influence and urge upon the President and his Cabinet the necessity of prompt and decisive action for the release of our fellow-citizen, Michael P. Boyton.

JOHN J. MCCORMICK,
MARTIN ROSS,
RICHARD QUINN,

Committee on Resolutions.

PATERSON, N. J., April 27, 1881.

No. 12.

Address of the Lawrence (Mass.) Land League.

To Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.:

MAY 5, 1881.

At a joint meeting of the two branches of the Lawrence (Mass.) Laud League, held May 1, 1881, it was unanimously voted to call the attention of the United States Goverument to the fact that one or more American citizens are now held in jail in Ireland by the English Government in gross violation of international law and the comity of nations, and to request our government to take immediate steps for the vindication of the rights of American citizenship.

In accordance with these instructions, we have the honor to forward to you the following resolutions as the unanimous voice of our two Land Leagues :

Whereas the English Government, in pursuance of a most unjust and oppressive policy toward the tenant farmers of Ireland who are engaged in a peaceful and constitutional agitation for the right of tenant proprietorship, has virtually declared martial law in certain districts of that country, and put in operation what is known as the coercion act; and

Whereas under that despotic law Michael P. Boyton and others, native-born American citizens, then lawfullly sojourning in Ireland, were suddenly and without warning apprehended and thrown into an English jail without being brought before a magistrate, without any inquiry as to whether they had committed any offense and without any observance of the forms of law that should prevail in every civilized country: Therefore be it.

Resolved, That as Americans, fellow-citizens of the men now incarcerated in jail and subjected to the indignity of imprisonment, we protest most emphatically and indignantly against this gross outrage upon freemen, this utter violation of and contempt for the rules of international law.

Resolved, That we hold it to be the right of every American citizen to travel freely and unmolested in every foreign land, protected and guarded by the panoply of American citizenship, which should be his passpert to freedom and security of action, and we therefore call upon our government, in this sudden and unprovoked crisis, to maintain inviolate its own dignity and honor, and to vindicate the rights of American citizenship, in these men most shamefully outraged and abused.

JOHN P. SWEENEY,
JOHN HART,
DANIEL DONOVAN,

No. 13.

Committee.

Address of the Topeka (Kans.), Land League.

TOPEKA, KANS., May 5, 1881.

SIR: At the last meeting of the Topeka Land League the following resolutions were proposed by Col. S. N. Wood, Kansas State Journal, and unanimously passed. I was ordered to forward you a copy that you might take such action in the matter as to you may seem fit.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

RESOLUTIONS.

MICHAEL HOGAN.

Whereas the British Government has, without known cause, arrested and cast into prison, without trial, Capt. Michael Boyton, an American citizen and an heroic exUnion soldier of distinction and honor; and

Whereas we, as citizens of Topeka, Kans., fully appreciating the rights of an American, who like the ancient Romans, should be respected in every land, and of the outrageous injustice of the arrest of Michael Boyton: Therefore, be it

Resolved, That we earnestly request of the Hon. James G. Blaine, Secretary of State, to demand of the British Government an explanation of the arrest and imprisonment of Capt. Michael Boyton, an American citizen, without a trial and without being charged with the commission of any crime. And be it further

Resolved, That Secretary Blaine is also requested to demand of the English Government an explanation of the proposed rifling of the mails on the high seas, and the seizure and suppression of the Irish World, an American newspaper devoted to the cause of the people of Ireland and the laboring people of all lands.

Resolved, That the secretary of the Land League is hereby instructed to forward a copy of these resolutions to Hon. James G. Blaine and to the Irish World, after being signed by himself and the president of the league.

M. HEERY,

President.

M. HOGAN,

Secretary.

No. 14.

Address of the executive committee of the Land League of Louisville, Ky.

LOUISVILLE, KY., May 5, 1881.

DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the executive committee of all the branches of the Land League in this city the following resolutions were adopted:

1. Whereas Congress and the legislatures of many States of the Union have, at different times within the past year, expressed their sympathy for Ireland, and received with marked kindness her representative, Charles Stuart Parnell: Therefore be it Resolved, That we, as lovers of freedom and as friends of Ireland, tender to the members of those respective legislative bodies our sincere thanks, and promise them the ever-enduring gratitude of Irishmen.

2. Whereas the English Government has, on mere suspicion, arrested and imprisoned Michael Boyton, a citizen of the United States, entitled to the protection of our government in all the rights of American citizenship; and

Whereas no charge has ever been preferred against him, and he is nevertheless denied the writ of habeas corpus, and the right of trial by jury, and an opportunity to prove his innocence and secure his freedom: Therefore.

Be it resolved, That we hold these arbitrary acts and despotic methods of the English Government to be inexcusable and high-handed; that we think it the duty of our government promptly and fully to protect its citizens, and vindicate its honor; that whether Boyton be guilty or innocent, we believe he should at least be granted a speedy and fair trial.

Resolved, also, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to James G. Blaine, Secretary of State, with the request that he use his best endeavers to obtain for Michael Boyton an early and just trial, or a speedy deliverance from his wrongful imprisonment.

We trust, sir, that you will give this subject your immediate attention and that your action will, as usual, be distinguished by the display of generous enthusiasm and a gallant spirit.

Very respectfully,

P. BANNON,

Pres't Executive Committee.

E. J. MCDERMOTT,
Secretary Executive Committee.

t

Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE,

Secretary of State of the United States.

No. 15.

Address of citizens of Marblehead, Mass.

To the Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.:

We, the undersigned, citizens of the town of Marblehead, Mass, believing that the imprisonment by the British Government of Michael P. Boyton, a citizen of the United States, in a Dublin jail, is not only an offense against decency and justice,

but also an invasion of his sacred rights as a citizen of the United States, do most respectfully ask and urge that immediate steps be taken by the Department of State, of which you are the head, to demand of the British Government a prompt trial of the charges against him or his instant release.

Marblehead, Mass., May 9, 1881.

MARBLEHEAD, MASS., May 16, 1881.

No. 16.

Address of the East Boston, Mass., branch of the Land League.

EAST BOSTON, May 9, 1881. HONORABLE SIR: We, the undersigned, have been instructed by a vote of the East Boston branch of the Irish National Land League, numbering 350 members, to take this method of recording our most emphatic protest against the indignity committed by Great Britain in the imprisonment of our fellow-countryman, Michael P. Boyton. We maintain that England possesses no right to suspend that great guarantee of human liberty, the habeas corpus act, in respect to a citizen of this republic.

If the Government of England assumes the authority to arrest an alien, either traveling or sojourning in that country, and to incarcerate him without a public legal hearing, what assurance has any citizen of the United States that he can freely reside anywhere under the scepter of Great Britain ?

It is evident that the great public mind of this country will not quietly submit to have any citizen thrown into prison by a foreign power, without being put in possession of the evidence of the justice of such an action.

We consider the case of Mr. Boyton a tyrannical usurpation of the inherent and inalienable rights of man, to which no individual should be subjected, and we now respectfully request you to exercise all the power within the scope and duty of the high official position you occupy, to demand that the English Government shall inmediately give Mr. Boyton a public hearing and fair trial before a properly legalized tribunal.

If Mr. Boyton committed an offense against British law, by all means allow him to be punished, as this leagne does not hold that an American citizen can with impunity violate the laws of any country.

We have the honor to subscribe ourselves your obedient servants,

Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE,

PATRICK F. FLANAGAN, President.
JOHN MURRAY, Vice-President.

JOHN A. KELLY, Treasurer.

JOHN GALLAGHER, Financial Secretary.
PATRICK KENNY, Secretary.

CHAS. E. ENDICOTT, Corresponding Secretary.

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

No. 17.

Address of the Parnell branch of the Land League of Rockville, Conn.

To the Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.:

ROCKVILLE, CONN., May 10, 1881.

May it please your honor, we, the undersigned committee of Parnell branch of the Irish National Land League of Rockville, Conn., humbly request that you will exercise the prerogative now at your disposal in behalf of the liberation of Michael Boyton, an American citizen, now a prisoner in Kilmainham jail, Dublin, Ireland. We feel confident that this man has been guilty of no overt act or conduct of any kind infringing upon the basis of international law. We therefore hope the potency of the United States Government will be immediately applied for the release of the said Michael Boyton, and your humble servants as in duty bonnd will ever pray. Signed in behalf of the league,

Rev. J. J. FURLONG, President.
HENRY I. CONWAY, Chairman.
MATHEW CAVEGAN.
EDWARD CARROLL.

Address of citizens of Osceola, Pa.

OSCEOLA, PA., May 10, 1881.

To the Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. :

Inasmuch as we, the undersigned, feel a deep interest in the fate of our fellow countryman Michael P. Boyton, who is now, as we believe, unjustly imprisoned in an Eng

lish jail, we would hereby most respectfully petition you as Secretary of State of the United States, that you exercise your authority and power as such Secretary in procuring for said imprisoned United States citizen a speedy trial or immediate release. Trusting this petition may receive a favorable recognition at your hands, we remain, very respectfully,

Address of the Parnell branch of the Land League of Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI, OHIO, May 10, 1881.

DEAR SIR: 1 have the honor of inclosing to you a copy of resolutions passed by the Parnell branch of the Irish National Land League at its meeting held in Cincinnati on last Sunday afternoon, May 8, the Hon. Joseph P. Carbery presiding. They refer to the arrest, in Ireland, under the British coercion act, of an American citizen, Michael P. Boyton, and thank you for the steps you have taken in his behalf.

The friends of the Irish people have the utmost confidence in your manhood, determination, and patriotism, and feel assured that in your official capacity you will vindicate the honor of our country by securing to Michael P. Boyton the rights and privileges to which his citizenship entitles him.

Very respectfully, yours,

Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE,

Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

RESOLUTIONS.

D. W. CALLINAN,
Secretary pro tem

Whereas Michael P. Boyton, a citizen of the United States of America, at present in Ireland, has been arrested and is detained in custody there by the British Government;

and

Whereas the said Michael P. Boyton has been charged with no violation of law or with the commission of any crime, but is deprived of his liberty, and confined in an English prison, without any color of justice, but under the provisions of an infamous and outrageous enactment of the British Parliament, known as the coercion act, a law which gives power to the English executive in Ireland to arrest and imprison Irish people at will without a warrant, and for an indefinite period, granting them no trial by judge or jury; and

Whereas this shameful enactment was passed solely for the purpose of further oppressing the unfortunate people of Ireland, by depriving them of the God-given rights of free speech, and preventing them from taking united action in an endeavor to mitigate the horrors of the infamous land laws in a peaceful, legitimate way; and

Whereas this coercive measure, enacted by the British Government for the purposes before mentioned, cannot affect the rights of a free American citizen traveling for health, pleasure, or business in any country at present under British domination: Therefore be it

Resolved, That we denounce and condemn the English authorities in Ireland for this cruel and high-banded outrage perpetrated on our fellow-citizen, Michael P. Boyton; and be it further

Resolved, That we thank our Secretary of State, the Hon. James G. Blaine, for the attitude he has assumed in this case, and we trust that by prompt and energetic action on his part he will vindicate the honor of our government, thus assailed in this unjustifiable and unwarranted arrest of a citizen of this Republic, and bring about his speedy release.

MICHAEL RYAN,
JOHN AMBROSE,
D. W. CALLINAN,

Committee.

H. Ex. 155-3