Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-27
THE AMERICAN QUESTION IN
ENGLAND. ...-

ing the American civil war, Sc, have been
laid before Parliament Not fewer than
forty-tive official communications have passed
about the Nashville and Tuscarora.
In January, 1861, Earl Russell instructed
Lord Lyons, in case of advice being asked
by President Lincoln's Cabinet, to reply that
her Majesty's government will decline to'piye
any, unless both parties apply for counsel.
The policy Of the British government in
February, 1861, in the event of President
Lincoln raising question with Great Britain,
is laid down in the following terms
Her NJ ejesty's government would in the
first place be very forbearing. They would
show by their acts how highly they valued
the relations of peace and comfy with the
United States, but they would take care to
let the government which multiplied provo
cations and sought for quarters understand
that their torbearance sprang from con-
sclousness of strength, and not from hmidity
or weakness.
Lord Russell reports the substance of
conversation he had with Yancey, Rost and
Mann, the delegates who waited upon him
to urge the recognition of the confederases
His answer to these gentleman was, that
England would observe strict neutrality. Earl
Russell said Her Majesty cannot acknowl-
edge the independence of nine States until
the fortune OF arms or a more peaceful mode
OF negotiation shall have more clearly deter
mined the respective positions Of the two
belligerents. ....
There is short note, written as late as
December 20, which shows that even then
the British Ministry believed in the probab-
| OT Al, IT
Lord Lyons is directed to speak with Mr..
Seward on the subject of letters of marque,
and to say that in case of war, Great Britain
Is willing to abolish privateering Jas between
the two nations if the President will make
a similar agreement on the part of the United
States.
THE ARREST OF AN ANANGLo-CANADIAN.
In the House of Lords, on the 7th, Earl
Carnarvon inquired as to the truth of the
arrest and imprisonment of Canadian sub.
ject named Shepperd, by order of Mr.. Sew
ard. He commented severely on the con-
duct of the United States, if the facts were
correctly reported and especially on the de,
mand that Shepherd should take the oath of
allegience to the United States, as condition
ofrelease. ....
Earl Russell, who was all but inaudible, was
understood to say that the main facts of the
case were correctly reported, but as soon as
Lord Lyons was informed of 1t, he applied
to MIR. Seward, who stated that the oath of
allegence was rendered to Sheppard, under
the belief that he was an American, and
his release was subseC uently obtained on the
condition that he 81 ould not 90 into the
Southern States
The federal government claimed that, in
an extraordinary emergency, like the present,
the President must be invested with eXtraor-
dinary power, extending to foreign residents
as we'll as American citizens. Her Maiestys
government entered strong circumstances to
this, and there was no objection to produce
the correspondence.
Earl Carnarvon said he should certainly
move for the papers He hoped the govern
ment would not be content With remonstran-
ces, but would also demand compensation.
MR.. GREGORY, NJ. P, ON THE BLOCKADE.
In the House of Commons, on the 7th inst,
Mr.. Gregory said he refrained the previous
evening from addressing the House while the
Address to the Queen was being discussed,
because he thought it undesirable to intro
duce topics which might give rise to debate
but he felt that the blockade OF the Southern
ports by the federal government was wholly
ineffective, and simply blockade upon
in position to show the character OF the
blockade was such that, in Justice to both of
thu belligerent parties, it ought to receive full
discussion at the hands of the government
Mr. q. z. Bentinic expressed satisfaction
at MIR. Gregory's announcement to bring the
question Of the blockade before the House.
His own opinion was that a recognition of
the paper blockade would be in violation of
the rules of international law, and it was the
duty of the country to consider seriously the
position, which we were placed
THE SUMTER AND THE COAL MERCHANTS.
Late Gibraltar advices received in Liver
pool represent the prvateer Sumpter as de-
tanned at Gibraltar from difficulty in obtain
ing coal. A meeting OF the parties connect
ed with the coaling business there resolved
not to supply coal to the Sumter except for
cash, the paper offered in payment, al
though on good houses, being deemed eligible.
The same advices represent the crew of the
Sumter as fine fellows, but nautical men say
the ship has no fight in her.
THE LONDON TIMES AS A FINANCIER AND
| PROPHET.
The London Times, in an editorial on
American affairs, says that in the last six
months America has contrived to spend more
money in shorter time, and to less purpose,
than any people who have ever lived on the
face of the earth, and that is all that has liter
ally been done during this period. 1t pro-
ceeds to argue that the subjugation of the
South and future union has become i'm
possible.
THE PRESS ON THE SESSION OF pARLIA-
| NENT.
The London journals generally regard the
Queens speech as negative, and so far a
satisfactory document.
The London Herald (oppositon) has
scarcely remark to offer on the ministerial
programme, and says it is difficult to cri1cise
blank paper. The session of Parliament
opened calmly, and with no show of opposi-