Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-06-26
It was. indeed, apprehended by

me at that time that violation OF
that law would ensue. It could not
fail to be seen that any organized
scheme ola foreign government to
draw recruits fro m the United States.
though by invitation, would necessa-
rily tend to, and result 10, violations
of the municipal law. So decided
was my belief in this respect. that
measures had already been taken
by me in behalf Of this government
las it happened upon the very day
Of the interview with Mr.. Champion
to institute prosecutions against
persons engaged in this business in
New York and Philadelphia. ]
then notified Mr.. Champion Of that
fact, as be expressly admits in the
report of that interview made to his
government.
An attempt is made to deduce an
an excuse for Mr.. Champions cours g
in the business of recruiting in this
country from the alleged fact that
be communicated to me on that occa-
sion the arrangements which had been
made for that purpose, and that l did
not disapprove them otherwise than
by insisting upon theobservanceo Of the
neutrality law Of United States. This
allegation is hardly consistent with Mr..
Champions own statement Of what
what then passed. In the defence
of his conduct recently sent by him
to his government, he makes admiss-
ions inconsistent with the allegation
that there was no concealment on his
part, and that the recruiting ar.
rangements were communicated to
me. He says that sit is perfectly
true that / did not enter into any
details of the means which were to
be adopted by her Majesty's govern
ment to render available the services
of those who rendered them to us in
such numbers. There seemed to be
obvious reason for abstaining from
this. even if it had occurred to me.
/ should have been unwilling to do
anything which might have borne the
appearance of engaging MIR. Marcy
in any expression of favor or appro-
baton of plan favoring the interests
Of one of the parties in the present
war. ALI could desire on his part
was neutrality and impartiality."
His reason for Withholding from
me the details of the system-the
most important part of it for this
goyernment-are not satisfactory.
If Mr.. Champion believed what he
was doing, or intended to do, in the
way of recruiting was right, he could
have no reluctance to communicate
it To me, for his instructions requi-
red him to make that disclosure.
Acting in due fankness, and with
proper regard for the dictates of
international comfy, Mr.. Champion
should, it would seem, have disclosed
to me all the measures intended to be
pursued within the United States by
the agents of his government, inclu-
ding himself, in the execut ion of the
act of Parliament for raising the For
eign Legion. Nay, he was expressly
commanded by his government to
practice 10 concealment with the Amer
lean government on the subject. If
he had obeyed these orders all mis-
understanding between the two gov
ernments would have been prevented.
Mr.. Champion was the more imper-
atively called upon to make full expla-
nations on the subjectn only because
he was commanded by his government
to do so, but for the further reason that,
Immediately after the breaking out
of the war between Great Britain and
France on the one hand and Russia
on the other, lie had, by an official
note addressed to me, invoked the
efforts of this government to enforce
upon the inhabitants of the country,
citizens or others, the necessity Of
observing the strictest, neutrality to
wards the beligerant parties, and
especially to enjoin upon them to
abstain from taking part in ornaments
for the service Of Russia, orin "any
other measure opposedto the dutiesof
strict neu1ality.'' To their application
the undersigned, by express direction
Of the President, replied, declaring
that the United States swhiIe claim
ing the full enjoyment Of their rights
as neutral power, will observe the
strictest neutrality towards each ani
Iall the belligerants." Reference wa