Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-13
DEBATE IN THE BRITIsH HOUSE OF
LORDS.
SEIZURE or BRITISH VESSELS BY FEDERAL
CRUISERS EARL RUSSELL'S TEMP0RISING
sPEECH-COMMENTs OF TIE EARL OF DERBY
AND OTHER PEERS.

In the House of Lords the - ult, the Marquis of
Cancarde called attention 70 the seizure Of British ves-
sells in the West Indies by American cruisers and more
especially to the case Of the Dolphin while on legti-
mate voyage from Liverpool to Nassau. He urged in
warm terms that these cases could not be overlooked
as isolated acts. They showed predetermined policy
on the part of the United States Government and it
must be recoected that they took place under the or
ders of Admiral Wilkes, officer notorious for his
hostility toward England. He also wished to know
what course Government intended to take with regard
to the assumption of Mr.. Adams 10 grant certificates to
British vessels trading to neutral ports, and referring
TO the case of the Sea Queen insisted that Government
upht not 70 have withdrawn the mail Strong rein
forcement ought TO be sent to the West India station
With orders TO the Admiral of that station TO protect
British interests 1t wac in the interest Of peace and
of British commerce. which was already suffering great
y from the arbitrary effects OF the American cruisers,
mat he advocated such course.
SPEECH OF EARL LUssML.
Nv r0hle hi.nd has nd very warm spsccl up n
the satje,i ould Tiest I,tASo il The pei iIs
% Nhicl alluded had cen fsct-, aus ware not, fI
the mos par ssumed by tim 10 b, lac G. For nsatc
h. sted tnEl various vesses had been condtmnfd y
the priz cou-s-;te Ade a, the P ttrhcf AM o.h,r
frat CIT. rly unknown to me-, because, though the
sdela nss b,en co, d mned by the P,iz. Court Ky
IN appel been mad AID EiEh regard TO he
terhff w ave 10 account Ioa 81 such event has
taken plce (H,ar, hear) For my GWa- part, iIs esd
of proc 66irg ss imp ions, have thought it my
duty Ia the grave aud responsible position which hold
nnt 10 proceed in aay of those Without seeking in
the frat place the bSst information as 10 the iscs that
coulS b. p ocufId and Ia the next Place. withou roe
RAG 10 the Ian fhcns OF tue Crown in order to know
tls eharact 70 be taChed TO til ae fscts. Har)
V,uottSou3 ht rg1 e. proceed IL matters Cfsucb cliff
Gully tlou taking sound ngs at every sep. Htsr
The has been cspSse in the vai Us insta
to which n noble friend has referred. With regard to
the Gopbn thought il Necessary, having receive TIRE
reports with regard that ves to refer these reports
10 the law t3els Of tie crown; aud What they say s
that there doe' MT app f'om the papers that there
Wss prind facie golnd for seizure; ey do net see
tny p1osabl5 T ason for her capure. but, they add
e., re may be facts unknoWl to me and unknown to
hsm with resp C; to the master of that vessel which
may have hord,d sufficient grounds for sending the We
sci 10 p curt Bu' they say ira. two evidtni so
Ia ons Of Gu raj figl ia have taken place wi h T
gard to that yess They stse that the vessel
which tcok the Dolpain had m d. u'e Ct
a neutral port for ibe purpose 'of watching BrtSh
merchant vessels and that as soon as the Dolphin left
the port, she was Immediately pursued, and when she
had passed beyond the three miles of water of the neu
trail power she seized by this United States vessel
of.war (Hear, hear) There is another point upon
which they say there is great reason for complaint
namely the taking part OF the crew out OF the vessel
aud landing them afterwards upon neutral territory
Hear hear) With r. gard to these two matters they
say there cannoa be doubt that Her Majestys govern
mlnt have right to complain; and accordingly having
this day received their report which is dated yesterday
shall imaedidbJy yths nsrt mail, bring those mat
sTs of complaint URdSr Ae notice Of the United States
government (HeSr) My noble friend says that this
mpunity which the United States have affected to claim
is owing to our neglect of outrages which have taken
pllce on the part Of the United States Now, with re-
gard to that particular point to which the law officers
have referred-namey, the unneutral of neutral
por-the placing there of belligerent vessel to watch
neutral one and pursue her Immediately after her de-
of that kind took place last year with
respect to the Tuscarora. 1t twas Immediately brought
to The attention of the United States government they
laid down rules by which such conduct should not be
perm ted md said that the officer who had committe the
onse it could be shown that he had done So should
be cen,u ell. Well, then, again We complain that in
certain cases there searches. With respect 10
that they say that vessel to be seized without
search. They lay it down;
THAT when that visit is made the vessel is not then
to be seized without search carefully made far to
render il reasonable beeva that she is engaged in
carving contraband of to the insurgents and to
their ports or otherwise violating the blockade; and
that if it shall appear that she is actually bound and
passing from one friendly so-saled neutral port to
another and bound or proceeding to or from port
in the possession of the insurgents then she cannot be
lawfully seized"
Now that is the rule which the United States Secre-
tary of State has laid down for the guidance of the
Secretary to the Navy, and of e United States navy
itself Well, then, it is not fair to assume that in
case where the rule is apparently violated, the United
States are not able to show that the vessel that has been
seized was not proceeding from neutral port TO
other but that she proceeding TO port of the bel
gerent states while apparently on her way to neutral
port That is whch the iGv officers Ct the Groom
SAY frequently occurs. Even suppOsng that Admiral
Wilkes and other officers have violated those rules,
have no reasons TO that reparation when asked
will not be given in conformity with the rules the United
States have themselves laid down. l do not think,
then it is conveDient-I will say more think iteRds
to i.LerYEpt the friendly relations bttoeen the tco
tiors as soon as you hare report Of outrage 10 say
that the government of friendly people TH act IN con.
travsntiOn Of tie LdS of nations; that they meant to
commit a.. Ofease and that they WiH refuse repdrdtion.
Hear hear.l On the contrary, we are bound to
assume either that there were some facts not known to US
which will show that the act was not ndeienslbe, or
that the government of friendly nation will, even from
regard to its own character give reparaton This Their,
Is the case Of the Dolphin. There were no apparent
primo face grounds for the seizure, and if it turns out
that there were grounds then we must not assume
that the United States will refuse to conform to the rules
which they have themselves laid down. (Hear hear
Nv noble rieud advered to the letter Of Mr. Adams,
which has appeared in the public prints. must say
that uas Very extraordinary, 0Ndn my opinion Gmost
unCdrrGRabs act and eSHnot conceive that It can be
proper for person holding diplomatic position ~ this
country to issue such permit to vessel That max
ing distinction between vessels departing from the
ports of this country and giving security 70 one yes
sci as distinguished from another. Cheers 1t is not
possible as il appears to me, that he can besow that
favor on one vessel without making invidous and
perhaps dangerous distinction as against other vessels
There can be no doubt that the conduct Of Mr. Adams
is entirely unwarrantabe but Ishod not think Of com
planning to Mr.. adams. shall bring that conduct be-
fore the consideration of the United States government
Hear hear 1t is for them to say in what manner such
an act should be visited. (Cheers.) Ny noble friend
next went on name a case which he describ
ed fairly enough according to the facts known
TO him. But the whole facts evidently
not known to my noble friend. He spoke of an inter
view at the Foreign Office between myself and several
owners of ships and persons connected with the trade
of the port of London with respect to vessels sailing
Matamoras. The account of that interview, although,