The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-06-17
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Tncsday NIernins. Jnne NJ. 1856.
Important Debate on American AZ
fairs in the British Parliament

In the House of Lords the 27th uit the Earl
OF Elgin moved for returns of dispatches to the
Governor and Lieutenant Governors of the Brit
ish North American colonies, on the military es-
punishment to be maintained in them, and copy
OF the report OF the Commissioners appointed in
le5i 10 inquire into the best means of organizing
the militia Of Canada and providing an efficient
and economical means of defence for the colony
lie did not wish to embarrsss the Governme ent
by the motion but he thought the rumor that
lo,Voo troops were 10 be sent to Canada was likely
to create an uneasy feeling ia the United States
and induce Congress to adopt measures of precau
tion and defence that would still further compli-
cate the present relations of England and America
he deplored the opinion. now gaining too much
ground among us, that there was a strong hostile
feeling against England on the part of the Ameri-
cans generally. That enmity to England was felt
aad expressed more by foreigners the refugees
and emgrants from Great Britain, disgraced
rather the land of their birth than that of their
adoption.
All the better class of Americans were anima.
ted by kindly feelings to this country; and there
never was time when the interests of the two ma
tions ere more closely hound together He there
fore deeply deplored the continuance of the en-
lstment controversy between the two Govern
ments AS to the questions connected with Cen
tral America, 1t was the interest of this country
maintain the independence of those States but the
government had put the most restrictive interpre-
tation on the Clayton Bulwer Treaty; it insisted
that the parties to it might continue to exercise
right of protection in Central America and he
feared the arguments of so doing might be turned
against themselves. Reverting to the proposed
increase of the military force in Canada, he con-
tended that the reduction of the number of troops
there was not caused by the Russian war it was
the result OF policy deliberately adopted to re-
HeYe the Home Government of expense, and, to a
certain degree to excite a military spirit in the
colonists themselves This policy had been most
successful He would not oppose increase in
the military force in Canada provided there was
distinct understanding that it for imperial pur
poses only, and not colonial measure, or not in
tended to supersede the colonial militia.
The Earl of Clarendon-My Lords, am anxious
to make some observations on the early part of the
speech of the noble Earl, but they shall be very
few, because am deeply convinced of the incon-
venience-and possibly the danger-of such dis.
cussion at the present moment. Hear hear J.
idaeed so deeply am 1 convinced of this, that l
shall refrain from making even single observa
tion on several remarks which fell from the noble
Earl, and which / heard with regret; but still
am so anxious that there should be no mistake az
to the feelings of Her Majesty Government with
respect TO the United States, as to the policy
which they have pursued, and which they will
continue TO pursue, that / must address few
words to your Lordships And, my Lords, will,
in the first place, say that, as far as / myself am
concerned-and speak also in the name of all
the members of Her Majesty's Governmental do
not believe there can be the slightest doubt of my
and their desire to maintain unimpaired the clo-
sest the most cordial, and the most sincere rela-
tions with the United States Cheers believe
no men can be more convinced than we are, both
OF our interest and our duty to maintain those
friendly relations with the American Government
and people, and as far as l am concerned. having
filed the office of Foreign Secretary for some
wears, can conscentiousy AFFIRM that neither
by word nor by deed has anything been done
which could create just cause of irritation be-
tween the two countries. lCheers The noble
Lord has alluded to the two points of difference
between the United States and Great Britain, viz:
the question of the recruitment and the question
of Central America. With regard to the recruit
ment, that question entirely arose from proposals
made to us with respect to persons desrous OF en-
tering into the Queens service. We did not even
contemplate accepting any of those offers without
due reference to the neutrality laws of the United
States which entirely agree with the noble Lord,
it is much our interest and duty 20 uphold as il
can be those of the United States themselves -
Hear, hear 1t is not our duty, indeed, to en-
croach upon the laws of any other country; but we
have an interest," British interest-in the neu-
trsty laws of the United States being maintained.
The maintenance, therefore, of those laws was eur
first thought as they constituted the principal part
of our instructions; and the moment we ascertain
ed that the recruitment could not be carried on
without the danger-not on the part OF our own
agents, but of persons who assumed TO be our
agents-of violating the neutrality laws OF the
United States, we agreed to relinquish the whole
scheme. Your Lordshps have seen from the pa
pers which have been laid on the table, that there
is nothing which could be expected from one ma
ton t0wa ards another, from one gentleman towards
another, that we have not done or offered TO do,
in order to afford reparation TO the United States
for any offence-however unintentional on our
part-which they can conceive has been commit
ted. Hear
Ny Lords, the last dispatch that was written on
this subject, which was resume OF the whole mat
ter in answer to the long dispatch of Mr.. Marcy,
can hardly yet have reached the United States;
and therefore upon the question of the recruitment
am exceedingly anxious not to say any more at
present But as far as have been able to aseer.
tain what are the impressions which that dispatch
has produced in this country. think the general
opinion is that have offered complete satisfac-
tiOn to the Government of the United States ana
that the only thing which we certainly have hot
done has been to reca all Mr. Champion and the Con.
suls, because we do not think they have merited
that censure and that punishment tCheers =
There would have been no shortcoming on the
part of Her Majestys Government If we had seen
son to adopt contrary course, or no hesitation
to deal erely with any agent who should so far
have forgotten his duty and been so unmindfui OF
his instructions TO violate the laws OF the nled
States but being convinced that that had not been
done and having in our possession the means OF
proving to the United States that it not done,
think nobody will require of US to sacrifice our
agents and to purchase a conciiiation with the
United States by doing that which would be both
shabby and dishonorable. Cheers
With regard to the Central American question,
your Lordships know what were the terms OF the
CLAYTON Bulwer treaty. think II Impossible tnat
language could be more clear or more precise IN
its meaning than the language employed in that
instrument (Hear hear) The treaty sets forth
that there should not be in future any colon "a
ton. any occupation, any fortifying or strength
ening of places not already in the possession OF
either country / do not see how there can be
two interpretations of its terms. 1t was intended
for a specific obect-frst the construction OF
canal and then its maintenance tree for the use
OF the world prohibiting any encroachment on
the part of the United States and Great Britain,
which were the contracting and guaranteeing
parties; but all its provisions were prospective,
and there is certainly nothing in 1t which implies
that we were to give up Honduras and Ruaton,
or to evacuate or alter position in any respect
from what 1t was before the conclusion Ut the trea
ty. 1t is impossible that the very able man-Sir
Henry Bulwer-who negotiated the treaty ON the
part of Great Britain, could have taken upon him
self. without instructions-eyen without the
knowledge of the government--to abandon any
portion of British territory or British interests;
and so far from having done anything of that sort
he made a stringent proyiso, which was acknowl-
edged by SIR Clayton. that the treaty should not
touch Honduras or affect any OF its Dependencies
(Hear)
When Mr. Buchanan came over to this country
we heard for the first time that there was An en-
tirely new interpretat ton TO be put upon the trea
ty. twas no longer to be looked upon as a pros
neetiys arrangement, but one for the evacuation
r. md vxa told that