Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-06-06
THE UNIFIED sTATEs AVID ENGLAND.


mIssal of MIR. Champion.
The President yesterday communicated to Congress
the following important documents concerning our
relations with England
Mr. Marcy to- Mr.. Dallas.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
| Washington, May 9th, 1856.
SIR The President has carefully considered the
note of the 30h ult, addressed to you by the Earl
of Clarendon, Her Majestys principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, relative to the questions
which have arisen between this government and
that of Great Britain on the subject of recruiting
within the United States for the British Army; and
directed me to present you his views thereon, for the
purpose of having them made known to Her Males
! ty's Government
He has been much gratifed by the conca,ory
spirit of tina, note anu by the desire manifested by
the Eal of Clarendon 10 adjust the existing difficult
ties and preserve and strengthen the friendly relations
between the United States and Great Britain. The
vast interests which the people of this Country, and
both counties have in uphoding and cherishing such
relations cannot solemnly be impressed upon her
Majesty's government than they upon that of the
| United States.
The unequvocal disclaimer of Her Maiesthy's
government of any intention either to infringe the law
or disregard the policy not respect the sovereign
rights of the United States, and their expression of
regret if contrary TO their intentions and to their re-
iterated directions, there has been any infringement
of the laws of the United States are satisfactory to
the President. The grounds of complaint, so far as
| removed.
But the President extremely regrets that he cannot
concur in Lord Carendon's favorable opinion of the
conduct of of Her Majesty's officers, who were,
as this government believed, and after due consdera-
ton of all which has been offered in their defence
still believes, implicated in proceedings which were
so clearly infringement of the laws and sovereign
rights OF this country In respect to such of these
officers and agents as have connection with this
government, it has nothing to ask from that of Her
Majesty. BIT the case is different in relation to Mr.
rOl 11nf0 Ma1oc
Minister PIenipotentary to this government and the
COnsuls at New York, Philadelphia and Cincinnati
The President is gratifed to perceive that Her Ma
Jesys government would not have hesated TO COM
ply with the request 10 withdraw these officers from
their official positions, if ii had entertained the views
here taken of their conduct regard TO recruiting
contrary to the laws and sovereign rights of the Uni
ted States. scarcely need say that in making this
request interruption of the diplomatic relations
between this government and that Of Great Britain
anticipated, but, the contrary, the President
was and is, sincerely desrous to keep them upon the
most friendly footing
Mr.. Champions withdrawal was asked for express
ly upon the ground that his connection with that af-
fair, in raising recruits in this country for the Brit
ish service has rendered him an unacceptable repre-
sentative of Her Britanc Majesty near this govern
ment. For the same reason this withdrawal of the
three British Consuls was also requested
These officers were, this government confidently
believes, deeply implicated ill proceedings contrary
|
and contrary, IS it now appears to the intentions
and reiterated instructions of their own government
1t was their personal acts, certainly not the less
Objectionable for having been done contrary to the
directions Of Her Majestys minister, which rendered
them, in their official characters and position unac.
cepable to this government, and induced the Presi-
dent for that to solicit their recall believing
that by this course he contributing to the com.
mon interests and harmony of the two governments |
He has not, after the most mature elaboration
hoap OIL TO- hJnpn Uin of
he cannot therefore change his purpose in relation
to them. Though their conduct related to- and in
fact originated in, difficulty which disturbed the
cordial harmony and good understanding between
the two countries II constituted decided objection
to them of personal character, which loses none of
its force by the satisfactory adjustment Of the diff
Guilty.
The embarrassment which attends the case is the
difference of opinion between the two governments
the completely of these officers in illegal pro-
Ceedngs in the United States. In reviewing this
subject, the President disposed to avail himself
of any reasonable doubts which could be raised in
his mind in order TO bring his opinion, in this re-
spect, into conformity with that tf her Maiestv's
government. But after careful consideration of
the case, he has been unable to change the conclu-
sion to which he had previously arrived. The differ.
of opinion may be in some degree ascribed TO a
difference in the views of the governments in respect
to the neutrality laws and sovereign rights of this
country.
1t is not proposed, however, to continue the dis
cussion that subject. The conclusions of the Pre-
sident, stated in my despatch of the 28th of Deem
Der your predecessor in regadto the construction
of that law, and the character and extent of those
rights, remain unchanged, and he cannot forego tn
duty of using all proper means to vindicate them
The main of this difference of opinion is the
different appreciation of the proofs by viii CHI the
charges against her diplomatic representative and
consuIs are sustained.
Lord Clarendon asks this government to regard the
bare declarations of these officers as of sufficient
weight to counterval evidence against them Their
denias presented in his despatch of the SOth of
April and that is all which has been communicated
to this government this subject, and seems TO be
special and does not traverse all the allegations
against them. They deny that they have infrnged
neutrality laws by enlistlng persons within the
United States for the British service or hiring or re-
tanning persons to leave the United States tor the
purpose Of being enlisted in that service. {
The charges against them much broader and
embrace the offence of violating the laws and sover
eign rights of the United States by setting in opera
ton within territory and conducting an exten.
sve system Of recruiting which was not and could
not be carried into effect without infringing our laws
and rights; by employing numerous agents to en-
gage persons for recunary other considerations 10
leave the United States for the express purpose of en-
terlng into the British army and by keeping those
agents in this employment after it was well known
they were constantly infringing laws. The de-
NAL OF the implicated officers only covers part of the
delnquences imputed to them. But combining the 9
e1culpatory declaration to the simple charge of hav
ing violated the provisions of our neutrality acts #
does melit the consideration which Lord Claren
don has ascrbed 10 it. By adopting Lord Clarendon's
construction OF our neutrality law contained in his
note OF the 10th of November, which renders il al
most nugatory, and Is contrary that of this govern