Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-12
VIEWS OF A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH PARLIA-
NENT

hENr.
Il will be remembered by the readers Of the Wing,
that during the last session Of the British Parliament
motion was made by Mr. Gregory for the recognition Of
the Independence o.the Confederate States Tbs me-
ton he called up several mes but finally withdrew in
obedience to the suggestion Of friends of the measure
who feared that 1t might be premature. The following
letter from Mr.. Gregory TO the London Times shows
that his friendly zeal 10 our behalf has not abaed
10 the Editor of the London Times
sR-t will be in the recollection of the readers Of the
Parliamentary debates that Mr. Duucombe alleged that
the Southern President Mr. Davis had Issued proca.
nation of reward Of $50 head money for each person
killed in action on board an enemys ships hr. DON
combe subse quently modified this assertion BY stating
that the reward was $40 head money for each person
alive or dead on board enemys ship taken in action
or destroyed have not he meal a: present OF referr'
ing to Mr.. Duncombes words but think am not mis-
representing their purport.
have received letter within the last week which eI'
plains this tr,nsac ion. The writer is gentleman Of
State which does not form portion Of the Southern
Confedecy but for obvious reasons Withhold bis name.
He says;
"You may rely upon 1t that the course adopted by
the Southern Cabinet Congress based upon moeea-
toD humanity and precedent. While their opponents
have wifGly and deliberately violated every article tf
the Constitution which in any way interfered with their
1t has been altered only in some ewsnstances and the
necessity Of these alterations was fully sustained by the
experience Of seventy years. The article in question,
to which you alude is old section taken from an Act
relating to the United States Navy passed Apr2s $500
c. SO ST:
THAT bounty shall be paid by the United States Of
$50 for each person board any ship Of any enemy at
the commencement Of any engagement which shall he
sunk or destroyed by any ship vessel belonging to the
United States of equal interior orce the same to be
divided among the officers and crew in the same ma1hr
as prize money"
This whole Act was copied BY the Confederate Slater
and this stc:ion verbatim. All old laws retained
aud as laws based upon English law, you will, in
ell probability find that originally took this very sec
ton from similar in your Navigation Laws, it being
evidently intended ure or scale by which to hI
the amount Of prize money Of these vessels which we're
captured but not got into port The vlue Of each was
to be estimated by the number of its crew. Some oil
the Northern papers got held of this section repubsh-
ed it, aud commented on it for th irown purpose"
So much for this charge Of bloodthrstness as rgads
the Southern CoDfederacy Il is fortunate that BY this
lime Eng hmsn have learned TO estimate at their Just
value, the statements OF the greater portion OF the
Northern press Southern newspapers reach US but rarely
and certainly in Of these that have met my eyes
have the recommendations to bloodshsd, conhs;a
ton ard tx.ermination with which too many Northern
journals teem 1t has been stated that Northern prisoners
vtre treated with great inhumarty after the ycory Of
Bull Run. Recent accounts, published in the Times,
prove that several Of he5e prisoners have been
al have returned home full OF gratitude for the kind
ness they and their comrades received from their capto
ard for the care ald attention with which the wounded
were tended. This differs much from the treatment to
which Co.. Zirvona and Lieut.. Alexander, rate
officers now confined in Fort NcHenry, are Subjected
Neither Of them recognized nor treated as prisoners
OF war. They not permitted to leave the gusrd
house. except the yard aud 10 return under the
custody Of an armed sentinel
will venture to assert that hereafter when tn South.
,rn Confederacy shall have won its independence, ard
the incidents OF this lamentabe shall have become
history however col actpg may be the judgments as 10
lis origin, there will be unanmity on this pont-that
President Davis and lis Cabinet have endeavored 10
mitigate its horrors by underwriting humanity aud by re-
training fer the sYgence of war permit from ev'
cry act Of aggression and retaliation calculated 10 en-.
bitter and proIong the struggle. Such know tc be the
wishes and intentions Of the southern leaders.
| remain, sir, your Of edit serv't,
August 81. VIII. GREGORY.