The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-01

hope 10 remove the impression from Lord Clarendon's
mind that my previous dispatches have manifested stone
OF hostility and have been framed in spirit ncompati-
ble with the duty which feel sensiby he con, of
maintaining friendly relations between the two countries.
lam quite certain that Lord Caendon is ofhe
serious Importance which the United States attach tile
question under dscusson otherwise he would not have
harshy characterized the conduct of the United States Off
GERS on whom the duty to suppress recruiting for the
British service deyolyed would he have freely
arraigned tile motives Of this government for requiring
some satisfaction for what it regards as grave national
wrong.
The variant views of the British government in relation
to recruiting for its armies within the United States render
the precise position it Intends to maintain somewhat
certain
To present the different aspects in which the two gov
ernments view the case and to show the for ds
senng from of the statements aud the main conc
sons contained in Lord Carendons despatch of the 10th
of November TO the prominent points appears
to be Indispensable.
The claim put forth in that despatch of the right of
foreign begcrent power to resort 10 the territories Of
neutral State recruit its armies and for that purpose
employ such he justifes raises OF the gra
vest international questions which can come under consd
Grafton If that right be conceded then any foreign power
usfably resort 10 for recruiting its armies
within the jurisdiction of this country almost coexten
sve with those which be employed by this govern
ment
Before adverng 10 the conduct of the officers and agents
of her MajesyS government in recruiting within the terri
tories of the United States it win be necessary only
to define our rights but to ascertain the precise limits of
British pretensions.
After the debatabe ground shall be clearly ascerNined
rover limits and the probability of amcable adjust
ment of the present difficulties increased
When the Parliament of Great Britain authorized for
eign ensens there was no apprehension here that the
United States would be resorted to for that purpose This
government had what regarded the of
her Maesy government that enIistmens in this country
would not be attempted by British authority unless notice
was given and its consent obtained
While the bill for foreign enlisments under
sideration in Parliament her Maestys ministers
warned against resorting to measure which would be
When the Duke of Newcastle her Maestys Secretary of
War; and member Of the cabinet introduced that bin
into the House of Lords be asked state from what
country the foreign legion to be Obtained and he
piled that the question could be answered until
muncaons had with foreign governments No such
communication has been made to this government
but the contrary much done here after the plan of
recruitment in full operation, to aay the suspicion
that the British government was in any wise connected
with it.
After her Maestys ministers to the determination
10 raise recruits within the United States it is much to be
regretted that their purpose together with the instructions
10 their agents not made known to this government
There il vague language used in the last despatch
OF Lord Clarendon which to imply that this had been
done built not positively asserted could be- The
first inmaon which reached this government that re-
cruing within the United States had the sanction Of Brit
h authority derived from the proceedings which had
taken place in executing the plan of enlistment The first
step taken by the British government any of lis officers
in communicating with that OF the United States the
subject which implied that the Brit
sh government not only had connexou WITH but aotu
ally dscountenanced the scheme recruiting the Brit
sh army although subsequently appeared that the pro-
ceedings supervised by British officers conducted
dated the 22d of March, addressed by M Champion the
British consul at New York and about that time read 10
shall have occasoT hereafter bring that letter
under particular consideration.
Without any notification from the British government
Of such intention IL would have been extremely iib-
era to indulge suspicion that her Majesys ministers or
officers had been unmindful of what due cour-
tesy a to authorize or even counenance the unendly
procedure Of sending agents into the United States raise
recruits for the British army The offenders against the
laws the United States were therefore treated as nd
sustained by its authority means but the judicial pre-
ceedngs against them disclosed facts which es-
blished completely Of her Naestys officers in the Brit
ish provinces in this scheme Of recruiting within the Uni
ted States
The step the progress Of events was the delivery
in May the Department Of State of copy Of despatch
from Lord Clarendon Mr. Cram pton dated the 18th Of
April last relating that subject This paper demands
special attention 1t conveyed the first distinct intnaon
that her Mnstys ministers bad given instructions for en-
stmens in the United States together with the fact that
to the British minister Mr. Champion, had been assigned
some duty in that service Lord Clarendon says to Mr.
Champion in that despatch q" entirely approve OF your
proceedings reported in your despatch No 81 OF the
l2th ult with respect TO the proposed enlistment n the
Queens service OF foreigners and British subjects n the Uni
ted States Thus IL brought light that the British
cabinet bad proposed enstmen in the United States and
had employed her Maiesys envoy extraordinary and min
lister penPotcnary accredited TO this government aid
in the undertaking When this despatch received at
this department Mr. Champion was n the British prov-
nces II had direct reference the enlistment for the
Queens Of foreigners and British subjects in the
United Sates The object 10 be accomplished was against
law; and il is difficult 20 conceive what one step Mr.
Champion could have taken In furtherance of Il without
putting at defiance Of Congress which prohibits 10
explicit terms and under heavy penalties such proceed
ing.
Being satisfied that the government Of Great Britain re-
cprocaed our friendly sentiments and that 1t would not
deliberately and desgnedy authorize proceedings within
the jurisdiction Of the United States in CONFIRMATION Of
their laws, this government disposed believe that
there bad been strange msapprehcnson the sub
ject by her Msjestys cabinet and that the nadvorrnt
msstep would be reraced perceived with
such explanations TO this government tie circumstances
OF the case seemed 10 require.
The closing part Of the despatch alluded 10 was inter.
preed indicating consciousness that the British minis
tes In authorizing enlisments in the United Stairs had
acted Mt first In utter ignorance Of The laws Of this coun-
try for Lord Clarendon gays "tbe law Of tho United
States with respect to ensments however conducted
ouy very just bot very stringent according 10 the re-
port which is enclosed in your Mr Cramptous despatch
and her hajesys government would no account run
any risk Of infringing this law Of the United States But
that rsk would be inevitably IL the design should
he pursued 1t was expected that the original scheme of re-
cruitng within the United States would be promptly aud
wholly abandoned. ".
After the lapse of time this government discovered
that II bad looked with mistaken confidence to a result
much desired. Throughout the months OF April May
and June the business Of recruitment proceeded upon
wider field and with increased vgor IL was extended TO
regions which IL had hitherto reached the efforts of
magistrates and tribunals scarcely checked but could
not arrest III and proofs daily brought out which
show that the recruiting business derived vitality and
erpy from the countenance and means afforded by her
Maicsys officers resident in the United States and ia the
adjoining British provinces.
To arrest the evil appeal to the British government
unpleasant as such step was, became necessary and in
slz.E 1 NaNt aE 1YW.