Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-19
EARL RUSsELL's EXPOSITION OF THE ACTION Of
THE BRITISH GOveRNMENf ON THE AMERICAN
QUESTION
FoRxIey OyFlcE Aug. 2sth 1881.


The undersigned Her Majes y Pr,ncpa Secretary OF
Stale Tor foreign A,irs has Lad the homer receive
the note Of the Esd instant of Mr. Adims Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentary OF the United
| 5 ales.
NJ Adams has accounted satisfactorily for the dshy
in acswerrg the note of the lah inst; Her W. s.y 3
Government in all these TRANSACTIONS has sc6d IN
cert with The Government Of the Emperor Of the French
Anl the undersigned cannot be surprised that Mr. Adams
should wish TO communicate with Nj. Dayton, at Paris
before replying TO his note.
The undersigned is quite prepared following Mr.. Ad
ans to reclpulae the particulars OF this negotiation,
and he ia happy to thirk ha, in matters Of fact there is
ground for any controversy between them. lie need
only supply omissionl
Mr. Adams at bis first interview with the undersigned,
on the l5th OF Nay last mentioned the sal ec Of the
declaration Of Paris, which he had poger 10 ne.
goate and the undersigned thea told him that the mat.
had already been committed to the cire OF Lord Ly
ons at Washington With authority TO agree with the
government of the United States The bass OF the
adoption Of three Of the articles aud the omission Of
the rst bog that relating prvlteeriDg. So far, the
statement OF Mr. Adams agrees substantially with that
here made. But the representation OF the undersigned
was strictly accurate and in faith Of il he suhJn the
dspa,ch by which Lord Lyons authorized to negot
ate on the bais Of the three latter articles of the desa
ration Of Paris Lord Lyons, however, was ROT empoW-
cred 10 slgu a convention, because that form had not
been adopted by the Powers who originally signed tie
declaration, nv any Of the numerous States which
sferwards gave their adhesion 10 its articles.
At later period, when Mr.. Adams brought copy OF
hs fu! powers TO the Foreign Olile, the Undersigned
asked Why the adherence of the Ulted States should
not be given IN the form that of the other Pow
srs and he vas told in reply that the Constitution
OF tHs UurJeu rs.,-A tho consent OF the Senate
aly agreement with foreign Powers ha' agreement
must necessarily at least would most conveniently,
be made ia the shape Of convention.
The undersigned yielied TO the argument, and pro
pJed TO the Government Of the Emperor Of the French
With which Her Msjasy's Government have been acting
throughout 10 complete agreement TO concur Likewise IN
this departure from the form n which tue declaration Of
Paris had been adopted by the maritime powers OF Eu
rop,. But the Betsh Government could not sign the
convention proposed bv the Unted States act OF
Great BrNn sing and Alons ard they found TO their
s1rprss that in of France and Of some OF the other
ElrOpean PowerI the addition Of Mr. Marcy, relhing
private property a. saa. had been proposed by the
Ministers Of t1e Uned States at the Courts OF those
PoEers
The undersigned concurs in the statement made by
Mr Adams respecting the Transactions which followed.
Her Mj-ry's GpyerDm'nt, Ike Mr.. Adams wished to
es-olsa doctrine for all time with view TO lessen
he horrors OF war all over the globe The Instructions
to Lord Lyons prove the sincerity OF their wshe.
give peFmAnence and Ety Of principle to this part
Of the law Of nations.
The undersigned has arrived al that part Of the
subject upon which the negotiation is Interrupted.
The undersigned has noifsd Mr Adams OF his inteu-
ton to accompany bis signature Of the proposed con-
vention with declaration 20 tnr rct shs. Hs. H-jAsty
does intend thereby 70 undertake any engagement
which shall have any bearing direct indirect on The
internal differences prevailing in the United
States"
The reasons for his course be easilv explained
On spme racNus oc ,asions the fnlhm5ut OF the
treaty Of 1916, respecting the boundary. and with re
sppct 70 the treaty called nv ha name oI the Clayton
Rrl-er Treaty." serious rences have arisen With re-
gard to the precise meaning Of words, and the Intention
OF those who framed them
Il "a most desirable in frsaiug arrangement not
to give rise tn q fresh dispute.
But the different attitude OF Grea. Britain and Of the
Unitsd States in regard to the Internal discussions now
uuhappily prevailing in the United States give varnirg
that such dispute might arise out Of the proposed Con-
vrntinn
Her gaiesty's Government upon receiving intelligence
tha the PrAsdAn hal declared BY proc mation, his in
tannn n blncka the ports OF nine Of tho States OF the
Uno7 and hat Nr Davis speaking in the n'ne OF those
nine States had declared h intention to Issue letters OF
marone and reprisas and having also cyed certain
Information of the design Of both p'res to arm, had
come to the eonrio1 that civil war existed in America
aud Her Majesty had therefore proclaimed her neurahy
in the approaching contest
The CIoyernmept of tho Unisel Ssntss, the other
hand spoke only Of urllNin combinations, and desg
nated thosa concerned in them rebels and pirates
I. would follow logicalv and consistently, from the az
uds taken by Her M.iestys Government, that the so
c,lei Confederate Stats being acknowledged as bal
Gperent might by the law Of nations arm privateers
and that their pvaeers must be regarded as the armed
| vess,ls Of bsllRerent.
With equal logic and consistency II would follow from
the position taken by the Uoied States, that the prva
teers of the Southern Sstss might he deefeed 10 be
pirates and il might be further arEued by the Govern
mrnt Of the United States that ElrOpaln Power sign
Ing Convention With TIE Uni,sd States declaring that
pryateerinc was and remains abolished would be bouud
20 treat the privateors Of the socsed Confederate
States pirates.
Hence instead Of an agreement. charges Of had faith
and violation Of Convention might bs brought 10 the
United States aglinst tho Power signing Convention,
and treating tire privateer Of the socaed ConfederAe
States as tho4s of bslligerant Power.
The undersigned had a. frs, intended to mike verbal.
" tic declaration proposed Bat he considered ii would
ne more clear more open more fair to Nj Adams, to
mt the declaration in writing and give notice OF u to
NJ Adlms before signing the Convention.
TIE undersigned vill not reply to the ressona
given BY Nr Adams for not signing the Convention, II
accompanied ty the proposed declaration. Her Maj "a
tyl Government wishes tho QUESTION to he fairly wcigh
ed hy the United States Government The undersigned
like Mr Aians wishes 10 maintain and pe'reuIte the
most friendly rpla ions batweeu Her Maissys Kingdom
and the Uuited States II s In this spirit that Her Mol
esy's Government decline to bind thCm'eves with NJ
clear explanation their part 10 Convention whoh
ssemin9y conf ned to adoption OF the declaration o
Paris OF 1885, might BE- construed engagement 70
Interfere In the unhappy dssensions prevailing IN
the United Staes-au interference which would b, con
irary 10 Her Mssstys public dslaratoaa and would b'
reversal OF the policy which Her A4jatJ has dslbeF
atclv sarctoned.
The undersigned rfq1tss NJ. Adlms to accop, th
surancs Of hI highest Considerations.
G. ?. ADiss Esq, &c., &c.
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