New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-22

" f. Forster sskei the Secretary Of State for the
Home Department whether it not criminal o.
fense against the provisions Of the Foreign Enlstment
Act for any subjec, of her Majesty on board
sny rrivsteer licensed by the person assuming, as
President of tie Southern Confederacy, 10 eXercise
power part of The United States. or for any per-
son within her Majesty domiDOns 10 assist In the
equipment of such privateer; and, II ~, whether lie
Eoud take measures 10 prevent the mi 1ngement Oh
she Jaw either by her Majes'ys subjects or 10y any
agents of the President If the Southern Cofederacy
who are now in England; and, aso, whether any such
yriva,eer equipped III part Of her Majesty dOmiuions
would not lie liable TO forfeiture.
SrG. C.. Lewis--It is in the contemplation Of her
Ia,esty Government TO issue proclamation for tue
purpose of cautionng all her Mse-tys subjects against
Any interference in the hosites between the North
un and Southern States OF America In that procla'
nation the general effect Of the common and statute
law Oh the matter will be stated. TIE general prin
ciple Of onr law is that no British subject shall
into the service of any foreign Prince power
gage in spy osiiities that may be carried between
Any two foreign States. With espect 10 tie precise
effect Of the Foreign Enlistment Act in the sup
posed it would not lie proper for me TO undertake TO
lay IL down. in.smuch the construction Of any statute
10 matter for judicial decision rather than for any
opinion of my own. The general bearing Of the law
~in however as have sid, be sci forth in tue proc
lamation.
During debate upon the Chancelors insncal res
oiutions AIR. Bentnck asked Government if informa
Ron had not been received from America Which in
dneed the Government TO alter their opinion in refer
snce TO their financial arrangements. A telegram Of
shat day announced that tie planting Of cotton wss
neglected IN tie S.uth and that the growing crops
were danger. lie wished TO know whether in the
opinion Of the Government it was not probable that the
present state Of Affairs in TIE United States would
cessitaie increased naval ard military ornaments
ahe part OF this country, that tie failure Of the
Ton supply woud produce great distress in the manu-
Jaeturii districts and materially affect the revenue
Mr. Crawford rdiculed the telegram, which, be said
was a mere cotton telegram, Intended ~ Affect the
- markets in their present excited state.
Lord Palmerston said he did not anticipate that any
thing now passing in America would be likely
sitate no Increase Of the naval and military establish
mems or diminish the and excise duties below
the amount estimated by the Chancellor Of the Tx
eheQuer in bis financial statement.
The report on the financial measures was brought
up and Sr. Gladstone said be would introduce bill
aoupded upon them on the 18th inst.
Mr. Baxter put questions to the Chancellor Of
Abe Exchequer as to the shortcomings Of the Galway
6Le
admitted that, witbstanding the ceb,ys that had
been granted the Company had yet but one
xteamer in the service--tbe Counbia--and she had
been compelled to put into Halifax snort Of eoal. The
Hbert Ia IN her present condition had been condemned
by the Admiralty unseawortby. Government re-
fused to send NAL by tie Parana, she does not
up TO contract spulatons. As regards ,be vote
for the snbsidy, Mr.. Glads ead he should enter
into communication with the Postmaser-Geneial on
ABE subject and he promised 20 produce all the
spOudenee relative 10 the contract with tie utmost dis
patch.
- &c - A. O.l. IL It.-l~r
Derby said that he understood that her Maestys Gov
eminent had come to the conclusion that tue Southern
States of America were to 10 considered as bellge-
rent power, and had referred certain points to the
consideration of the law officers of the Crown. the
Southern Confederacy had sent out letters Of uarque
for the purpose Of covering the sea with pryaee but
Che Northern States had declared intention of treat
hug privateers pirates lie wished call the atten.
tion Of the Government to the position in which British
sailors might be placed, for If there thing that
had attractions for them, it privsteerDg. IL
also desirable that the British merchants should know
IN what position they stood neurss and also that
come declaration should be made with respect TO Brit
Ssb subjects becoming prvsteers He believed that
che latter criminal oense, bat the possibility of
Ahis country being involved in the dispute between the
two sections Of the American States serious that
be sincerely concured in the prayer Of the noble lord
fLord j. Russell) that might keep oui Of it. He
hoped, therefore, that would be distinctly declared
chat If any British subject entered upon pvateerng
he must not look TO biz Government for redress or po
lection, but that bis blood would be OIL Lis own head
He hoped that the proclamation would give a most |
distinct and emphatic warning to British sailors, and
especially those in her Majeety's service
Earl Gran' lille sad that he quite agreed in the \
appreciation which the noble earl show ed Of the serious
consequences of this country becoming involved in this
unfortunate dispute. The noble earl had correctly
understood the given in another pace, that the
Government would issue proclamation Of warning TO
British subjects, but IL desirable that tie wording
Of the proclamation should be carefully considered.
TIE Earl Of Derby said that be wished ~ know il u
would be distinctly declared that any British subject
Joning in priyateerng must not look TO his Govern
Suent 70 save him from the consequences Of his own
criminal scts.
Earl Granville apprehendod tina. this would follow
naturally from tie proc amation.
Lord Bronglsm severely denounced the practice Of
privaeerng, and expressed ia few bret but eloquent
sentences lis sincere regret that by mutual concessions
ahe horrors Of civil were not likely to be avertei
In America.
Lord Colchester reminded their Iordshps that the
ughI 70 send out pfvateero recognized by inter.
nAhonai law, aud il only natural that the weaker
Sssie shood resort to this means Of annoying more
powerful enemy.
Tie subject then dropped.
Lord Siratford DE Redclae moved resolutions on
posing any further extension OF the French occHpatdn
q syria doargiDg the TuIkish Government with be-
- L