The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—Moms:, MARCH 23.

Their lordships met at Ave o'clock.
Lord lixosozzasided oa the woobiack in the absence
N ITION OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Lind CAMPBELL called attention to the question of
acknowledging the Southern Confederacy as an indepeodent
power in connexion with other neutral states. Recognition,
le contended, would take away the last hope of the North
of subjugating the South, and would materially influence
the Federal government in coming to an arrangement with
they. opponents if three opponents ware once looked as ea
an independent power by foreign nations. As precedents
for this view he quoted the recognition of the United
States by France, of the South American iepoblice by
England, and of Portugal in 1641 by various European
powers ; and urged that the neutral powers by their
silence implied a belief iu the possible power of the North
to subdue the Southern States, and put both parties there-
by in a false position. The opinions of this country and of
France and Holland had been sufficiently manifested by the
recut loan raised for the Confederated, while military men
bad also expressed their conviction that the conquest of
the South was impcesible. He referred to a variety of con.
midenitioas, both moral sod material, which ought to lotto-
ence her Majesty's government in recognising the Southern
Confederacy, and concluded by observing that it recognition
were withheld the war would never be brought to an end.
Lord RUSSELL eaid that if there were scything which
could be justly done to end the war in America, there was
not a Ogle person in the country who would Dot be but
too glad of it. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could
do usefully or peacefully to attain that object. It was not
by offering ear good offices or mediation that this war was
at present likely to be concluded. The refusal with which
the late proposition of France bad been met showed that
much offers would not only not be atteded to, but would
provoke greater opposition on the part of the United States.
He denied that the example adduced by Lord Campbell of
the recognition of the United States was applicable to the
case in point, for what was cited as recognition by France was
nothing lees than forcible intervention. As to the cue of
the South Atomic= republics, he showed that the soil of
those republic was free from hostile troops at the period
of their recognition, which was not yet the condition of the
Confederate States, many points of whose territories were
occupied by Federal troops.. The spirit of the North was
as determined as ever to carry on this war, and if we
stepped forward at such a moment and recognised the
Southern States it would be a most unfriendly act to the
United States. At preempt our ditty was to wait and stand
still, and Dot to proceed to so decided and unfriendly an act
es recognising the South. We had, it was true, interfered
in former times in Holland, in Portugal, and Greece,
but we had interfered there in behalf of the inde-
pendence and freedom of a great portion of mankind.
In the cue of Belgium again, when the people of that coun-
try declared they were unable to remain under the govern-
ment of the King of the Netherlands, as the treaty of
Vienna directed, we interfered by force, and a happy ar-
rangement was made, which bas contiaaed up to the pre-
sent time. Now, my lords, in all those instaoces, whether
the wars were carried on by our ancestors or in our own
times, there is nailing of which an Englishman need be
ashamed. for if we have taken part in interventions, it has
been en behalf of the independence, the freedom, and the
welfare of great portions of mankind. (Hear, hear.) I
should be sorry if there were any intervention in our time
which would bear another character. I hope that will not
be the case, and that no interests of our own, deeply as
they pay affect the industry and well-being of is
large portion of oar fellow-countrymen' will induce as to
set an example far different from that which was set us by
our ancestors. But whenever we shall be called upon to
interfese—may it be seldom-1 trust it will be in the cause
of liberty, and to promote the freedom of mankind, ea we
have hitherto dose. (Hear, hear.) With regard to this war
in America, I trust we shall be permitted to follow an im-
partial and neutral mow. Depend upon it, it will be far
better that the war should Geese by the conviction, both is
the Northern and Southern States, that they never again
eau happily form one community and one republic, than that
a termination of hostilities should be brought about either
by the advice or mediation, or interference of soy European
powers. With these oorivictions, having spoken of the duty
of the government at the present time, I trust that no
further debate will take place this evening, (Haar.)
_ _ _

Af tor• few words froea Lord Correita, which yen
inaudible in the Wiry, the subject dropped.

THE ILLBGITIMATE CHILDREN (IRELAND) BILL.
Me bill paned committee, sod weereported to the home.