Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-10-22
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE STU L.
DupARrmENr, RELATIVE TO THE oIsm'"-
SAL OF THE BRITISH CON- ULs.
Mr. REEJANIN TO FULLakTcN'
CoNFEDERATR STATES OF AMERICA !

by the Government of the nited States which was
then the authorized agent OF the several States fox that
purpose but by the State authorities themselves Un-
Ger the law of nations these officials not entitedo
exercise political diplomatic functions Ior are they
ever accredited to the soVeregns within whose domn
ions they reside. Their only warrant or authority Is
the commission of their own Government but usage
requires that those who have the full grade OF Consu
should not exercise their functions within the territory
of any sovereign before receiving bis permission in the
form Of all eaequotor while Con-ula agents OF lnfe-
ror grade simply notify the local authorities OF their In
tention to act in that capacity It has not peen Gus
tomary upon any change of Government to Interfere
with these Commercial officials already established in
the discharge of their duties, ard it s their recognized
obligation to treat all Governments which may be e.
ablished de acto the ports where they reside as
governments de 1ure The British consular officials
60 cause of complaint this score and the Pres
iden inerposed no objection to the continued exercise
of their functions On other grounds, however various
causes of complaint subsequently arose. and in the case
Of Consul Moore was found necessary to revoke his
ereQuafor for his disregard Of the legitimate request of
this Department that he should abstain from urther
action Consul until be had submitted his commission
for inspection, and because of bis offensive remarks
touching the conduct of the Confederate authorities in
relation to two enlisted soldiers, fully explained in
published dispatch of this Government. Attention
was alao called to that dispatch (ehIch was comnlun
Gated to the British Cabret to the object enable
duct of British unctOnarie3 IN tie enemy's country,
who assumed authority within the limits OF the Cor
feCeracy thereby implying that these States still
members of the Union to which those tunctionaries
accredited and Ignoring the existence OF this Gov
eminent within the territory over which 1T was exer.
csnc unQuestioned sway. Notwithstanding the grave
character of this complaint the President confined hiu
self to reprehendng this conduct and to informing the
British Government that he had forbidden, for the tu
ture any direct cnmmn ninatinn hAtDnen British Con
sle here and British officials in the United States
Aud here it may net be improper to observe that al
though this dispatch published at the time oil its
date, and communicated to the Foreign office in
| 4 IT IL he
mistake of asserting in the House of Commons that
Mr.. Moore's dismissal corrected IN some way,
with alleged crueltes committed on one Beshaw, OF
whose existence the Department ignocant till the
publication of the debate, and concerning whom 10
| representation exists on its files.
soon after that dispatch forwarded, President
appraised by the Governor of Alabama that Her Ma
esty Government bad visited with severe dspeasure and
removed from office the British Consular agent at NO
English money due by the State of Ala
bama British for interest the public debt of
and that the British Ministerial Washington az
ter failing in active efforts to prevent the OF this
money had assumed tue power OF appointing Consular
bite, who had incurred and punishment the dis
charge of plain duty to British Subjects which happen
dispatch On This subject Communicated to the British Gov
is crclosed AID will perceive that the action
that he confined Himself to refusing permission that Air.
Cridaod should under Lord Lyons Instructions AMI to
expressing confident hope that Her Majesty Goyarn
would il the future choose other node OF tran5
mittng its orders and exercising its ansor;y over its
tOneses WHO reside among eGemes he power TO give
orders instructions to those who reside among
In BIS to ths dispatch tof which copy also
enclosed) Earl Russe while acknowledging the justice OF
remonstrarce against the pon of authority by
Lord Lyons deends the action of the British Government
in the matter Of the Mobile Consulate by maintaining that
of specie by Consul Magee the
shove explained had the character
of Her Msests Government OF siairg one OF the
that the transmission OF specie from of hese
states to Great Britain in payment of public debt to Br
fish subjects is act of hostility against the United States
which British officials cannot promote with due regard
neutral obligations because it lads of the begeren1s
appears -eoeived notioas
under the most adverse circumstance great Efforts
and sacrifices to effect punctua! payment of their debts
characterized beiigerent acts against We
but regret tFat Der Majesty Government have
charge OF duty in which British subjects deeply
terested.
oy TO the state and Confederate
authorities By two out of three of the British Consular
agents remaining here that they had received ius
from their Government pursue course of conduct 10
regard to persons Of Brtsh origin fes6
scarcely probable that the Instructions OF Ea,
sell have been properly understood by his agents. but
have of communicating with the British Govern
for the correction of mtsunderatsadrgs You are
that Great Britain has no diplomatic agents accred
interview with Mr. Mason the 4tter after time spent
IL an pd aseTehange 81 TreH GOpmunica
dered painful to himself and wss pr9uetv. Of no benefit
take the remedy into his own h.aas f0''0N
brief statement will suffice for Jour full comprehension
Ia April, 1862, Congress- passed la d.
reeng army of IAN White 1nen who are re-
sdents Of the Confederate states betwe tie ages of
eighteen and fory-EVe years, and not legally exempted
the Of the absolute necessity placing in
the field large additional force meet the adysocrv
columns of the enemy invading soil - in other
residents capable OF bearing were called on
protect their homes from invasion, their own FRO
pery from plumber, their families from outrage
You will observe, the call made after
year of war; during which had entirely within the
of ali foreigners to dept from country threaten
ed with nvasA they preferred not 80 share the common
lot of its inhabitants.
Upon the PRONUNCIATION of this law objection was made
by several foreign Consu appcaon the subjects
Of their sovereigns and the President directed that it's pro-
visions should not be construed impose forced
soourners, temporary residents
but only such bad become citizens of the Confedera
cy de had rendered themselves liable under the
laws OF nations to beconi1ered citizens de dco BIZ
ing established themselves psrman residents within
the Confederacy without the intention returning their
native country.
To this very liberal Interpretation tie law ia favor of
foreign residents not supposed that objection could
be taken but the 18th November, 1862, consul Bunch
at Charleston, wrote to the Department follows:
received the instructions CT Earl Russel Tn
this subject
against the 1orclbe enlistment of British subjects and
say that such subjects donced ONLY by resde1 CO in the
called Confederate States canuot hs f0rciby entitled
military service or those Staes h virtue O: post
Taco law when municipal law existed at the tune of
their domicil rendering them liable to such service.
:" 1t be competent for a which q ed
foreigner may reside such b0st fdCt0 law if
at the same time option offered foreigners affected
Dy TO quit, after reasonable period the Territory
oct this option such violate the principles of
International law, and olh such option conf
heretofore observed between States wond
not be very scrupulousl5 observed.
The pianest notions reason and Justice forbid that
foreigner admitted to reside peaceful and CONNER
oal purposes forming part of the Fe1era Union
I'd hut boI