The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF WRDS.—ThimaDaY, FEE. 1L

5 o The LOUD Ctuunnina took his mat on the wooback at
'clock.
OUR RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES.
The Earl of DERBY, in for the production of the
Correspondence relating to the referred to the
refund of the government to furnish the despatches con-
cerning the seizure of the rams at Liverpool, although they
had already base laid before Cowen end made public in
America. 'What he would pyre to see wan the English as
well as the American nanny ; for the impression created
by the latter was that her Majesty's government had
been compelled by the menaces of the United
States to make conesseloss which they had in the
first instance declined. In addition to the ours-
spoodence as to the Alabama and the steam rams,
he wished that parliament should also be supplied with any
correspoodence that might have taken place in regard to
sate of violence committed by American tuners upon
English vessels. One of the despatches of Mr. Seward to
Mr. Adams contained the threat that such vessels se the
Alabama and the Florida should be followed and seized,
even though they took refuge in British waters and were
under the protection of our flag. True, Mr. Adams did
not appear to have communicated that document to her
Majesty's government, nevertheless it bad been laid before
Ciongrem at Washington, and it was expedieet that •
thorough understanding should be come to with the United
States authontits on the subject.
Earl RUSSELL said there appeared to be little resew
to doubt that the steam rams at Liverpool, which were at
first stated to be building on French account, were really
intended 1,,r the service of the Confederacy ; and he agreed
with Mr. Adams that if vessels were armed and equipped
in this country, and sent forth to attack a power with which
we were at peace, it would be an infringement of the
proclamation of neutrality issued by her Majesty. and would
virtually be taking part in the war in favour of the Con-
federate states. tier Majesty's ministers were therefore
extremely anxious that no act of theirs should give coin.
senance to such proceedings. With regard to the papers
required by Lord Herby. the law officers of the crown had
declared that the cue of the government would be pre-
judiced by the pnblkation of the papers. It would
be an injustice to the legal advisers of the
government if the case tame before the courts of law after
baying been previously debated by the assistance of, these
papers in parliament. Hie lordship added—With re-
meet to all those various and very difficult affairs in which
the_ rights of neutrals are concerned. but in which the rights
of the_
are also involved, and with respect to which
we are in correspondence with the American government,
I must request your lordships to allow me to consult the
law officers of the crown, and to act according to their ad-
vice. (Hear, hear.) When the law officers of the crown
tell me that as effective blockade his, in their opinion been
established in certain ports of the Southern States, I take
that opinion as • good legal opinion, sod abide by their
authority. So, likewise, when they examine the decisions
of the judges in the pelts courts of America, and say either
that they are perfectly conformable to the law of
nations as it has been laid down in our courts,
or that there is some question which is a goes-
Nos on which reamooable doubt may be entertained,
I do not think it right, in the face of the deliberate de.
visions of those courts, to make a complaint to the United
States government and to ask foe redress. (Hear, hear.)
But that the U silted States government have in every Medinae
justice to oar people and to the owners of oar vessels I am
far from maintaining, but all theme eases have been matters
of disco:Nice. The noble earl speaks of blockade runners.
Undoubtedly the penalty that attaches to blockade runners
to no more than that imposed by the law of nation ; if they
ate attempting to tusk the blockade, or are carrying con-
traband of war, they are liable to capture by the belligerents.
We hare, I am sorry to say, cues in which complaints
have been made of the unnecessary detention of persons
belonging to the crews of these vessels. The
American government, on their aids, my that they are borne
cot in the course they have taken by this correspondence,
so far am the suspicion would go, that some other vessels
bearing British colours, and apparently doing nothing more
than breaking the blockade, were in fact vessels belonging
to the Confederate government. If that ease can be made
out with regard to any particular vessel, of course those ,
vessels become belligerents. That, however, is a matter ,
upon which we are promised information, but on which full ,
discussion has not yet taken place. I will endeavour I.
looking over the papers to produce those eases in which the
noble earl and the boaea take an interest; and if there are
other cases in which information is wihed for. I will
either produce the papers or endeavour to state valid reasons
for withholding them. (Hear, hear.)