Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-28
THE RAJ TgMAN'S JOURNAL.
THE cRAnproH DIFFICULTY.

recall Mr.. Champion in accordance with an Oh
fetal request from our government, 1t was de-
terminci at Washington to dismiss him. A
reply to Mr. Marcys demand having, however
reached Washington on the m orning Of the day
on which Mr.. Champion was to be dismissed,
the subject was laid over for the time being.
On the 21st, the President communicated to
the Senate, additional documents relative to
the British recruitments, and wholly involving
the question of veracity between Mr.. Buchan-
an and Lord Palmerston. Mr.. Buchanan
charges that Lord Palmerston, while refusing
to lay on the table of the House of Commons
the correspondence on th at subject, stated
such facts only as favored his own side, and
entirely suppressed the reasons on which our
demand for the recall of Mr.. Champion and
the British Consuls were founded.
Mr.. Buchanan also says that Lord PalElerston
was not justified in stating on that occasion,
that he (Buchanan) had expressed himself sat
isfied with Lord Clarendon's explanation, con
tanned in his note of the 10Th of July last, and
that Mr.. Buchanan said he felt confident that
our Government would entertain similar feel
ings with regard to it. Mr.. Buchanan denies
that he ever SO intimated. He had merely OBJ
served to Lord Palmerston that he would have
much satisfaction in transmitting that note to
the Secretary of State. Lord Palmerston,
replying through Lord Clarendon, fails TO be
an essential difference between the substance
and the effect of what was said in the House
of Commons and Mr.. Buchanan's statement.
Finally Mr. Buchanan, under date of March
7th, says to Mr.. Marcy-HYou must believe
with me that the last effort of Lord Palmer
ston to extricatc himself from the dilemma,
has served to make the awkwarducss Of his
position still more conspicuous.
The reply of Lord Clarendon, dated April
30th to Mr.. Marcy, thus concludes-s.Thc un-
dersigned has now had the satisfaction of com
municating to the Government of the United
States, the statements and declarations of her
AJesty's Minister at Washington, and of her
Majesty's Consus at Cincinnati, Philadelphia
and New York, as to the conduct imputed to
them.
The Government of the United States had
been led to suppose that the law and sover-
eign rights of the people of the United States
had not been respected by Her Majesty's
Government, and relying upon the evidence
deemed to be trustworthy, they believed that
the law and those rights had been intringed
by British agents. If such had been the case,
the Government of the United States would
have been entitled to demand, and Her Majcs-
tvs Government would not have hestated to
afford the most ample satisfaction, for no dis
credit can attach to the frank admission and
complete reparation Of an unquestionabe
wrong.
Her Majesty's Government, however, unc-
quIvocaly disclaim any intention either to in
fringe the law or todisregard the policy, or not
to respect the sovereign rights of the United
States, and the Government OF the United
States viii soon, for the first time, learn that
Her Majesty,s Minister at Washington, and
Her Majesty's Consuls at Cincinnati, Philadel-
phia, and New York, solemnly affirm that they
have not committed any of the acts that have
been imputed to them. The Government of
the United States will now also for the first
time have an opportunity of weighing the
declarations of four gentlemen of unimpeached
honor and integrity, against evidence upon
which no reliance ought to be placed. The
undersigned cannot but express the earnest
hope of Her Majesty's Government that these
explanations and assurances may prove salts
factory to the Government of the United
States, and effectually remove any misappre-
henSion which may have hitherto existed, ard
he cannot doubt that such a result will afford
as much pleasure to the Government of the
United States, as TO that Of her Majesty, by
putting au end to the difference which has
been deeply regretted by her Majesty's Gov
ernment, for there are no two countries which
are bound by stronger ties, or by higher con-
sideratious, than the United States and Great
Britain, to maintain unbroken, the relations Of
perfect cordiality and friendship.
''The undersigned, etc.,
s'CLARENDoN."