The attempted release of the Prisoners at Johnson's island.
In view of the fact that the United States Government has demanded Acting Master Burley, Confederate States Navy, from the Canadian authorities, under the extradition treaty, as a pirate, felon, etc., President Davis has issued a proclamation, of which the following is an extract:"Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, do hereby declare and make known to all whom it may concern, that the expedition aforesaid, undertaken in the month of September last, for the capture of the armed steamer Michigan, a vessel-of-war of the United States, and for the release of the prisoners of war, citizens of the Confederate States of America, held captive by the United States of America at Johnson's island, was a belligerent expedition, ordered and undertaken under the authority of the Confederate States of America against the United States of America, and that the Government of the Confederate States of America assumes the responsibility of answering for the acts and conduct of any of its officers engaged in said expedition, and especially of the said Bennett G. Burley, an Acting Master in the Navy of the Confederate States.
"And I do further make known to all whom it may concern, that, in the orders and instructions given to the officers engaged in said expedition, they were specially directed and enjoined to 'abstain from violating any of the laws and regulations of the Canadian or British authorities in relation to neutrality,' and that the combination necessary to effect the purpose of said expedition 'must be made by Confederate soldiers and such assistance as they might (you may) draw from the enemy's country.'"
