Colony to the Home Government until the 21st of June, when Governor Bayley reported the seizure and all that preceded it, including the opinions of the Attorney General. This was communicated to the Foreign Office at London, on the 31st of July. 6 It was submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown, and they on the 12th of August reported: "We think that the facts warranted the seizure, but we must add that it is very important that, on the trial, evidence should be adduced of what occurred at Liverpool, as regards the building and fitting out and the alleged ownership and destination of the Oreto." 997 The Law Officers of the Colony had no communication whatever with the Law Officers of the Home Government. But on the 28th of June, Heyliger, the Confederate agent at Nassau, advised the insurgent Secretary of War that "the proceedings instituted for her release are now complete, and will be pushed forward vigorously. Our complaint was filed in Court this morning, and the libel may be put in to-day or on the 30th. On the 1st July our Counsel will argue on the law points." And so it was in fact. The seizure was made on the 17th, supported 6 Layard to Rogers, Brit. App., vol. i, p. 29. 7 Brit. App., vol. 1, p. 31. 8 Am. App., vol. vi, p. 88. 1 by the affidavit of Commander Hickley on the 20th; an affidavit of claim was filed by Captain Duguid on the 27th; the libel was filed by the Attorney General on the 1st of July; the responsive plea of the claimant on the 21st; the trial commenced on the 10th-at least the first witness was examined then; the last witness was examined on the 26th; the argument was made on the 30th, and the decree rendered on the 2d of August.2 It will be interesting to see what was being done by the agents of the insurgents while these proceedings were going on. Maffitt, who had been assigned by Commander Bullock to the command of the Florida, (then called the Manassas,) arrived in Nassau on the 6th of May,3 and on the 22d he reported to the insurgent Secretary of the Navy that he had arrived at Nassau, and had personally assumed command "of the Manassas, which vessel I hope to have ready for service soon." 4 On the 26th of May the insurgent Secretary of the Navy made a requisition upon the Treasury for $50,000, to be sent "to fit out and equip the Confederate States steamer Manassas, now at Nassau," and on the next day (the 27th) a bill was ordered drawn for that amount, "in favor of Lieutenant John N. Maffitt, Confederate States Navy.' Heyliger was superintending the affairs of the insurgents at Nassau, and shipping regularly his cargoes of articles contraband of war.7 Nassau was visited by numerous parties, almost all of whom were more or less interested in what was then considered the rising fortunes of a new nation. Many of them were persons of education and acquirements, which gave them ready access to the best society of the place, while unfortunately, on the other hand, we had but few Northern visitors.8 The island of New Providence, of which Nassau is the only town, is a barren limestone rock, producing only some coarse grass, a few stunted trees, a few pineapples and oranges, and a great many sand-crabs and fiddlers. Before the war it was the rendezvous of a few wreckers and fishermen. Commerce it had none, except such as might grow out of the sponge trade and the shipment of green turtle and conch shells. The American war, which has brought woe and wretchedness to so many of our States, was the wind which blew prosperity to Nassau. It had already put on the air of a commercial city, its fine harbor being thronged with shipping, and its warehouses, wharves, and quays filled to repletion with merchandise. All was life, bustle, and activity. Ships were constantly arriving and depositing their cargoes, and light-draught steamers, Confederate and English, were as constantly reloading these cargoes and running them into the ports of the Confederate States.? The notorious sympathies of the Colony and the supposed sympathies of England with the Southern Confederacy have, I doubt not, led the Consul, and may lead the Government of the United States, to imagine that the Oreto has all along received a collusive and dishonest support from the authorities of the place. Nothing could be further removed from the truth than this belief; still it would be exceedingly awkward were the reasonableness of these suspicions to be tested by the experience of any vessel which arrived equipped, to act on the Federal side, and expecting to find her arms and ammunition here.10 * They are all southern sympathizers. Indeed, this seems to be our principal port of entry, and the amount of money we throw into the hands of the Nassauites probably influences their sentiments in our favor.11 On the 8th of June Captain Semmes arrived at the island and took rooms at the hotel. Heyliger and Lafitte, agents of the Insurgent States at Nassau, gave him a dinner, at which about forty persons were pres 1 Brit. App., vol. i, pp. 61, 63, 67, and 68. 2 Brit. App., vol. i, p. 38; vol. v, p. 37. 5 Ibid. 7 Letters Heyliger to Randolph, ibid., pp. 76-87. 3 Am. App., vol. vi, p. 317. 4 Ibid., p. 236. 8 Attorney-General Anderson's vindication of himself, February 10, 1872. Brit. App., Counter Case, vol. v, p. 25. 9 Captain Semmes's description of Nassau in his "Adventures Afloat," Am. App., vol. vi, p. 487. 10 Governor Bailey to the Duke of Newcastle, June 21, 1862, Brit. App., vol. i, p. 14. 11 Journal found on board the Florida, Am. App., vol. vi, p. 335. ent. The same gentlemen also gave a dinner to Captain Maffitt while he was there, which was attended by the same number of persons.1 During the existence of the blockade of the Southern ports of America, vessels leaving the port of Nassau, with the intention of endeavoring to run their cargoes into the blockaded ports, almost invariably cleared for St. John's, New Brunswick, and many of them took in their outward cargoes at the anchorages adjacent to the harbor of Nassau.2 Adderly & Co., the most influential mercantile establishment in Nassau," were receiving their two and one-half per cent. commission for transshipment; a most exorbitant demand, but one in unison with the usages of the place, and submitted to in consideration of retaining their interest.1 It is known that this trade of blockade-running has been a most profitable trade; that great fortunes have been made by many persons in carrying it on, and that Nassau and some other places have swarmed with vessels which have never previously been seen in those ports.5 Trial and release. The criticisms on these proceedings in the American Case are sustained. In the midst of such surroundings, and with such a prosecutor, the case of the Oreto was tried, and resulted in a decree against Her Majesty; and the United States now repeat what they said in their Case: "If it had been predetermined that the Oreto should be released, the steps could not have been better directed for that purpose." Adderly & Co. were at the outset informed what they must refrain from doing to avoid a conviction under the law as the Attorney General construed it, and they followed this advice, as it would seem, faithfully. The Attorney General commenced and prosecuted the case upon his construction of the law, which Her Majesty's Government admits was erroneous. He made no claim before the judge for a different construction, and the judge proceeded with that point admitted against the Government. The United States believe, as did His Excellency, Governor Bayley, that it would have been found to be exceedingly awkward to Her Majesty's Government if the reasonableness of their suspicions had been tested at that time by the experience of a United States vessel arriving at that port expecting to find its arms and ammunition there. As soon as the release was ordered, that "energetic officer," Captain Maffitt, and his lieutenant, Stribling, "threw themselves" on board of the vessel. On the evening of her release, solomon, a shipping-master at that port, at the request of Maffitt, commenced engaging men for her at his shipping-office. By Friday morning he had sent on board sixtyfive men, but in the mean time the vessel had gone outside, under a clearance in ballast for St. John's, New Brunswick, obtained at the Custom House.8 9 7 On the 6th of August Lafitte, an insurgent agent, purchased the schooner Prince Alfred in the name of A. J. Adderly, one of the firm of Adderly & Co. On the 7th, Adderly & Co. loaded her from the public warehouse, with the cargo warehoused for them from the Bahama on the 2d of June, and with shot, shells, and stores warehoused at different times from other vessels. She was cleared outward on the same day for St. John's.10 The Oreto went outside and steamed up and down the coast trying her machinery. Her Majesty's ship of war, the Peterel, was Armament of the at anchor outside the bar, and while there a boat from the Florida. Oreto, with "a man who stated he was the master in command of the 1 Am. App., vol. vi, pp. 317, 487. 2 Att.-Gen. Anderson, Sept. 1, 1871, Brit. App., vol. i, p. 53. Heyliger to Benjamin, Am. App., vol. vi, p. 66. * Ibid. 5 Lord Russell in the House of Commons, February 16, 1864, Am. App., vol. v, p. 526. 6 Am. App., vol. vi, p. 489. 8 Brit. App., vol. i, p. 58. 10 Am. App., vol. vi, pp. 325, 328. 7 Am. App., vol. vi, p. 311. 9 Kirkpatrick to Seward, Am. App., vol. vi, p. 327. 1 Oreto,” came alongside; "said he was very short-handed, and wanted to anchor for about two hours to adjust his machinery, but if he anchored outside he had not sufficient crew to weigh his anchor, and begged I [the captain of the Peterel] would assist him by lending him men." The men were refused, but he was told "he might hold on astern of the Peterel," and a line was given him for that purpose. The same night about one o'clock the Prince Alfred came out from Nassau while the Oreto was fastened astern of the Peterel. When she got outside of the bar, a light was struck on board; the Oreto let go the hawser of the Peterel, stood to the northward for a while, and then rounded to and took the Prince Alfred in tow.2 The two vessels then proceeded, the Prince Alfred being in tow, to Green Cay, about sixty miles from Nassau, and there the guns, ammunition, and stores were transferred from the Prince Alfred to the Oreto, about a week being occupied in so doing.3 It is said on page 78 of the British Counter Case that Her Majesty's Government has no means either of verifying or disproving the truth of the statement in the Case of the United States as to the arming of the Florida. On page 67 of the British Case, however, it is said that Her Majesty's Government "has been informed and believes that she was subsequently armed for war by a Captain Maffitt; * * that she was then commissioned; ** and that after keeping the sea for a few days, she put in at the port of Cardenas, in Cuba, where (or at Havana) she remained for nearly a month. On the 4th September the vessel arrived at and entered the port of Mobile." The precise point at which she took on her armament is not important. It is sufficient for all the purposes of the United States that she was armed within a short time after she left Nassau. It appears from the admissions in the British Case, that she entered the port of Mobile within a month after leaving Nassau ; that she remained at Cardenas or Havana about a month before she went to Mobile, and that she was armed and commissioned before she reached Cardenas. These admissions establish, therefore, the important fact of arming shortly after leaving Nassau. But the United States submit that the proof presented by them establishes the further fact that she was armed at Green Cay, in the manner and under the circumstances they have alleged. This proof will be found in vol. vi of the American Appendix, pages 306 to 321. At Cardenas. 4 The Oreto, with her guns all mounted, at 8 a. m. of the 17th, parted from the Prince Alfred, hoisted the flag of the insurgents, and started upon her cruise under the name of the Florida. She proceeded to Cardenas, a port under the jurisdiction of Her Majesty the Queen of Spain, and there attempted to ship a crew, but "the matter was brought to the notice of the Government,” and an officer sent to the commander of the Florida "with a copy of the proclamation of the Queen of Spain and a notification to him that the Florida had become liable to seizure 22 The commander then "repudiated the transaction, and to avoid difficulty with the Government," paid the passage of twenty men to and from Havana, and returned the men to Havana. This was upon the 31st of August." She then sailed for Mobile and ran into the port through the blockade on the 4th of September "wearing the English red ensign and pennant," and painted like a British vessel of war. A At Mobile. Letter of Watson to Admiralty, Brit. App., Counter Case, vol. v, p. 51. 2 Affidavits of Solomon and Lee, Am. App., vol. vi, pp. 312, 321. 3 Brit. Counter Case, p. 78; Am. App., vol. vi, p. 328. 4 Am. App., vol. vi, pp. 308, 328. 6 Brit. App., vol. i, p. 74. 5 Ibid. voucher No. 6, p. 331. |