The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-05-28
our Relations with England

Our Relations With England.
The latest dispatches from England
state that American affairs engross the
attention Of the English press and people,
to the suberdiuation Of all other topics.
II eply to certain questions propound-
Cd ia ibe House Of Commons, Sir c. C.
Lewis spoke as fllows;
Ii i in the contemplation of Her Majes-
tvs Government 10 issue proclamation
for the purpose Of cauiioning all Her
Majesiy's subjects against any interference
ia the hosfili.ies between the Northern
and Southern States Of America. In that
/ proclamation the general effect Of The com
mon statute law on the matter viii be sta
( ted. The general principle Of our Law Is
that no British subject shall enter into the
service Of any foreign Prince or Power, or
engage IN any hostiiii,s that may BE- car
ried on between any two foreign States
With respect 10 tie precise eile Of the
4 Foreign Enlistment Act in The ease sup
posed, il would not be proper for me TO
undertake TO lay it down, inasmuch as the
construction OF any statute is matter for
! judicial decision rather than for any opin-
ion of my own. The general bearing of
the law will, however, as / have said, be
set forth in the proclamation.
Sir j. Russell also made the following
remarks:
The Attorney and Solicitor General,
and the Queens Advocate, and the Gorern-
mem hare come 10 the opinion that the
Southern Conjederacy Of Americd, accor-
ding 10 Mosc principles ,chich scem Il them
to tr Just principles, must Be beated as a
belhgerem. Hear, hear. But frlher
questions arise out Of that question, with
respect TO which we are still in doubt--as
what are tie alterations which are to Be
made IN tie lar Of nations IN consequence
/ Of he declaration Of Paris and those
4 questions being Of a difficult and intricate
nature hare not been determined upon
They are still under the consideration of
the Government, and will be still further
considered, before any declaration is made
to other Powers. Hear, hear
BY the dispatches of the Etna it APP
pears that the English Government have
issued proclamation, 10 the following eff
feet
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL RE.
MAIN STRICTLY NEUTRAL
A proclamation has been issued by the
British Government relative to affairs in
the United States, warning British sub
jects against engaging in the American
war, and all doing so will be held respon-
sible for their own acts.
The proclamation declares the intention
of that Government in maintaining the
: strictest impartial neutrality between Eng
land and the Government Of the United
States, and certain States styling them
selves the Confederate States Of America
1t warns all British subjects, if they enter
the military service of either side, or Join
ships of war, or transports, or attempt to
get recruits or fit out vessels for war pur.
: poses or transports, or break or endeavor
to break any blockade lawfully or actually
established, or carry soldiers, dispatches
or any material coGtraband Of war, for
either party, they will be liable to all the
penalty and consequences, and will do SC
at their peril, and in nowise obtain the
protection Of their Government.
: Although the English government have
determined to recognize the so-caled
Southern Confederacy as a bellgerem
with the right Of commissioning priya.
teers, yet this decision appears as vel
J to be NEGOTIATE merely, conditioned upon
further investigations, and has not beer
officially declared. 1t strikes US that such
a position by the English government
|, would be unienable and could be account
ed for only on the expectation that il
would prove Immediately advantageous tc
: their cotton trade.
But this view OF the subject is negated
. by the full recognition of our blockade
: which must efiectually check all cotton ex,
portations for the present. The perma.
: nent establishment Of Southern Confed.
eracy would, for obvious rea sons, be adyan.
tagcous to the commerce Of England
Yet we do not believe that in this great
contest in which the dearest interests oil
: humanity are involved, that the English
government will regulate their conduct by
such mercenary considerations. And il
she should, judging from the English press,
the people OF that noble nation, true to her
! great character and her past history, will
in due time set the government Alright