The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-02

ment. and resolved TO insist the rights of the
United States, vet actuated also by the same de-
sire, which is avowed by the British government,
to remove all causes Of serious misunderstanding
between the two nations associated by so many
ties of interest and kindred it has appeared tn me
proper not TO consider an amieable solution of the
controversy hopeless.
There is however, reason to apprehend, that,
with Great Britain In the actual occupation of the
disputed territories, and the treaty therefore pra.
tically null so far as regards rights this inter
national difficulty cannot long remain undeter-
mined, without involving in serious danger the
friendly relations. which It is the interest well
as the duty OF both countries to cherish and pre-
serve. II will afford me sincere qualification, If
future efforts shall result in the success anticipa
ted heretofore with more confidence than the as
pect OF the case permits me now to entertain
RECRUITMENT.
one other subject of discussion between the
United States and Great Britain has grown out of
the attempt which the exigences of the war in
which she Is engaged with Russia induced her 10
make, to draw recruits from the United States
1t is the traditional and settled policy of the Uni
ted States to maintain impartial neutrality during
the wars. which from time to time occur among the
great powers of the world. Performing all the dli-
ties of neutrality towards the respective bellge-
rent states, may reasonably expect them not to
interfere with our lawful enjoyment of its benefits
Notwithstanding the existence of such hostities,
citizens retain the individual right to continue
all their accustomed pursuits by land or by sea- at
this relation the laws of war; the usage of ma
tons, special treaties, may impose and it is our
sovereign right that territory and jurisdiction
shall not be invaded by either of the belligerent
parties for the transit of their armies the opera
tonS of fleets, the levy of troops for service, the
fitting out of cruisers by against either, any
other act or incident of war And these undenia-
BILE rights neutrality, individual national, the
United States will under no circumstances sur
render.
In pursuance of this policy the laws of the Uni
ted States do not forbid their citizens sell to e
ther vi the belligerant powers articles eontraband
OF war, or to take munitions Of war soldiers on
board their private ships for ansporaton; and al
though i'll so doing, the individual citizen exposes
his property person to some Of the hazards of
war, his acts do not involve any breach of nation
al ality, nor of themselves iIlpcate the gov
erElHent Thus, during the progress of the .pres-
cnl war il Europe, our citizens haze without
tIonal responsibility therefor sold guupowder and
arms to all buyers, regardless OF the destination of
those articles. Our merchantmen have been. aud
still continue to be, largely employed by Great
Britain and France, III Transporting troops, provi5-
ions, and munitions OF war TO the principal seat of
military operations, aud i'll bringing home their
sick aud wounded soldiers; but such use of our
merchantic marine Is not interdicted either by the
International or by our municipal law, and there
fore does not compromit our neutral relations with
Russia.
But our municipal law, in accordance with the
law of nations, pereptorily forbids, not only for
ClSucle Oui O"H CillHeuS, 10 lt OuL WlIOln the
limits OF the United States vessel to commit hos
tilities against any State with which the T. States
are at peace, or to increase the force of any for
eign armed vessel intended for such hostilities
against friendly State.
Whatever concern NAV have been felt by either
of the bellgerant powers lest private armed cruis-
or other vessels i'll the service of one might be
fitted out III the ports of this country to depFedate
Oh the property of the other all such fears have
proved to be utterly groundess. Our citizens have
been withheld from any such act or purpose by
good faith and by respect for the law.
While the laws of the Union are thus perempto-
ry in their prohibition of the equipment arma-
ment OF belligcrant cruisers i'll ports, they pro-
vide not less absolutely that no person shall with
in the territory or jurisdiction of the u. States en-.
list enter himself hire or retain another per-
son to enlist OF enter himself, or to so beyond the
limits jurisdiction of the United States with in
tent to be enlisted entered III the service of any
foreign State, either as soldier, as marine or
seaman on board of any vessel of war, letter of
marque or privateer. And these enactments are
also in strict conformity with the law of nations
WHICH declares that State has the right raise
troops for land or sea service in another State
without its consent. and that whether forbidden
by the municipal law or not, the very attempt to
do it without such consent is an attack on the ma
tiona sovereignty.
Such being the public rights and the municipal
laws of the United States no solicitude on the sub
ject was entertained by this government when, a
year since, the British Parliament passed an act
vice of Great Britain. Nothing on the face of the
act, in its public history, indicated that the Bri
tish government proposed to attempt recruiting in
the United States; nor did it ever give intmation
Of such intention to this government 1t was mat
ter of surprise, therefore, TO find. subsequently,
that the engagement of persons within the United
States to proceed to Halifax, in the British pro-
vince of Nova Scotia, and there enlist in the SER
vice of Great Britain, was going ON extensively,
with little or no disguise Ordinary legal steps
were Immediately taken to arrest and punish par
ties concerned, and so put an end to acts infring
ing the municipal law and derogatory to sove-
regGty. Meanwhile suitable representations on
the subject were addressed to the British govern
ment. ta-...
Thereupon it became known by the admission
of the British government itself, that the attempt
to draw recruits from this country originated with
it. at least had its approval and sanction but it
also appeared that the public agents engaged in it
had stringent instructions" not to violate the mu-
nicipal law of the United States.
II is difficult to understand how it should have
been supposed that troops could be raised here by
Great Britain, without violation of the municipal
law. The unmistakable object CT the law was to
prevent every such act, which, if performed, must
be either in violation of the law, or i'll studied
evasion of it, one in either alternative. the act
done would be alike injurious to the sovereignty
of the United States.
In the meantime the matter acquired additional
importance, by the reeruitments in the United
States not being discontinued, and the disclosure
Of the fact that they were prosecuted upon the sys
tematic plan devised by official authority; that re,
eruiting rendezvous had been opened in prin-
cps. cites, spd aepots for the reception of recruits
establshed oar frcS tier end the whole business
conducted under the supervision and by the regu-
lar cooperation of British officers, civil and militia
ry, some i'll the North American provinces, and
some in the United States The completely of
those officers in an undertaking which could only
be accomplished by defyng our laws, throwing
suspicion over attitude of neutrality, and dis
regarding our territorial rights, is conslusively
proved by the evidence elected the trial of such
OF their agents as have been apprehended and con-
victed Some OF the officers thus implicated are of
ligh official position, and many of them beyond
our jurisdeti9n, that legal proceedings could not
reach the source vi the mischief
These considerations, and thS fact that the cause
of complaint was not mere casual occurrence, but
deliberate design, entered upon with full knowl-
edge of our laws and national policy; and conduct
ed by responsible public funetonaries impelled me
TO present the case to the British government, in
order 10 seeure not only cessation of the wrong,
but Its reparatian The subject is still under dis
cnssion. the result Of which viii be communicated
to you In due time
l repeat the Recommendation submitted TO the
last Congress, that provision be made for the ap-
pointment OF commissioner in connection with
Great Britain, to survey and establish the boun-