Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-14
aIchTS.
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RICHMOND WING.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.. OCT. IL, IsSs.
dismissal Of the British Consuls.

Dismissal of the British ConSulS.
We have to express our sincere gratfcatOn this
morning at the announcement made by the Sentinel
Yesterday that he President has folt it hs duty to
dimis, all the British eOnsuls from the COnederacy."-
We hone there may be in the statement thai
this measure has been resoted % 'n consequence Of
the action Of the British consns relative to foreigners
enlisted in the Confederate service" No doubt their
action in this matter ives nadnissable aud offensive,
but the broader and better ground for their dismissal is
that taken BY the President in bis order Of recall 10 Mr.
Mason: "Ths President believes that the Government
Of Her Majesty has determined TO decline the OVertures
made through yOu for estab shing by treaty, friendly
relations between she Governments and entertains
no inteuon Of receiving you the accredited minister
Of this Government near the British Court Under
these circumstances your continued residence in Lon
don neither conducive to the iUtcrest consistent
with the dignity OF this Government SO with the con
subs the President having abundant reason for beeV
ing that the British Government did not intend to ask
sreyaa,s fOr them Of him. and did not intend TO
cprOcate the privilege by Allowing Confederate cOnsuls
70 reside and exercise their functions in the British do
minious, was obliged to conclude that it neither
conducive tbe interest consistent with the dignity
permitted " remain beJe. With this ample aud
mandng reason Tor their dismissal would be equally I'M
necessarysnd unfortunate down the transaction
and weaken its force by assigning a for il the
Official misconduct Of the consuls. To base it upon
this latter ground would be make it question Of fact
aud Of law, upon which issue might be made aud
controversy conducted that would place the Confede
rate States in the wrong. But justify by the
ton Of the British auhortie their reu Il 70 AK for
ersgais, or to extend similar privilege TO Us would
close their lips to complaint or protest.
For nearly three years they have enjoyed this one
SIDED advantage, without showing themselves in the
smallest degree obliged by the favor Liberal minded
Euglishmen have often WOndetd at our fOrbearance
and confessed the reeiprOos obligation il imposed but
the Government has remained Obstnatey and contempt
uously silent A spe -ch from Lord Campbell, IN Par
Ameu now before US, adyers to the matter in the fol
losing terms Great Bril- 4 the right 10 aeknOW-
ledge Southern independence, why ought she to eIer
else it, TIE rss il because honor calls her
so to do British Cousuls have remained during the
war az Mobile, Charleston and Savannah. They are
there for the protection Of subjects Who reside by
thousands on the seabOa d. In times ike these their
presence Is essential Were it not for consuls TO iden
ty them the severe enlistment Laws of the Coufede-
raoy might at any time descend on cur people; or in
the sudden'turns OF their goods might be destroy
cd Wit ous a cue ownership means Of cOmpe naA-
ton Aud these cOusub draH their ercqHaiars from
the Government At Washington. They are a standing
litigation 70 he pooer phici rccsirss which shelters
and sadOrsss them. We not inclined to withdraw
them. We ought therefore, 70 accredit them 10 the
iusulgent who permits them to reside aud if We do he
i. Acknowledged. HonOr iorbds nations, as it does
men, to run up Of gratitude agaius. themselves
aud 70 create a Of just in il object
to offer insult at the moment they are proftiug by
favour"
This is the aspec In which the matter presents itself
to even glishmeu Who are fair minded The British
Government has been receiving the mos. important
benefits at our hands which far from being reopro-
Gated have not restrained from acts of papable in
Justice ami gross wrong l. has not serupled TO ignore
is own trealies TO disregard own precedents and
20 trampe upon it, long standing laws to save t.
self from the necessity Of according US what reason
aud Justice and humanity enG,le The very Latest
adyices give Us 70 understand that Earl Russell has
taken tho ground that the irOneads BrkenheAd are
10 be retained, claw law that he thinks Sew
ads conduct has been open, fair and honorable that
IL ond have been " Infamous" not to respect the
blockade although the requirements Of the treaty Of
Paris, to which he was sOeEnly bound we're not con-
Piled with and that She British Government has no idea
OF changing il position Of refusing to acknowledge
that the Confederate States have shown an ability 10
maintain their independence, although they have stood
test that Great Britain itself was never subjected to
With this spirit aud of conduct the part Of
the British authorities, the President had choice but
TO apply to themselves the measure they 80 pertnA-
ciou,Iy applied 10 us Of nOn-recogniGiOn. We hope
that the new policy viii be made sill pointed aud
significant by enlAFging the embassy to France and in
struelng them 20 negotiate, il practicable treaty Of
alliance and commerce with the Emperor, subject 70
the approval Of The President aud the Senate.