Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-28

The latest arrival from Europe-that OF
the America, at Halifax, March %, from
Liverpool March Strings US the debate in
the English House of Commons on the til
inst. on Mr.. Gregory'a motion for a copy of
any correspondence on the subject of the
Southern blockade, subsequent to the papers
already before the House. Mr.. Gregory has
been the right hand man Of the Secessionists
in the House of Commons, and from the first
Gag to have the Southern Coniederacy re-
cognized as legitimate government. lie
renewed his expression Of sympathy for the
cause Of the rebels, and made the 'buncOmbe'
assertion that only by separation OF the
South from the North could they hope to see
slavery abolished in America
MI George Bentinck seconded the motion
The reunion of the Northern and Southern States
be regarded as an utter impossibility. The North
ern States couli not complain Of a recognition of
the Southern Confederacy, when they remember
that they derived their origin from a successful
secession from the government Of this country.
Mr.. ". E. Foster denied that the blockade was
ineffective, and stated that the list of upwards Of
500 vessels which had ben handed in by Mr..
Mason IS a list Of the vessels which hal broken
the blockade, had on examination dwindled down
70 "a, and most Of these had escaped on dark and
Stormy nights thus evInong the stringency rather
than the lneficienoy Of the blockade. lie also re-
minded the House that during the war between
Great britain and her revolted colonies in Amer
lea no less than 500 pIivateers succeeded in get
ting out Of meriean ports lie warmly euio-
giIcd TIE conduct OF her msjestys government IN
reference to Amer a and said that their fOrbear-
ance AID fruness had been the means OF pressrv-
Ing u from one OF the most depluTsble wass L.
which 1t was possible could be engaged. lie
trusted that no temptation, LOT even Che suffering
% portion Of the population, would induce the
government to depart IRON the strict neutrality
hitherto observed.
sir james ferguson oontended that without
declaration Of war there could be no legal block
abe ami called on Her Majesty's Government 10
interfere in the matter. In sanctioning the con-
uuuance Of an illegal blockade, they were virtu-
ally departing from the profession Of neutrality
and assisting the stronger power.
Mir. Miner Gibson could Lot believe in the
6nal dissolution Of the great American Union,
and deprecated active interference by the Brit-
leu Government in the struggle now taking pla &C
Mr. Lindsay quoted IRON several letters lie had
receive. from America IN proof Of his assertion
that The blockade was merely paper blockade
and bad been broken nearly one hunured times by
vessels running between the Southern States and
Cuba.
Inc Solici OF General (Sir William Appl,ton)
Wa Of the opinion that II was the duty Of tue
Government to mainI ain as 1t had done a strict
neutrality between the c0ntending PARTIES. With
regard To the blockade it efficiency must be judged
by Great Britain by those principles Of interna-
tionsl law which had been laid down by the most
distinguished jurists and which had invariably
been acted on when the question Of blockade had
ARISEN. England had as strong an interest as any
country IN the world in maintaining the right
90 blockade by a belli gerent power, and she was
bound to exercise the greatest caution before she
took any course which might ultimately destroy
the value of her maritime supremacy; that great
aim which her Independents and strength bad
been established. The Solicitor General then en-
tered into a lengthy argument, in the course Of
which be quoted numerous precCdents to show that
the present blockade was eHectual IS other
b!cckaies had been in former years, and that it
would be violation both If international law and
OF the principles oil neutrality to break IL. lie
complimented the speech Of Mr.. Foster, asserting
that the facts ne had laid before the House were
wholly uuauswersbe. The returns received by
the government fully establish the accuracy OF
us statistics. He proved conYincIngly that there
had been only one or two Instances and tho c too
under cover of night, in which the blockade had
Geen successfully run.
he had tailed to gather from Mr.. Gregory re-
marks what was the precise end he wished TO at
tam. Did be wish TO dictate TO the United states
the manner in which bellgerent operations 50 far
a. the blockade concerned, ought to be carried
u, and If their offer not accepted to establish
al armed neutrality, and by force break through
ami destroy the obstacles which the United states
had placed TO the access Of our merchant vessels
u Particular pa Is? such course on our part
would have been actual war. ne Urged that de-
pIecIting voice even more powerful than that Of
governments would have bee heard from one END
Of the country to the other, ministers had list
ened Tor q moment to any proposition for bre K
ing the blockade. He resumed bis seat amidst
loud cheers from all parts Of the House.
The motion was nvgdtlved without division.