Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-05-28
English views on the American question.
OnRAT BRITAIN,

English views on the American Question. :
GRgAT BRITAIN.
In tho House OF Compton on the evening of
the 9Th. Mr.. Gregory said that, in consequence
of the news which hud arrived from America
since lie had given notice of his question, he had
been obliged TO alter its wording. Mr.. Lincoln
had proclaimed a blockade of the potts of the
seyeu conf, deratcd States, and therefore it was
necessary to ask question with regard to two
other States, which were in an attitude of hos
tility to the United States although they did not
belong TO the south. lie Ind 10 ask the noble
Lord the Foreign Secretary
LIST Whether any attempt of the government
OF the United States to levy Federal duties of
foreign vessels outside the ports of North Caro-
Ina aud Virginia before such vessels break bulk |
would not he an infringement Of international
law, md, II so, whether our Minister at Wash |
iugton had received Instructions 10 that effect
III Whether the government Of the United States
had been informed that blockade of any port
of the southern confederated States, unless ef-
feclive, will not be recognized? 81. The govern
ment Of the United States having refused to
renquish the bellgerent right Of issuing letters
Of marque, the seven southern cOniederated and
sovereign States having become to the United
States a separate and independent and foreign
power, whether her Majesty government re-
coguizes the ght OF the President of the southern
coniederary to Issue letters of marque, and il
So, whether our Minister at Washington had been
notified to that effect (iIear, hear
VIEWS OF LORD JOHN BussELL
Lord J. Russoll-ln regard to the honorable
gentlemau's first question, | have to say that
having consulted the Quepu's Advocate with
respect to Federal duties to be levied outsids the
ports vi North Carolina and Virginia, he stated
to me that the answer TO such question must
depend entirely upon the circumstances of tue
case, and that it could not at all DO declared
beforehand whether such an attempt to levy lu-
ties would be according contrary to interna-
tional law. Ofcourse 10 instructions on the sub
iect have been sent to her Alnjssly's Minis'cr at
Washington but Lord Lyons is Of opinion that
such nu intention would be found impraclicahle
and would not be likely to be effective. (ienr,
bear With respect to the honorable gentleman
second question, whether the United States 20,
yernment have heel Informed that blockade Of
any port Of the southern confederacy unless il
were effective would not be recognized, certain
~ have not felt it necessary to give any iustrlc
tons TO our Minister On that subject
1t is we'll known 10 Lord Lyons. and it Ger
tninly has been declared law by the United State
that no blockade could he recognized or deeme,
valid unless it were an affective blockade, (bear
j. hear.) ard have no dOubt that there would b.
- no difference between her Majesty's government
o md the government of the United $ ates On thu
g point With regard to the hon. mtmbrr's mex
x question: as to tue belligerent right of isluinl
, letters of marque, must, in the first PLACE, wai
- Tor more explanation, aud in the second plac
u reserve part Of the answer which have to give
With respect to beigerent rights in the cas-
= OF certain portions of State beng in Insured
u ton, there vas a precedent which seems apple
u able for ,his purpose in the year 1926 TIL
" British government AZ that time allowed III
- begereut rights Of the Provisional GOvernmeu
= Of Greece, and in consequence OF that alowanc
~ the Turkish government mnde femuustrauc,
"a | may state the nature Of that remousirance. an
~ the reply OF Mr.. Canning: "1he Turkish govern
u ment complained that the British goveTnmei
III allowed TO the Greeks Il belligerent character
II. and observed that it appeared to forget that
= subjects in rebellion national character coul
y, properly belong But the British goveinmct
~ iDiOrmel MI. Stratiotd Canning TINT 1.-THE cha
~ acter of belligereuts was not so much ptincp
as fact; that certain degree of force au
g consistency acquired by any mass of poop
u engaged in war, entitled that population to |
ho treated as helligeremt, and even ii their title WEI
10 questionable, rendered it the interest well unde
IT, stood Of all civilized nations so as to treat them
ea for what was the alternative?
IN "A Power or a community (call it which "
rs willy, which was at war with another, and viii,
81 covered the sea with its cruisers, must either
w acknowledged as n beligerent or dealt with NJ
Il pirates" which latter character, us applied
VI the Greeks, WIS loudly discaimed In n srDirn
dispatch Of the same date (l2th of Octobc
Tn 1920, Nh. 5. Canning was reminded that VIII,
the British government Acknowledged the rig
np of either begerent to visit and detain Brit
y. merchant vessels having enemy's property
Is board, and to confscatc such property, it "
necessarily implied as condition Of such Il
knowedgment that the detention was for Il
nu purpose Of bringing the vessels detained beft
ns an established Court of Prize, and that oonfsc
'n- ton did not take place until after condemuat
~ by such competent tribunal.
i'e The question has been under the considerable
, of the government They have consulted the Ia
nc officers of the Crown The Attorney and Soil,
''u tor General mud the Queens Advocate and &
~ ~ government have come to the opinion that 1
'"' southern contederaey Of Amerioa, according
those principles which seem to them to be il
III III principles must be treated as beligereni.
~ (llear, hcar) But further questions arise o
&c" Of that question, with respect to which we a
still in doubt as what are the alterations viii
wv are to he made in the law Of nations in cons
yer qucncc Of the declarations Of Paris; aud tho
u. questions being Of II difficult and Intricate IL
i"' ture have not yet been determined upon TIL
wy are still under the consideration of the Cover
mtnt, and will be still further under consider
Vu ton before any declaration is made to otl
Vi Powers. Qlelr, hear)
In the House of Commons on the following da
r. (the fth) in the course Of debate upon the par
Ter duties
~ Mr.. Bentinck said that he had put quesli
NY to the noble lord at the head Of the goyernmei
rr to which lie had obtained no answer, probnl
,"e owing to the abrupt conclusion of the deba
" That question be would now repeat Since Oh
'on had lately discussed tho financial position Of I
!, country news had came from the United Stal
'IHe of most Alarming character.
he 1t was quite clear now that the civil war viii
ere il was hoped would be nvertel was likely TO m