Washington sentinel., 1856-05-24
UNITED STATES AND DENGLAND-THE
CHAMPION AFFAIR.

CHAMPION AFFAIR.
Additional correspondence in relation to The
Enlistment question and TO the recall of Mr.
Champion and the British Consnls at New
York, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati, has JUS
been published.
Our readers viii doubtless be interested in
the perusal of the following extract from the
letter of Lord Clarendon to Mr.. Dallas, dated
the thirtieth Of April last, and which sufficiently
explains itself without comment from us:
The real questions at issue between her Ma
iestys Government and that of the United
States, are, whether the British Government
ordered or contemplated any violation of the
neutrality laws Of the United States; whether,
if the British Government did not order or con-
template such violation, those laws were never
theess violated by persons acting with the
authority or appreciation of the British Govern
ment; and lastly, whether, If any violation OF
the law of the United States did take place,
sufficient satisfaction has been given to the
Government of that country.
In regard to the first point, the British Gov
erument neither ordered nor contemplated any
violation whatever Of the laws of the United
States, but, on the contrary issued the most
positive and repeated orders that those laws
should not be infringed by any persons acting
under their authority. !.
In regard to the second point, Mr.. Marcy
alleges that, Notwithstanding the orders of the
British Government, officers and agents of that
Government did, within the United States, do
things which were a violation of the neutrality
laws of the United States, and Mr.. Marcy spe-
cifcally makes this charge against Mr.. Cramp.
ton, her Majesty's Minister at Washington, and
against her Majesty's Consuls at Cincinnati,
Philadelphia, and New York.
With respect to Mr. Champion, the nuder-
signed has to state that Mr.. Champion posi-
lively and distinctly denies the charge brought
against him. He declares that he never hired,
or retained, or engaged single person within
the United States for the service OF her Majesty,
and that he never countenanced or encouraged
any violation of the law of the United States.
The charge brought against Mr. Champion is
mainly founded upon evidence given by Strobel
on the trial Of Herlz, and on the so-called con-
fesson of Hertz himself One of these persons,
Strobel, was, in consequence of his misconduct,
dismissed from employment by the Lieutenant
Governor of Nova Scotia at Halifax and after
wards applied to Mr.. Champion, and endeavor-
ed to extort money from him by threat, which
was of course disregarded.
The undersigned has the honor to transmit
as Enclosures to this note, documents which
sufficiently prove that both Strobel and Hertz
are wholly unworthy of credit. 1t is impossible
for her Majestys Government TO set the asser-
tions OF such men as these against the declara-
tion of Mr.. Champion, a man of unqaestion-
able honor.
The undersigned must, indeed, remark that
the whole proceeding in regard to the trial of
Hertz of such nature that, whilst her
Majesty's Minister and her Maiesty's Consuls
might be, and indeed were, nculpated by the
evidence ofuncrupulous witnesses, that Minister
and those Consuls had not any means or any
opportunity ofrebutting the charges which were
thus incidentally and indirectly brought against
them.
With regard to her Majesty's Consuls at Gin
cinnati, Philadelphia, and New York, they all
equally deny the charges which have been
brought against them, and they declare that
they have in no way whatever infringed the
laws OF the United States.
With respect to Mr.. Rowcroft, her Majesty
Consul at Cincinnati, the undersigned has to
observe that legal proceedings against that
gentleman are still pending. AS to the origin,
character, and nature of those proceedings, The
undersigned might have much to say; but, as
they are still pending, he abstains from doing
so. He must, however, be permitted TO remark
that 1t would, at all events be inconsistent with
the plainest principles of justice to assume as
established charges which are still the subject.
matter of judicial investigation.
The accusation against Mr.. Mathew, her
Najesty's Consul at Philadelphia, rests entirely
upon assertions made by Hertz. Those asser-
tions are positively denied by Mr.. Mathew;
and her Majesty's Government can scarcely
believe that the Government of the United
States with the knowledge which it will have
obtained of the character of Hertz, will hesitate
to concur with the Government OF her Majesty
in giving credit to Mr.. Mathew.
With respect to Mr.. Barclay, her Majesty IS
Consul at New York, he declares that he neither
favored the alleged recruiting nor participated
in it, nor was informed of the hiring, retaining,
or engaging any man for that purpose.
Her Majesty's Government cannot but ac-
cept the denial of these gentlemen as more
worthy of belief than the assertions and evidence
Of such men as Hertz and Strobel.
But Mr.. Marcy considers that-the conduct OF
Mr.. Barclay in the affair Of the barque "Maury"
ought to be an additional reason why her Maj
esty's Government should recall him. Upon
this the undersigned must observe that Mr..
Barclay received information on oath from per-
sons in the service of the United States leading
TO the belief that the barqne "Maury" was fit
ting out with designs hostile to British interests,
and at variance with the neutrality laws OF the
United States. 1t was Mr.. Barclays bounden
duty to communicate that information without
delay to her Maesty's Minister at Washington.
Mr.. Barclay did so, and his direct action in the
matter was then at an end. Mr.. Champion
submitted this information to the proper au-
thorities of the United States, in order that they
might determine what proceedings, if any, il
might be right to take thereupon. The officers
of the United States considered the pri,na fdcic
case against the "Maury" to be sufficient to
call for proceedings on their part. Such pro.
ceedings we're accordingly instituted by them,
and not by Mr.. Barclay, whose conduct in re.
gard to the Maury" was in strict performance
Of his duty, and received the approval of her
Majesty's Government.
With regard to the last point, the undersigned
must refer to the offers of satisfaction and to the
Explanations already made, and to the repeated
lexpression of the sincere regret Of her Maesty's
UGovernment, if contrary to their intentions and
Ito their reiterated directions, there has been any
III nfr nuamant nf ha lave Of tho TTn;tad G,o,oa