Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-10-20
THE ENGLISH CONsULs.

The Richmond papers CT the l5th
inst, contain the official correspondence
of the State Department with our COM
missionefs, Messrs. Mason and Slidell to
the English and French governments,
setting forth the causes which have in
duced President Davis to withdraw the
Exequators ofthe English consuls, these
exequators being written permission by
the e S. Government to those persons
designated by foreign powers, to act in
the official capacity Of consuls in the
ports ofthe Confederate States. Whatever
may be the result of this step in future,
we believe that the people of the Con-
federacy, when made acquainted with
tie facts, will fully concur il. the just
ness Of the diyritied and manly course
pursued by the President in the premis
es. Although the English Government
has heretofore had no particular desire,
that we are aware, to do anything to ad-
vance the interest and power of the Fed
eral Government, the new phase OF
things on this continent and the part
which it is manifest her old rival, France,
is about to take in its affairs, may yet
have some influence III debating poll
cy v hich might in some way impede
the establishment of French power in
Mexico by measures looking to the re-
storation of the Union, and the over
throw of the cause of the South. The
course taken in the future with refer
ence to British subjects in the South
whether it be 10 send us an accredited
| minister and commissioned consuls up
/ on the terms we demand will indicate
the motives which will in all likelihood
establish the policy of that government
towards the South during the continu
ance of the war. If in the official act
Of their consuls that government fails t.
recognize the validity of the claims .
!, 1.-THE South to an obedience to its laws, BY
those who act Rnderits commission, thel
!, lit follows that for any chagrin r ire |
, may experience on account Of the dlsmls
? sal of its consuls it can reasonably hav
( recourse only to the Lincoln dynasty TO
! redress and the protection of the inter
ests of the British subjects in the South
A correct view of this matter would, W
Think, show that Goverement both tn
: Justice and the necessity OF recognizing
= the South and of acknowledging it
! right to be admitted into the family Q
: nations upon a basis demanded by tn
: success of it's arms and motives OF MI
mainly to its own people and to man
: kind generally The course pursued b.
: our Government has been liberal in tn
! extreme. British subjects who hav,
been supposed subject to CONSUMPTION
{ have at all times, under our laws, hat
, the right to establish their exemption
from the action of the Conscript Law b,
+ appearing with proper evidence before
the proper tribunals. But some Of tn,
;. lconsuls Of her Majesty have even gone
so far as to claim that simple certifi
cate from them should be sufficient t.
establish the claim to exemption, willis
: others acting as they asserted under the
+ instructions of their Government have
even undertaken TO advise these enlist
I led in the service of the Confederacy t.
!. be British subjects, & when they appear
e in presence OF the enemy to throw dowr
their arms.
! The whole procedure in the matter il
II based upon a strong Discrimination Il
! recognize facts, or the validity of the
simple claim to jurisdiction within it
ownsslimits We may expect nothing
: from the English. AS to the finale O
the present new condition of things We
have only to say nous gerToaas,