Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-17
THE AMERICAN CRISIS IN THE BRITISH HOUSE
OF LORDS

In the House OF Lords on the 2sLh of April the Earl
of Mamcsbury advertng to the State of affairs in Ame.
lea, said.
beg leave TO put to my noble friend the Unon-Secrc.
tary for Foreign lra question OF which have gi'en
him private notice 10 reference TO subject which deep
y interests this country and may say, the whols Of
Europe. Almost al your lorishp. have doubt, read
the which arrived this morning from America,
aud must have learnt with pain, well astonsh-
ment that civil had broken out between the seces
soniss of that country and the other States of the Union
Fortunately up the date Of those accounts hardly any
hood had been shed and too much prase cannot think
be bestowed upon the commander ofthe fleet engay
in the transaction which refer foe abstauing from
entering useless contest 1t is impossible, however,
tbst Struggle such that which seems now impending
in America Struggle unnatural and calcu lated,
msy add to prove fatal TO the parties concerned III 1t
should not produce reverberaton throughout the
rest OF the world.
may further observe that no country this side OF
the Atan'; is perhaps likely TO sUf from the
civil which threatens the United States than our
for altogether apart from those feelings of regret with
which mus: wtn the breaking out OF strife between
persons belonging TO the family ourselves, and
kindred TO in language well in blood political
and material interests deeply involved in this unhap
py schsn. That being so, cannot but believe that her
hesys Ministers feeling upon this question with all
her AjeJ sui ects have already done their utmost by
official means, to bring about some arrangement by
winch 20 hrteelI WHICH speak
ing may be arerted. therefore wish to ssk my noble
friend what steps the government have taken with that
object rbethe' they have made any attempt to prevent
the quarrel between the different SLaes OF the American
Union from coming a bloody issue what hopes they
entertain Of succeeding in audabe endeayor and
whether theJ have invited, o. are in correspondence
WITH any other European government with the view of
obtaining their assistance in seeking to put stop at the
outset to civil war; Of which, If fairly commenced,
it will be impossible TO foresee the end. Hear hear
Lord Wodshouse i need scarcely assure my noble
friend that the government, in cOmmop with him. aud |
feel fiont every Of her M'estys subjects have
learnt with the deepest regret the INTEL gsnce of the dis
sensoGs which have taken place in the United States
We have also received with the utmost concern the
counts to which my noble friend has alluded informing
that these discussions have brought that country 10
the brink Of civil war; if indeed civil may not be
said to have already broken out within her territories;
and in answer to the question: what steps have been
ken by her Ma sys Ministers 10 avert this great calami-
ty- for great calamity it must undoubtedly prove to
be not only to the Americans tbemseves but to England
which closely connected with them by the ties OF kim
dredl have TO state that after the most mature debe
ration the government the conclusion that
desirable that this couny should ntude her advice
or counsel on the government OF the United States
Hear, hear
However gseat the interest which may feel in the
welfare OF her people and however xous might be
to them from the misfortune which appears be
imperd:g over their heads yet thought that great
aud independent nation might not welcome ad ice given
with respect her internal aairs if that advice
p'ofered without being solicited. The insiruc ions,
therefore, ven to Lord Lyons we're that he should
every h;ug lsio1 express the earnest desire enter
tanned by her Ml4ss government that the differences
which prevail betseen the northern and southern States
Of America should b, arranged. He has no. however,
been instructed to give, either off ;ously officially,
any coanol advice to the American government
less such counsel advice should be asked for BY the
contendng parties themselves That is the answer
have to give to the question Of my noLie friend /,
naturally follows that her Msiesys ministers have not
been in Communication with any foreign government as
any steps being taken of the nature Of those which
he has alluded