Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-24
1 TIE seprHERs pstv ArrrRs-Loap JOHN RE:
| SELL TO RECOGNIZE THE SOUTHERN LETTERS

THE seprHsas pstv ArrrRs-LosD JOIN Rrs.
SELL TO RECOGNIZE THE SOUTHERN LETTERS
OF MARQUE
rF,om tts BOSTON, Eueaing Transcript, Hdy ISL
The foreign papefs received this nornirg oy ue
steamer PArana give complete report than that
sent by telegraph Of the debate 10 Parliament en- Ame'
rican ,rs Lord John Russell is reported to have st:
"as to the letters Of marquee there was precedent in
the case of Greece when it separated from Turkey The
right of that country issue letters of marque was al
lowed and the law officers Of the crown, who had been
consulted, had declared that such right would belong
to the Southern Confedcracy."
This is a very important statement but IL may Only
mean that Great BRIAN will not Ike the United States
regard the Southern privsteers as pirates rrates
being the enemies Of ell civilized Powers, every nahon
is bound actively TO assist in their "fea
Britain declines take this ground yet size may none
Drivateers aud her courts to aGjHdicde on prizes
Meanwhile tie London Times says that there are letters
of mlrque in London.
From he DuJHa Eers Ndy7 J
The exciting accounts which fGIos each other so rap
idly from New York, show that the crisis so long ah
tic pated has at length arrived The American question
has now superseded all etherI 10 immediate interest
The +. deral Government has pre-
claimed blockade of the Southern porte, but until they
can 600 miles OF seaboard with her cruisers lhe
blockade will not be what is cIlled tteclVe, anu Tue
British Admiral the station will protect Bsh vessels
in entering and leaving ports not effectively cioseu Dy
considerable naval force This matter may easily lead
to collision with United States ships OF war, and very
probably John Bull may not be unwilling 10 seize tle
present favorable opportunity for wflng OH Old scores
On the other hand il was thought that Engahd "ouu
refuse to acknowledge the legality Of the letters oil
marque issued by the President OF tn, Confederate
States and would hold his Government accountable Tor
any loss or capture under the authority oil these letters
of British property sailing in American bottoms:
This hope however, has been disappointed ?rvateer
ing has been condemned by the unanimous voice oil Inc
cviIsed nations OF Europe the United States alone ras
ipe its voice in opposition TO the condemnation. The
South so weak ia naval resources that an energetic
protest from the maritime powers would PROBABLY pu
stop to the threatened renewal of this barbarous system OF
privateerug, which, indeed is little better Than piracy.
Ii is worth remlrkng that OF the hrst writers WAC
held up priviteerng Grafton was an American Tue
famous Be- lmn Frarklin, LEX. 10 washington tue
founder of the freedom and independence OF the United
States II authority, however. does not seem to have
much weight with Americans Of the present day. as boh
Mort eners and Souherners have declared Tor the con-
tinuance OF this species OF legal piracy.
The Times has been told that there letters Of
maruue now in London and agents have arrived by The
last steamer make contracts Tor Armstrong guns ana
all other warike stores OF the most recent hVenuon-
Both parties says the writer, "wi come mo the mar
kets of Europe and bid for and ships. So far az
pryaeernc il concerned the South will have the advan
ape No adgenturer would % take service With the
North because there would be little or no prev The
South has commerce. and its produce woud DC car
rei in neutral bottoms The North, howe'er has sblps
upon every sea- and is victim that will pay plunderer
There are silk cargoes be intercepted even IN the East
eru seas and the of California are 10 be met
with ahoat" IL is quite plain that III this quarrel
despite all that has been written or said ABOUT slavery
England sides with the Conedra States Sue does So
ind ed com 1eled by the strongest motives oil sslinter
mint 1ITI m "a
exist, without the usual supplies OF raw material from
the South.
Toe North has just adopted prOtectiOnis tariff very
uuflvorabe 10 English interests aud In resisting tn
enforcement and extension c ths p:ohitl;ory ar the
South il virtually fighting Engands bit;ie. Stll more
the jealousy OF the United States as maritime Poser
fixed principle OF British craftsmanship; aud we may
oe certain that the OF the blow just iicted on
navy which in respects, was formidable TO Eng-
laid has gwen satisfaction, not loud but deep to the
great bulk Of r. gishmen. il easy TO bring about
a collision and under present circumstances, II would
be 20 safe and adyanag Gus for Engand to pick quarrel
with the Government OF the United States, that We shall
not be surprised to fad Her Msjestys Government as
suming a position with regard TO this civil br0l Whch
NAV easily lead TO That they will allow the cotton
supply to be Gu. eff by the blockade of the Southern
pjris is hrjy TO be expected Doubtful questions OF
right are easily and promptly settled Hhen there Is NJ
doubt abou, the question of force.
The burning the Gosport dockyard has for the mo-
nent placed the United States Nary az EgiandS mar
co. and it. on this OCCASION Englaud is consldera;e as
rival and foe must be nearer to the Millennium than
il popularity supposed Tl has been announced TO the
House Of Commons by Lord John Russell in words which
pint strongly in thu direction OF rupture between
Eogllnd and The United Sltcs Lord John declared
tat The British government would not recognize the
blockade proclaimed of the Southern por' unless It
were made effective but that they did recognise the L.
ga of the letters Of mlque issued by President Dav'
Now. the Washington Government threatens TO tr'at
the holders of theae letters Of maque pirates, and
mess the spirit of Yankend has sunk very low, they
vii pr obably show fght also on the blockade question
II is evident that Lord John knew about this mat
ter than he chose communicate TO the House aud the
public Aud also evident than no time more iavord-
bl. than the present. is likely offer for striking blow
a: oae of the few maritime rivals England has cause TO