The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-30

His moral and lis legal responsibility are thus demon
strated. With full information Of the srlngeney OF me
laws OF the United States against foreign recruiting with
distinct perception Of its being all but Impossible 70 raise
recruits here without infringing the laws and with
knowledge OF the condemnatory judicial Psoeeeahgs o.
April and May at New York and Philadelphia yet he per-
sisted in carrying the scheme until August when us oo-
snae prosecution had at length brought ON most I'M
pleasant controversy between the United States and Great
Bran And il Is not the least Of the OF complaint
against Mr. CHAMPION that by his acts OF commission In
this business failing TO advise his government OF the
impracueabty OF the undertaking in which be was en-
barked and the series Of illegal acts which IL involved
and negecng observe the general orders OF his gov
ernmen aud stop the recruiting here the moment It's IL
legality pronounced by the proper legal authorities OF
the United States be ecklessy endangerng the har
mony and peace of two great nations, which by the
character Of their commercial relations and by other con-
sideraons have the strongest possible inducements TO
cultivate reciprocal amity.
conduct OF the British consus at New York, philadelphia,
and Cincinnati Though of subordinate Official character,
they not less responsible than Mr. Champion. The
continuous violation OF the law proceeded within their re-
specve consuates month after month under their eyes
not only without any apparent effort their part 10 stop
but with less Of their active participation there
in The consulate New York appears to have been the
point at which the largest expenditures We're made and II
proved by documents herewith transmitted that pay
mens that consular Office TO some OF the recruiting
agents continued be made by the secretary Of the con-
sui and in the consus presence from time 10 time down
| 10 the beginning OF January OF the present year.
The President as has already been stated by me- cannot
admit the force OF the objection urged OF alleged want
whom these facts proved and as TO whom promi-
Of such alleged want OF responsibility seems TO
be the fact that their evidence has ncupaed their accom-
pces in the violation Of law. The testimony which most
directly inculpates the British consul at New York. as will
be perceived by the enclosures herewith in the adavs
of the very persons relied by her Magstys government
for proofs in this case and whose deposons accompany
| Lord Carendon's note to you of the 30h of April
The Earl of Clarendon perfectly well understands that
in Great Britain well in the United States, u would
be impossible to administer penal justice without OCCASION
ally receiving the evidence ofnccompces In Great Britain
only is evidence of this class received continually In
State trials well in inferior matters but rewards and
other special inducements held out to such witnesses
by not few provisions of acts OF Parliament The com
potency of such persons witnesses in given case and
their crediby, are in both countries questions upon
which the and jury in their respective spheres OF u
rsdicon ultimately pass In the present case conclu-
sons have been established documentary proofs and
other unmpeachnbe evidence by proceedings before the
proper tribunals Of the United States by the verdcts of
uries and by the rulings of judges which must be held as
| final in the estimation OF the President
The Earl of Clarendon suggests as consideration per-
tnent to this question: that the munster and consus had
opportunity of rebui'ng the charges thus in
directly brought against them in the trial of the inferior
recruiting agents.
In regard 10 the consuls the Earl of Clarendon in
supposng that they had full and opportunity
if they saw fit 10 appear and to confront and contradict
any accusing WITNESSES
They allowed to interfere in the trials by
letters written for the OCCASION which, indeed they could
not have done lawfully had there been no such prohbi-
ton but conscious Of their Innocence and that OF
the parties trial. and that their acts would bear
examination it alike their duty and their right to APP
pear and say OATH and to contradict by their est-
mony whatever alleged against British officers or
j agents if known TO them to be untrue
Nor is it any just of complaint that evidence was
received upon these trials impugung the acts OF Mr..
Cranpton Ii was in the due of proceedings re-
CURED to be shown against the parties on trial. that the
ecruiments in which they engaged for the ser
vice OF foreign government Mr.. Champion was himself
privileged from trial for violation of the municipal law
but the persons whom he employed not for that cause
to 90 unpunished nor was the administration Of penal
justice to be indefinitely suspended account of his po
siton and the diplomatic immuntes which that confer
red On the contrary it peculiarly proper that the
facts by which he implicated but for which he could
not be tried should be verified in due form OF law for the
Information OF his own government as well as that OF the
United States.
The Earl of Clarendon remarks in bis letter of the 3Ot
! Of April that
"Ihe intentions of the British government and the
engagements made to carry those intentions into execution
were not concealed from the government Of the United
4 States
@Those intentions and arrangements frankly stated
by Mr. Champion to Mr. Marcy 10 conversation on the
22d OF March 1885, and the only observations which Mr.
Marcy made in reply were that the neutrality laws OF The
United States would be rgidly enforced, but that any
number Of persons who desired II might leave the United
States and get enlisted in any foreign service"
Il Ii Is incumbent TO say that in this respect the
Eaf of Clarendon abors under serious misrepresentation
which, while it serves in part 10 explain how happened
that the enlismens went for SO many months in man
ner contrary 10 the intentions and express orders OF the
British government also increase the weight OF
H Mr.. Champions responsibility in this respect
lTepeat with eure ofts accuracy what
stated In my letter of the 18th Of December Lasts that at
that interview Ton the 22i OF March the only
bad with Mr. O. as be admits In which the recruitment
business alluded TOY "be Mr. Champion had satisfied
me that bis government had cOnne1ion with H. and
was In way responsible for what doing in the Uu-
ted States TO raise recruits for the British army" But
quite certain that occasion has he intimated TO
that the British government or any Of It's officers was
or bad been in any way concerned In sending agents into
the United Status 10 recruit therein, to any induce
mens for that purpose did he notify that he
was tking intended TO take any part IN frlhering
such proceedings. Such computation timely made
would probably have arrested the mischief at its CON-
mencement"
IT he had then apprzed me OF the system Of recruiting
which had at that time been already arranged aud put in
operation within the United States by British agents and
under his experimenting direction he would have been
promptly notified, 10 the most positive terms that such
acts were contrary to the municipal law, incompatible
with the neutral policy Of the country violation Of ia
national Sovereignty, and especially exceptonabe 10 the
rerson OF tho representative OF any foreign
Mr. Champion admits that specially warned him against
the violation OF neutrality laws but blames
for not then stating him that my construction OF that
law differed from his own; but snch difference o
opinion was then developed Mr. CHAMPION that SEGA.
sion manifested coincidence In the opinion rs 10 the
provisions Of that law which then held and have
fully disclosed. lie called upon TO show letter
which he had written that day 10 the consul at New
York. disappearing the proceedings of Mr. Angus Nc.
Donald because fhe thought those proceedings would
or might lie taken to constitute violation Of the act
lsls'--the neutrality law Of the United States. What
were the proceedings Of Mr.. Mcdonald which Mr.
Champion thought might constitute violation e
4 our neutrality The simple issuing Of hsnd-bil
specifying the terms which recruits would he
ceved at Halifax into the Queens service. This opinion
Of Mr. Champion sscrbes much stiingency
rsy acts as has been claimed for them by the gov
-