Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-01
Later from EurOpe-InterestIng De bate in
the House of Lords

HEbIFAx, May 30.-The America arrived at this
point with dates of the 10Th instant Minister DALI
las IS passenger in the America. She brings ST.
600 900 in specie.
The Galway contract has been annulled, but it
is stated that the steamers will continue to run
Minister Adams presented his credentials at
court. at.
In the House of Lords, the Earl of ElIenwood
asked the Government whether the term lawful
blockade used in the recent proclamation was to be
interpreted literally, or with qualifications as &C
cordlDg to the strict meaning of the Paris agree
ment, 1t was impossible to maintain an effective
blockade. He complained Of the vaguensss of tn
proclamation respecting articles contraband of war
The Earl OF Granville replied, that lawful
blockade must be maintained by sufficient force
but 1t was not absolutely necessary to render all
ingress and egress impossible, but to render 1t diff
cult
Lord Derby said there were two points on which
1t was desirable that the Government should come
TO an understanding with the United States. They
proclaimed a blockade of the whole Southern
coast which they had not the force 70 maintain al
though they could lawfully blockade certain ports.
1t was not desirable that they should proclaim
universal blockade, but only maintain partial one
The NorthernStates also declare they should treat
prlvateers as pirates, but they could not do so by
the law OF nations, and it desirable, notwith
standing the proclamation, that it should be declar
ed such penalty. British subjects would not be
viewed with indifference by England.
Lord Brougham said privateering, according to
international law was not piracy, but to join
petition against a power at peace with England
was pratical act to constitute an efficient block
ade such force must be maintained as to make the
passage OF It absolutely impossible, but this was
very difficult --
Lord Kingsdown said the Northern States might
consider citizens of the Southern States as rebles
and guilty Of high treason but they would apply
70 subjects OF other powers becoming privateers.
American BelIigerents and European
NeutraIs.
From the London Saturday Review.
Lord John Russell has announced that the English
Government has recognised the Southern Confeder-
ton as belligerent Power; and SO much is com
prsed IN this recognition that it may be said to in
Volve the solution of at least half the questions
which the eager apprehensions of the representa-
tiVes Of our large commercial towns have pressed
on the Government. Common sense dictates what
the English Government laid down many years ago
in the case of Greece-that it is question of fact
rather than of law, when a revolted portion of a
State with which we are on terms OF amity can be
fairly recognised belligerent without violating
neutrality. There must be q certain amount of
success on the part of the rebels-they must have
something like an orderly and established Govern
ment-they must in the Language of despatch
quoted by Lord John RUSSELL have attained - GER
tain degree of force and consistency" 1t is seldom
however. that the recognition is entirely determined
by calculation of the position and resources of the
revolted province or state. The neutral is aware
that recognition of any sort has political bearing
and gives at least accession of prestige to the
rebels. The neutral may say that he only registers
fact and this 10 true; but as one of the parties
to the conflict wishes the fact should be registered
and the other generally wishes it should not there
is always slight favor done to the one side and
slight disfavor done to the other The neutral also
very naturally takes into consideration whether it
is convenient for him that he should recognize the
belligerent 1t might easily be a pure matter of
Indifference, except for political reasons whether
the recognition was conceded or not The recogni
ton of Hungary refused we NAV suppose
partly because the English Government did not like
to prejudice the Austrian cause, and still more be-
cause as Hungary has no seaboard and has no
ships, none CT the difficulties could arise which
throw us into such perplexity when power which
We do not recognize as belgerent, exercises the
rights of belligerent at sea- No one IN England
doubt that our Government has done quite right
TO recognize the Southern States belligerent
power, although in this we should be more
than usually sorry to iDure the state that claims
10 be the sovereign. 1t is greatly for our convent
ence to recognize the Southerners and they have
quite enough of force and consistency to Justify US
Ali that we do by this recognition is to acknowledge
their flag, and to reserve the right Of sending con-
suls to their ports.
1t Is for the neutral to say when he will hold one
of the cOntending parties in civil to be bel
igerent and he must take the risk of mourning the
ustiAble displeasure of the other party if the re
cognition is not warranted by the facts But when
once the recognition is made he must allow all its
consequences TO take effect. For example it has
been ask whether the cruisers of the North will
have a right to levy duties outside the Southern
ports. HlS ObuiOus that zee cannot no,o admit this
right The Southern States assert that they are at
war with the Federal Government The organs If
that Government contend that it is not at war but
is only Furnishing domestic rebellion. Some one
must decide which is the true state of the case and
We have decided it, as in our capacity of neutrals
quite right in doing, so far as concerns our
selves. There is now no better reason than an
English vessel bound for Charleston should pay dues
to Northern cruiser than that two years ago an
English vessel bound for Venice should have paid
toll to French cruiser. Then, again, we can no
longer have any hesitation about the right of the
Southern Confederation TO send out privateers This
is part of the rights which belong to every beIiger
ent, and apart from any special treaties that NAV
exist eUery Southern priUateer bearing proper com
mission from is government may Usa and search Enc
iSh UeSselS, GndcOnscdts good prize the properfv
OF NOrthernerS toand therein.
With regard to blockade, no question is likely to
arise, as all parties agree that TO be operative il
ought to be a real, and not what is termed paper
blockade Nor the doctrine that a SOVEREIGN
cannot blockade his own ports, If such strange
doctrine ever existed, be applied in this case We
have admitted the right of blockade in conceding the
title of a beligerent to the party whose ports are
blockaded. The general result of the inquiry is not
perhaps quite favorable to English interests as
could be wished. But we may observe that to
have rights, and to exercise them, are two very diff
ferent things, and is scarcely to be supposed that
either party to the conflict will venture to quarrel
with England, even incur the i'll feeling which
might very easily ensue, if we found the general
rights of belligerents over neutrals were used to
place US at exceptional disadvantage.
The Position of England.
The New York World shows that England has
heretofore sympathized with the North, and ex-
claims: ..#.....