Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-06-06
Recognition as ''Belligerents."

Lord John Russell, in his remarks in the
House Of Conmens respecting the southern
confederacy, is rep.rted to have rsed this
language: As to the letters OF marc ue.
g there was precedent in the case Of Greece,
when it separated from Turkey. the right
. of that country to issue letters of marque
twas allowed, and the law officers of the
crown, who had been consulted, had de-
" "clared that such tight would belong to
"the southern confsdsracy:"
Il may help US to clearer understanding
of the position of the English government to
bear in mind that there are three ways in
which foreign powers may treat provinces in
revolt against the government to which they
have heretofore oerns allegiance. They may
(ls;) regard them as in rebellion against a
legitimate government, in which case they
would refuse all Intercourse and withhold ell
commercial privileges or (2d) they may re-
gard them and their former government as
equal parties to civil war, and SO admit
She flags of both into their ports; or (3Jl
they may acknowledge the independence of
the revolutionists, and establish with them
the ordinary diplomatic relations. The ten
or of Lord John RusselPs remarks would
seem to imply that the English government
intends to regard the southern confederacy
as belonging to the second category. That
is to say, it will treat it az we treated the
Spanish South American republics during
the years that intervened between their re-
volt and our recognition of their indepen-
dence. In their case our svmpatbies were
strongly excited, but we declined to recog-
nize tLeir rights as bslligerents until their
success became probable. The principles Of
the law of nations, applicable to such cases,
ale so clearly stated in President Monroe's
message, reciting our course in reference to
the South American republics, that we are
tempted to introduce the following instruc-
tive extract: "As soon as the movement
assumed such steady and consistent form
" as to make the success of the provinces
probable, the rights to which they were en-
titled by the law of nations, as equal par
" ties to civil var, where extended tu them.
Each party was permitted to enter our ports
With its public and private ships, and to
take from them every article which was the
subject with commerce with other nations.
"Our citizens, also, have carried on com
merce With both parties, and the govern
" ment has protected it with each in articles
not eontraband Of war. Through the whole
of this contest the United States have re-
"ma:ned neutral, and have fulfilled, with the
utmost impartiality, all the obligations in
!" cident to that character"
We could not reasonably complain OF Great
Britain for actrg according to the principles
here stated, and which guided our own gov
ernment in a somewhat analogous case
But if the British government has already
decided to recognize the southern confedera.
cy as beligerent. we May justly accuse it
of undue and unbec0ming haste. The moye-
ment in the South has not I" assumed such
g steady and consistent form as to make sue
j" cess probable;" and, until that shall be
the case. no foreign power has any right to
treat it otherwise than as an insurrection
against legitimate government. We are
confident that when Lord Palmerston and
Lord John Russell have had the advantage
of listening to the explanations of our new
minister, MIR. Adams, they will take no pre-
cipitate steps toward granting commercial
privileges to rebels, whose defeat and over
throw are morally csrtsins-N. r Werad.