, 1862-03-01
4 DEFENSE o.. sEcEsslA.
|::lH APPEAL FRoM TIE THREE REBEL COL
~ NIsSIONB88 70 THE EEI1ISH
~ GQYK8NN1XT.
LORD RUssEIL's REPLY.

LORD HUssELl's REPLY.
=: $:
An IMPORTANT PAPER COME TO
LIGHT. .
The London papers Of the 8th contain among
the documents laid before Parliament, the fol.
ing letter addressed to Her Majesty's seereta-
y Of Fozeign Affairs, invoking the recogni-
tion of the Confederate States of America:
No. ID, HA1r-Mooa srnsEr, Itoxnos,l-
August a, 1851.
ready on two occasions been verbally and IN
officially informed, were appointeda Commis-'
sion to Her Britannia Afniesty's Government By
the President Of the Confederate States Of
America.
THEIR INSTRUCTIONS :.
The undersigned were instructed to repre-
sent TO your LordEhip that seven Of the soTer-
cign States Of the Late American Union, for
just and sufficient reasons, and in accordance
with the great principle Of selfgoyetnment,
had thrown of the aurhoIity Of the Union, aud
formed Con1cderaey, which they had STYLED
the "Confcderate States Of American They
were further instructed to ask Her Maiesty's
Government 10 recognize the fact Of tie exist
ence OF this new Power in the world, and also
to intern it that they we're fully empowered
to negotiate with it treaty Of friendship,
commerce and navigation
THE FEST INTERVIEW. r.
At TN early day after the arrival Of the un-
dersigned in London, at an informal interview
which yourLo7ship was pleased 10 accord them,
they informed your Lordship Of the object OF
their mission, and endcayored to impress upon
your Lordship that the action OF the seven
Confederate States had been based upon re-
peated attempts on the part Of the Federal
Government, and OF many Of the more North
during series OF years which extended over
near BALI century, to rule the people of the
Southern section Of that Union By means
Of The unconstitutional exercise Of power;
and that secession from that Union had
| been resortes to as, in the opinion Of the Sc
| ceding States, the best and surest mode Of
| saving the liberties which theikeEederal and
| State constitutions were dcsignS4p secure to
| them. They also endeayored to place before
| your Lordship satisfactory evidence that the
| the cotton States was SO palpablc that it would
be endorsed by many, If not by all, Of the
Southern States which were then adhering to
! the Union, which would sooner orlater become
| convinced that the security Of their rights
I could only be maintained by pursuing the like
| process Of secession from the late Federal
Union, and accession to the Constitution and
| Government OF the Confederate States Of
America. !: -:
| SECESSION ARGUMENTS.
They were especially dcsirous of convincing
yonr lorlship, and laid before your IordshiP
rea9ons for their belief, that the people of tile
seeding States had violated no principle Of
allegiance in their act Of secession, but, on tile
contrary. had been true to that high duty
| which all citizens Own to that sovereignty
| which is the supreme fount Of power in a
State, 10 matter what may ba the particular
form Of government under which they live
they were careful to show to your LoTdship,
however, that the idea Of AIDES Of american
sovereignty was different from That entertained
the great Eastern Hemisphere generally SOY.
ereignty was deemed to exist in the govern.
ment, the founders Of the North American
States bad so1cmnly declared, and upon that
declaration had built up American institu.
tions, t1lat "Goycrument6 we're instituted
among men, deriving their just powers from
the consct Of the governed; that wheneve,
any form Of government becomes destructive
Of these ends (sccur1ty to life, liberty, and the
pursuit OF happiness} It is the right Of the peo
pie to a1ter or abolish it, and to institute 8
new government"
SOUTHERN PRINCIPLES.
The undersigned assumed it to be incontro
veTtiblc, in order to give. practical Vitality tt
this declaration, that the people who were de
| cla1ed to possess this right tAto alter or abol
isl" such oppressive government, must BIT
the people whose rights such government eli
ther assai1ed Or no longer protected. Whcth
one t. rant or the more heartless and equall3
t e1ectual dcspotism Of sectional and tyran
n5cal majority, could make no difference in til,
application of the principle. When the peo
pie who thus act ia ''abolishing" their form
Of government are not mere self constitute;
| assemhlagcs Of 1isafccted Individuals, but tht
sovereign people Of great States, each possess
ing separate constitutions, and legislative ans
executive powers, acting in modes prescribed
by those constitutions, and taking votes un
| der form and by virtue Of Law, the minorit.,
yielding chserfa1ly to the decision Of the ma
jority as to the question. Of redress. it became
clear that, Wh;teytr might be European view
as to such action if developed in Europe, th
seeding States were amply justified by tat
: gcat American principles Of selfgovernmcnt
proclaimed by their ancestors in l71G. Tie,
submitted that, so far from the principles O
American allegiance having been violated. b
!. | the people Of the seceling States, in thos
, States alone is that principle upheld whereof
the actions OF n.en claiming to be the repre-
Eentatives Of the men Of 117J arc to be guide
and justified, and ulatt the people and govern
ment Of the States holding Mf. Lincoln /
! lis war upon the Confederate States are aIeu
tie traitors to that great political truth, an
US such must bc judged by an Impartial worlt
FAIsEuoops.
!. In connection with this view, the undo
r signed explained to your Lordship the unit,
the de1iberation, the :.modeIation, and reggaf
: forperscnal and public right, the absence
: unaue popular commotion during the proce:
5 Of secession, the daily and ordinary admin
/ tration OF the laws III: every department ,
: Justice. all Of which were distinguishing fe
: lures OF this grand movement. They cxpati
: ted upon the great extent Of fertile count,
4 over which the Confederate States exercise
;. Jurisdiction, producing in ample quanti1
every variety Of cereal necessary to the 81,
port Of their inhabitants, the great yalue
The products of cotton and tobacco grown |
them, the number and character Of their De
r that all these political and matctial flc
demonstrated to the nations of the orld tn
the action Of the Confederate States of Amel
ca WIS not that Of rebels, subject to be de-
with as traitors and pirates BY their cncn
RI but the dignijed and solemn conduct Of
. belligcrent Power, struggling, with wisdo
l. and energy, to assume place among the ere
IS States Of the civilized world, upon 6rot
}. and just principle which commended itself
r. that worlds respect.
4 CLEAN OF LIGHT
The undersigned have witnessed with ple
a sure that the views which, in their first inte
It view, they pressed upon your Lordship as
n the 1lEdopbtcd right of the Confederate Statt
~ under the law OF nations, to be treated as
10 belligercnt power, and the monstrous ASST
l. l!Qn U4.i4S IGFCIUMcNI OF washington OF
n right to treat their citizens found in arms up,
- laEd or sea as rebels and pirates, have met vi
- the concurrence Of her Britannia A{aiest,
le Government: and that the moral Weight
II this great and Christian people has been tt,
+ thrown into the scale to prevent the barbara
and iEhnn:an spectacle of war between ci,i3c
l. SO lately claiming common country, co
IS ducted upon principles which would have be
y disgrace to the age III which Wc live
:. CcsfPLA1:;T AGAINST ENGLAND.
e The undersigned, however, received ri
al some surprise and regret, the ayowa1 Of Il
r Britannia Msjcstys s Government that, in ort.
D. / to tue observance Of n strict neutrality, 1
IN / public and private armed vessels Of Meth
n o1 the cnutendlug parties would be permit
d. TO enter Her Majesty's ports With prizes. T
,g undersigned do not contest the right of t
y British Government to make such regulation
or bnt have been disposed to think that it b
been urusuh for Her Majesty'a Govprnme
te to exercise such right, and that in Il
ey Instance the practical operation OF the It
ne has been TO favor the Government at Was
Of lngton, and 10 cripple the exercise Of an d
N doubted public right of the Government
the Confederate States. !.
IN This Government commenced its career {
Z tirely wit1out navy. Owing to the hi
r. sense Of duty which distinguished t
it Southern officers who were lately In comm
ae sion in the United Suites Navy, the ehi
d. which otherwise might hare beon hroug
s. into Southern ports. were honorably deliver
at | up to the United Statcs Government, aud t
Id Navy built for tile protection ofthe people Of
IT. The States is now used By the Government
~ Washington TO coerce the people aud hlo<
ade the ports Of ont third Of the States of {