_Mr. Seward (aside to Mr. Adams)_. The President revokes the exequatur
of Consul Bunch, who has not only been the bearer of communications
between the insurgents and a foreign government in violation of our
laws, but has abused equally the confidence of the two governments by
reporting, without the authority of his government, and in violation of
their own policy, as well as of our national rights, that the proceeding
in which he was engaged was in the nature of a treaty with the
insurgents, and the first step toward a recognition by Great Britain of
their sovereignty. His whole conduct has been, not that of a friend to
this government, nor of a neutral even, but of a partisan of faction and
disunion.
* * * * *
_Lord Lyons_. My government are concerned to find that two British
subjects, Mr. Patrick and Mr. Rahming, have been subjected to arbitrary
arrest.
_Mr. Seward_. At the time of arrest it was not known they were British
subjects. They have been released.
_Lord Lyons_. They applied for habeas corpus, and its exercise was
refused. Congress has not suspended the writ. Our law officers say that
the authority of Congress is necessary to justify this arrest and
imprisonment.
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