Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-09-09

honest principles of the President. But the
statement made by the President, that a con
vention duly signed and legally ratified, engage
glng to respect the present state of possession
~ all future time, would but excite these bands
OF pirates to more violent breaches of all the
laws OF honesty and good neighborhood, is a
melancholy avowal for the chief of great
state. Without disputing its truth, her Males
tEs government may express hope that this
state OF things will not endure, and that the
citizens of the United States, while they Justly
coast of their institution, will not be insensibe
g the value of those eternal laws of right and
wrong, of peace and friendship, and of duty to
our neighbors, which ought to guide every
Christian nation.
Nor can a people so enlightened fail to pre-
csye the utility of those rules for the observance
= International relations which for centuries
x - cen known to Europe by the name of the
lxi& las.rsst.ons- Among rhe commentators on
that law, some of the most distinguished Ameri.
can citizens have earned an enviable reputation,
and it is difficulty to suppose that the United
States would set the example of abrogating its
most sacred provisions.
Nor let it be said that such convention
would have prevented the inhabitants of Cuba
from asserting their independence. With regard
to internal troubles, the proposed convention
was altogether silent, But pretended declara-
tion of independence, with a view of immedi-
ateiy seeking refuge, from revolts on the part
of the blacks, under the shelter of the United
States, would justly be looked upon as the
same in effects as formal annexation.
Finally, while fully admitting the right of
the United States to reject the proposal that
was made by Lord Malmesbury and NJ. de Tur-
p-.f L
tire liberty; and upon any occasion that may
call for it. be free to act either singly or in con-
junction with other powers, as to her may seem
fit.
/ am, &C., JOHN RUSSELL.
The following is Mr.. Cgampton's reply to the
foregoing;
MR.. CHAMPION TO THE EARL OF CLARENDON.
EXTRACT.
Washington, April Is, 1853.
In obedience to the instruction contained in
Lord John Russelfs despatch Oft the 2lst Febua-
~, have read to the Secretary Of State of the
United States, and placed in his hand copy
of his lordship despatch of the 10th of that
month, upon the subject of Cuba.
My French colleague having also received
instructions from his government to communi-
despatch upon the same subject and very much
to the same effect, it was agreed between us
that we should as upon former occasions in re-
gard to this matter, make our communications
simultaneously, and we accordingly waited upon
Mr.. Marcy together, for that purpose, on the
10th inst.
Mr.. Marcy, after having listened attentively
to what NJ. de Sartiges and myself read to him.
said that he would submit observations of the
two governments to the President; and remar-
ked that several weeks might probably elapse
before airy reply would be addressed to us, even
should the President be of opinion, which Mr..
Marcy seemed to think doubtful, that any further
discussion of the matter between the two gov
ernments was desirable.
1t would, be added; of course he necessary for
him again to read over the dispatches in order
to comprehend their full import; but as far as
he could now judge, the opinion of the two
governments seemed to conincide in reference
TO two points, viz the one that the right of the
United States to decline the proposals made to
them by the English and French governments
was admitted; the other that some of the gene
raj position taken by Mr. Everett in his note Of
the lst December, 1852, appeared to those gov
ernmeats to render protest against them on
their part necessary, lest it might heretofore be
inferred that those positions had been acquies-
.ced in by them.
We replied that without pretending to point
out to Mr. Marcy what further step he was or
was not to take in this matter, the object which
our respective governments had in view SEEM
ed to us to be, generally, such as he had stated
it, and that we, for our part, considered the dis
cusson of the subject closed by the communi-
cation which we had just made.
Mr. Marcy appeared to receive our observa-
tions in a conciliatory manner, and concluded
by expressing his hope and belief that no mis-
understanding would arise between the great
maritime powers in regard to this matter.