The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-04-09


Clarendon. IN regard to enlistments for the
Britislh army, was not carried on in the most
arniaole humor. Both gentlemen it's apparent
became nettled, and resolved to display then
skill With Che pen, as well as their acquaintance
with international law, and in one instance al
least the British minister employs language
/ that would be reprehensible and insulting even
/ ifaddressed By one gentleman to another. and
1 is therefore utterly inexcusable when used By
4 cabinet minister in a controversy with the of
i ticial representative Of another government
/ Lord Clarendon, in his letter, dated Sept. CT,
1856. says:
afHer najesty's government feel confident
I that even the extraordinary measures which
1 have been adopted in various parts Of the Uni
4 On til obtain evidence against her malesty's
servants. their agents, 6y practices sometimes
s-esgrted 10 under despotic installations. but arhich
ere dsdaiped By al free and enlightened gogesn-
aaeaats, will fail to establish any wel-founded
charge against her majesty's servants. :
1.-The United States profess neutrality in the
present war between the western powers and
Russia; bit have no acts been done within the
United States, BY citizens thereof, which ac-
cord little with the spirit of neutrality9 Have
not arms and ammunition, and Warlike stores oil
raIioas kinds, been sent in large quantities
from the United States for the service of Rus
/ sia9 Have not plots been openly avowed, and
teonspfracies entered into without disguise OF
hindrance. in various parts of the Union. to
take advantage of the war in which Great Bril-
tain is engaged. and to seize the opportunity
for promoting instruction in her majesty's do
Eanieas, and the invasion thereof by an armed
force proceeding from the United States?''
To these Insulting insinuations secretary Mar
cy, on The 1 sth October. replied as follows:
Lord Clarendon declares that the ssextraor
dinary' measures adopted TO obtain evidence
against her majesty's servants or their agents,
though sometimes resorted to under despotc
institutions, are disdained By all free and en-
lightened governments. This serious impu-
tation is accompanied with no specification, Or
even vague allusion to the condemned mea-
s,ires, nor is this government favored by his
lordship with any information to guide conjec-
ture as to his meaning.
1.-The only reply which can be made to an
allegation so exceedingly indefinite is, that this
government has authorised or used nc other
but ordinary and legitimate modes Of obtaining
evidence against British officers; nor has it any
reason 10 believe OF suspect that any persons,
with of without its countenance, have adopted
any measures whatever for obtaining such ey
idence. which would not find abundant sanction
in the established practice Of the administration
Of penal law il Great Britain. Its significant
fact, that on the trials in Philadelphia and New
York, iii which the accused were convicted for
being engaged in carrying ont the scheme of
recruitnents within the United States, no such
objection asthat BY which lord Clarendon would
fam set aside all the evidence as worthless was
or made to appear, though some Of
her majesty's officers were present at these tri-
ais, took deep interest in the defence of the I
criminals, and were directly implicated by the
proofs AZ participants in the offence.
sRepelling this charge eliminating 'despotic
institutions" and doing what is '.disdained by
all free and enlightened governments" tits
proper ~ remark that, if II were sustainable, 1
1t wouldinot warrant the conclusion which lord
Clarendon has deduced from it; which is, that
the evidsnse will fail to establish any we'll
foundedsicharge against her majesty's govern
ment' ~
LORD Clarendon must, Think, intend to be
understood as impeaching our neutrality in the
present war; though there appears to be some
in his language In commenting
upon so grave a charge, coming from SO re-
spectacle an authority, it's but fair to quote his
OWN words:
1.-The United States profess neutrality in the
present war between the western powers and
Russia; but have no acts been done within the
United States, bycitizens thereof. which accord
little with the spirit Of neutrality Have nott
arms and ammunition, and 8arlike stores Of va !
rious kinds, Been sent in large quantities from
he Unitsd States for the service Of Russia"
fItis certainly novel doctrine of interna-
.iona law, that traffic By citizens OF subjects Of
. neutral power with belligerents, though it
should b. in arms, ammunition, and Warlike !
stores, eempromits the neutrality of that power.
That the enterprise Of individuals, citizens Of
lie United States, may have led them in some
instances, and to a limited extent, to trade with !
Russia. III some OF the specified articles, is not
is it necessary that it should be, /
ior the purpose Of rindicating this government
rom the$eharge Of having disregarded the du-
les Of neutrality in tile present war.
Lord Clarendon is mostrespectfully askedto
ook on the other side Of the case. Have the |
citizens esf the United States had no traffic with
Great Britain, during the present war, in arms,
ammunition, and warlike 5stores2 1t must be
Known to: bis lordship, for it is a matter Of no
oriety, tHat oar citizens, in their character as
individuals. have rendered substantial aid to I
ooth England and France in the prosecution Of
lostilitiea against Russia. Though lord Cla- /
-endon may have mementarily forgotten, he
will readily call to mind the fact, that a large
number ctf our merchant ships have been en-
ragged, from the commencement of the war
Town to this time, in transporting troops and
munitions. of war for Great Britain, from Brit
sh ports lither in the United Kingdom or in the T
Mediterranean, to the Crimea; to say nothing
If the numerous American vessels employed in /
troops and munitions of war from
bio ports Of France.
eI.ord Clarendon further asks, "have mott
,lots been openly avoWed, and conspiraces en-
cred into without disguise or hndrance, in va
ious paris Of the Union, to take advantage Of
he war mi which GRAFT Britain is engaged and
9 seize THE opportunity fer promoting insurrec-
i