The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-24
THE RECRUITMENT CONTROyERSY.-LoRD CLAIR
ENDON'S LETTER.-ENGLISH COMMENTS


THE RECRUITMENT CONTROVERSY.-LORD CLAIR
ENDoN'S LETTER-ENGLISH COMMENTS.
We cannot help thinking that there has been exraor
binary effort in connexion with Lord Clarendons late
ply to Mr. Marcy TO create in country hasty public
sentiment favorable to the British side Of the recruitment
controversy 1t is scarcely matter of doubt that
Der of copies of the English Blue Book containing Lord
Clarendons reply was in Washington and in the hands of
parties assumed to have British sympathes the ques-
on before the documents in the possession of our
government 1t Is certain that there has been
sua eagerness manifested in bringing this reply before the
public, accompanied with comments well calculated
make the impression that the British government if it
has not satisfactorily met Mr.. Marcys arguments has
at least satisfactorily atoned for the unntentonal viola
ton of our laws and sovereign rights. We will not at
tribute this promptness not to say haste in responding
to the pacific and cenciatory which is assumed
be satisfactory to actual sympathy with the British
government but will say that, whilst it may arise
from extreme sensitiyeness to the fears Of with
Great Britain 1t is also well calculated TO confirm that
government in the impression that the sen
mens of the American people not in unison with those
Of the administration the recruitment difficulty 1t Is
not to be disguised that the opinion prevails extensively
England produced by giving too much importance
tain welknown journals in country in opposition
to the administration that the controversy the enlist
ment question has been resorted to by the administration
for political purposes and with view the presidential
succession Hence it is surprising If there should be
nearly much anxiety felt in England to the action of
several nominating conventions for the presidency
in country Nor would it be matter of surprise
If Lord Clarendons reply to Mr.. Marcy was written
under the impression alluded to- and with the
expectation that it might influence on the
nominating conventions to assemble at Cincin-
natl Philadelphia, and New York. Nor would it be
extraordinary if the eagerness premature i'm
pressions the public mind in own country by
the hasty Lord Carendon's reply to which
have referred should have arisen some degree from
hope that the results Of the conventions named might be
affected by the impression that the administration had
necessarily protracted the enlistment controversy But
without pursuing this train of reflections further pre-
fer exhibit most remarkable contrast betwxt the COM
ments of those American journals which have promptly
insisted accepting Lord Carendons reply sasfac-
tory, and two leading London journals which have
just received by the last steamer. The reader will be
struck with the berality and independence with which
the London Morning Star and Telegraph spouse the
truth and national honor involved in the recruitment
controversy:
From the London Morning Star, Mays
The counsel learned in the law who practise at the Mid
deseI sessions have trick which often passes current in
that court and instead of for the defence
When they have nothing better for prisoner they
plead his good character and traduce that the witnesses
against him. From the earliest days of his infancy they
declare that he has been remarkably distinguished for his
integrity and honesty; whilst upon the other side they
can only recognise rogues by BIRTH adoption and profess
son whose oahs be believed on any occasion
Whatsoever, and least Of all in opposition to the complete
lxIo.
The plea set up by Lord Clarendon behalf of Mr.
Champion Is precisely the plea Of the Mddesex sessions
All Lord Clarendon say for Mr. Champion Is that the
British ambassador Is very" respectable and that the
witnesses against him very unworthy Of belief
"Strobel and Hertz" the noble lord says are unworthy
Of credit impossible for her Masys TO
the assertions such these against the decara
tons of Mr. Crampton-a man of unquestionable honor"
Now If the assistant judge at the Mddlesex sessions came
to up this defence in the case Of pckpocket he
would probably such language the following
Gentlemen of the jury you have heard from the learned
counsel for the defence that the prisoner the bar has up
the present time borne character for unquestonabe
honor and he has srven show you that the witnesses
against him whose veraciy you cannot rely.
The relative credby Of the parties i Of course exclu
syey for your decision All can say n that there are on
this OCCASION two witnesses against the defendant who
shown be connected and who agree in their
tmony and regards Of them at any rate nothing
whatever has been adduced against him.
The jury in the United States, who charged some
what this effect did credit the testimony Of Strobe and
Hertz confirmed II by that Of other witnesses II was
after ana reNeW OF tound
verdict of guilty against the parties who acted under the
instructions Of the British minister To up in these
DAYS eight months after the verdict has been passed
of perjury against the witnesses for the prosecution
sort OF which confident would have
no weight with Lord Carendons colleague at the Home
Office II a mans life depended on 1t
Let us take that position. Suppose convict
cd and sentenced TO death suppose Sir George Grey
importuned to respite him the ground that he 80
very respectable and that the witnesses against him
unworthy Of belief: everybody knows what Sir George
Grey would do In few hours the applicants would re-
ceye an answer from Mr.. Waddington dated from the
Home Office april 30" informing them that the Secre-
tary Of saw reason in the face Of the verdict and
In the absence Of any recommendation from the Judge to
question the propety OF the judgment that passed
We should therefore be told that the law take its
course and probably this very Monday morning. the
sher Of London and the chaplain Of Newgate would be
assisting Jscketch under the orders Of Sir George Grey
in the despatch Of the miserable culprit
But in dealing with nations the government pursue
different from that which they take with regard to
ndvduals Their policy in the all the side
of execution in the other IL b all the side Of acquitta
One cannot but ask the meaning Of this Is there any
thing in the ground Had Mr. Champion any "pri
vate instructions which do appear upon the face
eghtyfour dispatches published by the government The
facts Of the case very remarkable that Ia Obliged
to conclude in the affirmative H0n the breaking out of
the war; says Lord Clarendon the British government
was informed that many persons resident hn hs United
States were DESTROYS of entering into the military service Of
Great Britain "They took steps avail themselves Of
this disposition" at was soon that persons
might do things at variance with the laws Of the United
States" Beng DESTROYS Of showing their respect for those
laws the government determined give up the further
prosecution of the arrangements and accordingly the
istmens stopped though not until after the mischief
was done.