Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-20
Tho PrIvatssr Qu,stIOB iu tho BrilIsh Par

1
London papers;
Mr.. W. r. Foster asked the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs whether her Mdiesty's Gov
ernment would exercise the discretion which,
by the law Of nations, they possess to prevent
| privateers sailing under the as yet unrecog-
nized flag Of the so.cslled Southern Conted
eracy from bringing their prizes into any
| port Of her Mejestys dominion He added
that he did not ask this question with regard
| to privateers sailing under the flag of the
| United States, simply because he had no ex-
| pectation that any letters of marque would
be issued by the United States Government.
Lord John Russell-My answer may be
rather wider in extent than the question
which has been put to me. The whole mat.
ter has been considered by her Maesty's
Government, and il has been determined,
after consulting the law-officers of the Crown,
that orders should be given to interdict the
ships of war and privateers of both parties
from entering the ports and barbors of the
United Kingdom, or Of the colonies and de-
Tendencies of her Majesty with prizes. In
order to make the matter more clear, the
House will perhaps allow me to read an exs
tract from the dispatch which has been sent
to the lndis-office and to the Governors of
the colonies
"Her Msjesty's Government are, as you
are aware, desirous of observing the strict.
est neutrality in the contest between the
United States and the so styled Confederate
States of North America. With the view
more thoroughly to carry out that princi-
pie we purpose to interdict the armed ships.
and also the privateers, of both parties from
carrying prizes made by them into the ports,
harbors, roadsteads or waters of the United
| Kingdom or any of her Maiesty's colonies
or possessions abroad" Hear, hear.
The orders went out to the colonies on
Saturday last and they have gone to India
| to day. l may also state that we have dur
| ing the past week been in communication
with the French Government upon this
subject. / stated to the French Embassador
the view taken by her Msjesty's Govern
ment, and asked him what course the Gov.
eminent of France intended to pursue with
regard to this subject. The French Em0as-
sador has informed me that the French
| Government propose to act in conformity
with the existing law of France. That ex-
istiDg law is founded upon an ordinance
passed in the year 1881 and the rule is that
in case of a war in which France is neutral,
no privateers are allowed to bring their
prizes into the ports or harbors of France or
its dependencies for longer period than
twenty -four hours. They are not allowed to
sell the cargoes, or in any way to dispose of
the prizes which they have taken, and after
the twenty.tour hours have expired they are
obliged to leave the port. Therefore, the
course pursued by France is not very differ
ent from that which we intend to occupy.
Sir j. ParkiDgton--I see that it is stated 10
the papers of to day that the Government of
the United States have expressed their in
tention to recognize the declaration of Paris
in 1856. | wish to ask the noble lord at the
head of the Foreign Office whether her
Majesty's Government have received any
such intimation from the Government of the
United States, and, if so, what effect that
will have upon the policy which her Ma
jesty's Government have announced that it
is their intention to pursue with regard to
the belligerent rights of the Southern States.
Lord ]. Russell-The only answer which
| can give to the right honorable gentleman
is, that propositions have been sent to Amer
lea founded upon the declaration of Paris.
Those propositions were made in concert
with the French Government and are re-
stricted in concert with that Government.
We have not as yet received any answer to
those propositions. They have been gone, [
should think, fortnight, and expect soon
to receive some reply to them. Until that
answer is received, can not pledge the Gov.
ernment as to the course which they will
pursue.
Mr.. Liddell wished to ask the noble Lord
whether the course now proposed to be
adopted, of prohibiting the vessels of war
and privateers of both parties from bringing
pllHOo 1hlO bHO pOIlS VI lnc " HlI6u hlUEuOmt
was not different from that which had in
former times been pursued by this country.
Mr.. Hanley asked whether the law of
France, as stated by the noble Lord, applied
to the vessels Of States, or was confined to
privateers?
Lord J. Russell-I stated that that law is
applicable to privateers only.
Highly Important from Mexico Order Es-
tnblished.
On Thursday, May 8, the Mexican National
Convention was duly installed. President
Juarez on the occasion delivered a message
to that body, in which he reviewed at great
length the prominent events of the long
struggle which commenced with the suppress
sion of the Congress on the 18th OF Decem-
Der, 1857, and terminated with the triumph.
ant entry of the Constitutional army into
that capital on the 25th of December, 1860.
Passing from the review of the principal
features Of the period, previous to the final
victory, he says:
From that time there commenced for the
country and the Government an epoch filled
with difficulties and conflict. The struggle
was eDded-it was necessary to commence
work of reparation and reorganization. War
and oppression had disorganized everything.
Complications and difficulties only remained
in every branch of the public administration,
from the municipal institutions to the ex-
ternal relations of the country. The habit
of obedience has become so relaxed, and the
attributes of Office so confounded, during the
struggle, it appeared difficult to restore
national unity.
And, Notwithstanding all this, can say
with satisfaction, thanks to the good sense Of
the States and the msjority of our fellow
citizens, the difficulties which threatened,
either have not been presented, or if so have
gone on decreasing, aud the Federation is
now found compact, firm, united by the
cords of the Constitution, and disposed to
sustain the institutions and uphold the laws
originated by this august Assembly.
The foreign relations of the couutry pre-
sent great Complications, created by inaction,
which has brought upon US bitter evils that
may prove profitable lesson in the future.
The Government has found itself COM
PEELED to expel from the country the Span.
ish Ambassador, the Apostolic Delegate and
the Minister of Guatemala, for the part they
had taken in our civil discords, and the aid
they had given TO the rebel faction.
As TO the expulsion of the Apostolic Dele
gate there is no difficult question in that,
nor attack upon religious liberty. With the
temporal Government of Rome the Repub-
lie will maintain the same relations as with
OtneT powers anu Tue laws WHICH guarantee
liberty of conscience do not place any Oh.
stscle 10 the keeping up of free relations
with the head of their religion by Catholic
residents in the country, that is 80 far as
relates TO spiritual matters.
With the United States of America the
most cordial friendly relations have been
maintained since the American Government
recognized the Constitutional Government
of the Republic.
The President further says that all of the
States are busy organizing under the Con-
stitutional Government, and that the widest
liberty Of speech and the press, throughout
the Republic, has been secured.
TIE CONTRACTING OF THE GREAT SERPENT,