Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-08

the Government here, then say that The Gov
eminent IN making their apology have en-.
deayored to palm off deception on this House
and the country for which they are responsible.
1t appears from the facts ELECTED in the course
OF the trial that one of the Witnesses had been
authorized By Mr., Champion TO act as re-
cruiting sergeant IN America, and had received
from Mr.. Champion paper which showed the
system OF deception practised.
Is anything more required to prove that Mr..
Champion knew the law, and took the means
to evade it, and that he was abetted therein By
the Governor of Nova Scotia and the Governor
General OF Canada? 1t appears to me that a
war between us aud the United States would
be war between brethern, the evils Of which
would surpass anything that could be imagined.
We are the only two great free nations at the
present time. and shall it be said that we can
not preserve peace between ourselves? We
had been led to believe that it was by ignor-
ance that breach of the municipal law Of the
United States had been committed by us, and
that Tor that breach we made every atonement
in our power; but could this House believe that
we committed the breach with our ewes open
and that when We made an apology we were
attempting to evade the laws of the United
States, which we promised to observe? II may
be said that these are statements made at a
| trial by persons who turned evidence against
their employers. That is true, will allow;
| nay, / allow that the report itself is dscredit
| to the United States. think it is, and will
| tell you why. Throughout the authorities show
| feeling of violent hatred to England hear,
| hear, and the defence Of the parties charged
| is entirely excluded from the report. In itself
that report is not worthy of any regard, but it
contains documents written by Mr.. Champion,
l,r -,
| contradicted, and. which in themselves prove
| the case against our Government.
| want to know distinctly what were the in
structions given to Mr.. Champion. 1t may he
said that he was told not to break the law, but
| want TO know whether he was told to enlist
men in the United States, because to tell a
man not to break the law. and in the next
breath 10 tel. him TO do something by which the
law will be broken l. nugatory. 1t is Il farce
an idle direction. not worthy of any man who
| pretends TO be man of sense and honor Mr..
Champion knew the law, as is proved BIZ his
own written statements; he knew that TO do
certain acts was to break the law, and he laid
plans by which he iancied the law could safely
be broken. He was aided in this by two high
functionaries-Sir Gaspard la Marchant aud
Sir Edmund Head, as well rs by Sir Joseph
Howe, gentleman of some celebrity in Nova
Scotia.
Sir Joseph Howe was sent to the United
States; by his Intervention, people were en-
ployed to break the law of the States and BY
his hands they were paid for so doing. After
| spending about 100000 he got together about
200 men, when he might have paid the same
number of thousands for half the money.
may be asked what good expect to derive from
this motion. Ministerial cheers ! perfectly
well understand that cheer. know whence it
proceeds aud what it means, and my ans wer is,
that wish TO obtain from the noble lord a
distinct answer to this question-was Mr..
Champion instructed, not simply not to break
the law, but not to do deeds by which the law
| would be broken
/ | wish further to draw forth an expression Of
opinion on the pant of members of this House,
| which shall show the people Of America that we
are no parties to these dishonorable proceedings.
| Opposition cheers. ] want this House, on the
part of the people OF this country, to say to our
brethren across the water that we sympathize
with them, that we rejoice in all their greatness
and good fortune, that we are running with them
the race of improvement as brethren, and not as
enemies, that we desire the good of humanity
and that We would work it out with their aid
but, that we feel that war with America would
retard the ad yancement of mankind for centuries,
and that war with any part of Europe would
sink into insignifcance compared with it.
do not like to plead my own ineffciency.
but still | cannot help wishing that some more
powerful persons had undertaken this question.
Ny heart is so bound mp in it. nv feelings are
so strongly enlisted in il, that feel am advo-
eating the rights Of humanity when am en-
deavoring to lay bare what ] conceive to be
the misconduct Of her Maiesty's Government in
regard TO the American people. The honorable
and learned gentleman concluded by moving
that copy Of Mr.. Champions instructions be
laid on the table.
Mr.. Hadield seconded the motion.
Lord Palmerston. The honorable and
learned gentleman who has made this motion
began by approaching and condemning her
Majesty's Government for not having either
mentioned our differences with America in the
Queens speech or laid on the table of this
house the papers especially connected with the
subject to which he has called the attention OF
the House.
Mr.. Roebuck. beg the noble lords pardon
did not find any fault with the Government
! simply pointed out that they had not done
what said.
Lord Palmerston. The honorable and
learned gentleman, am glad TO find, draws a
distinction between an assertion of what the
| hId uol uOs hUu VI
Of them for not doing il. He is very much in
the habit of animadverting on what the Govern
ment does not do, and trnst the House will
understand for the future that, when the hon
orable and learned gentleman recites the
omissions Of the Government, he does not mean
any censure thereby. Laughter.
] must remind the House that the American
Government did not think fit to lay before
Congress the correspondence relative TO thi,
question, and the same reasons which induced
the American Government to withhold the
correspondence in the present state Of the mat
ter we're thereasons which induced her Msiestyi
Government to pursue that course. Hear
hear. stated upon former occasion tina
her Majesty's Government had thought, until
few days before the meeting of Parliament, tba,
they would have been in condition TO lay tina
correspondence before Parliament, but tina
either the day preceding, or two days before
the commencement ofthe session, the American
minister at this court gave TO my noble friend
at the head ofthe foreign Office long dispatch
containing great variety Of statements md
assertions touching the conduct Of her Majesty
minister AT WASHINGTON and her Majesty