The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-06 00:00:00

The Cessation of the American War.

The following correspondence has been presented
to Parliament by command of her Majesty :

No. 1.

EARL RUSSELL TO SIR F. BRUCE.

Foreign-office, June 2, 1865.

Sir,—l received on the 25th ult. your despatch of the 10th
ult., enclosing a copy, taken from a newspaper, of a procla-
mation issued by the President of the United States on that
day, declaring among other matters that " armed resistance
to the authority of this Government," namely, the Govern-
ment of the United States, "may be regarded as virtually
at an end ; and the persons by whom that resistance as well
as the operations of insurgent cruisers were directed are
fugitives or captives."
On the day following the receipt of the despatch intelli-
gence reached this country of the capture of President Davis
by the military forces of the United States.
In this state of things her Majesty's Government lost no
time in communicating:with the Government of the Em-
peror of the French as to the course which should bo pur-
sued by the two Governments ; and while these communi-
cations were in progress, I received officially from Mr.
Adams, on the 80th ult., a copy of the President's procla-
mation of the 10th.

It would, indeed, have been more satisfactory if the Go-
vernment of the United States had accompanied the com-
munication of the President's proclamation with a declara-
tion that they formally renounced the exercise as regards
neutrals of the rights of a belligerent ; but her Majesty's
Government considered that, in the existing posture of
affairs, the delay of any formal renunciation to that effect
did not afford to neutral powers sufficient warrant for con-
tinuing to admit the possession of a belligerent character by
a Confederation of States which bad been actually dissolved.
The late President of the so-called Confederate States has
been captured and transported as a prisoner to Fort Monroe ;
the armies hitherto kept in the field by the Confederate
States have, for the most part, surrendered or dispersed ;

and to continue to recognise those States as belligerents
would not only be inconsistent with the actual condition of
affairs, but might lead to much embarrassment and com-
plication in the relations between neutral Powers and the
Goyornment of the United States.

Her Majesty's Government have accordingly, after com-
munication with the Government of the Emperor of the
French, determined to consider the war which has lately pre-
vailed between tho Tjnited States and the so-called Con-
federate States of North America to have ceased de facto ;
and, on that ground, they recognise the re-establishment of
peace within the whole territory of which the United States,
before the commencement of the civil war, were in undis-
turbed possession.
As a necessary consequence of this recognition, her Ma-
jesty's Government forthwith send to her Majesty's autho-
rities in all ports, harbours, and waters belonging to her
Majesty, whether in the United Kingdom or beyond the
seas, orders henceforth to refuse admission into any such
ports, harbours, and waters, of any vessel of war carrying a
Confederate flag, and to require any Confederate vessels of
war which, at the time that the orders may be received by
her Majesty's authorities, may have already entered such
ports, harbours, and waters, on the faith of proclamations
heretofore issued by her Majesty, and which, having com-
plied with the provisions of such proclamations, may be
actually within such ports, harbours, and waters, forthwith
to depart from the same.
But in adopting this decision as regards Confederate
vessels of war found within British ports, harbours, and
waters, when the orders aro received by her Majesty's autho-
rities, her Majesty's Government consider that a due regard
for national good faith and honour requires that her Ma-
jesty's authorities should be instructed that any Confede-
rate vessels of war so required to depart should, on their
departure, have the benefit of the prohibition heretofore
enforced against their being pursued within 24 hours by a
cruiser of the United States lying at the time within the
same port, harbour, and waters, and that such prohibition
should be then and for the last time maintained in favour of
such Confederate vessels of war.

Her Majesty's Government cannot anticipate any objection
being made by the Government of the United States to this
reserve, when the ground on which it is adopted is ex-
plained to that Government.
Her Majesty's Government have, however, thought it
right to provide for the contingency of the commander of
any Confederate vessel of war which may be found in any
port, harbour, or waters of her Majesty's dominions at the
time when these new orders are received by her Majesty's
authorities, •r may enter such, port, harbour, or waters,
within a month after those new orders are received, desiring
to divest his vessel of her warlike character, and to assume
the flag of any nation recognised by hor Majesty's Govern-
ment as in a state of peace with her Majesty; and in such a
case her Majesty's authorities will be authorised to allow
the commander of the vessel to do so, and after disarming
her, to remain without a Confederate flag within British
waters at his own risk in all respects; in whicb case such
commander will be distinctly apprised that ha is to expect
no further protection from her Majesty's Government, except
such as he may be entitled to in the ordinary course of the
administration of the law in time of peace. The rule as to
24 hours would not be applicable to the case of such vessel.
I have to instruct you to lose no time in making known to
the Government of tb3 United States, by communicating to
the Secretary of State a copy of this despatch, the course of
action on,which her Majesty's Government have decided,
and which they doubt not will bo agreeable to the Govern-
ment of the United States. But in making this communi-
cation to the Secretary of State, you will add that her
Majesty's Government have adopted this course under the
full persuasion that the Government of the United States
will, on their part, at once desist from exercising towards
neutrals the rights of blockade, and of search and detention
of neutral vessels on the high seas, which can be lawfully
exercised by belligerents alone, and which a Power not en-
gaged in warfare cannot under the law of nations assume to
exercise.--I am, &c., (Signed) RUSSELL.
No. 2.

EIR F. BRUCE TO EARL Ru6sELE.—(lleceived July 3.)
Washington, June 19, 1865.
My Lord,—ln accordance with the instructions contained
in your lordship's despatch of the 2d inst., I left a copy of
that despatch with Mr. Hunter, Acting Secretary of State,
and have now the honour to inclose a copy of Mr. Seward's
reply just received.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.
(Inclosure in No. 2.)
MR. SEWARD 10 Silt F. BRUCE.

Department of State, Washington, Juno 19, 1865.
Sir,—Due consideration has been given to a despatch
which Earl Russell addressed to you on the 2d of June inst.
and of which, on the 14th instant, you wore so kind as to

leave a copy at this department. The President is gratified
by the information which that paper contains, to the effect
that her Majesty's Government have determined to consider
the war which has lately prevailed between the United

States and the insurgents of this country to hare ceased de
facto, and that her Majesty's Government now recognise
the re-establishment of peace within the whole territory of
which the United States were in undisturbed possession at
the beginning
is alsoivilwar'
The gratified to learn from Earl Russell's
President o f
despatch that her Majesty's Government will forthwith send
to her Majesty's authorities in all ports, harbours, and
waters belonging to her Majesty, whether within the United
Kingdom or beyond the seas, orders henceforth to refuse