Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-15


exercise any Consular functions within its limits.
am, sir, respectfully
| Your obedient servant,
J. P. BEsJAMIE,
Secretary Of State.
| A. FnliGrton Esq, &c, Savannah, Ga.
MR. BESJANN TO Mr. MASON
CeKFEDKRArE STArKs or AMERICA,
DxPARndkkT cP STATE 7
Richmond, llth june 1868. BIZ
.Sr-Snce my No "a, of 9th inst, further infonna-
ton has reached the Department. illustrating most forc
by the necessity for the action taken by the President
on the subject Of Her Britannia Msjestys Consuis resi-
dent within tho ConfederAcy as explained in that des
patch.
On the 18th May, Mr.. Crdland, who had occasionally
acted as Consul in Richmond during temporary alb
sences of Consul Moore sought an interview az the
Department and on being admitted, called my atten-
ton to an article in the Richmond Wig of that date,
which announced that Mr.. Cridland was about
to depart for Mobile with the commission OF
Consul, and that he was accredited TO Mr..
Lincoln-not to this Government. Mr.. CridlAnd as
sured me tha the statement erroneous; that
no was going TO Mobile as a private individual, unof
hcislly 10 look after certain interests of the British
Government that had been left unprotected by the
withdrawal OF Consul Magee He further stated that
as he going there unOicialy he bad not conceived
that there was any improperly in doing so without
communicating his intention to the Department. and
hoped that such was my view Of the matter in.
formed him that all neutral residents were at liberty to
travel within the ConfederSey and 10 transact their bu
sness without other restrictions than such as the mill
ary authorities found it necessary to impose for the
public safety and that this Department saw no reason
70 interpose any objection his going to Mobile to
transact business unofhcialy. He then said that lie
had called at the office OF the Wing to make similar
PLANTATION to the editor Of that paper, Nth view to
the correction of the erroneous impression created by
its article and accordingly the next day article
appeared in that journal announcing that had received
the assurance from Mr.. Urdland that he was going TO
Mobile $40 look after British interests in that quarter
in an unofficial way, and that he "Without COM
mission from the Queen or e1equatur from Washing
ton"
vas, therefore, quite surprised at receiving from
tho Secretary of the Navy official communication OF
telegram received by him from Admiral Buchanan, in
forming the Secretary that Mr. Urdland had been OIL
ciAlly introduced to him by the French CoBsul Act
ing English Consul at Mobile, and had shown the Ad-
mirAl IAN official document signed by Lord Lyons ap
pointing him Acting Engli,h Consul at Mobile" [ ap-
pend copies of this telegram and of the two articles
above referred to- extracted from the Richmond Wing
These, however, not the only exceptonable fes-
lures which mark this affair." Other circumstances to
which your attention is invited, have been brought to
the notice of the Department by official communications
from the Governor of Alabama.
On the 18th November last the Bank Of Mobile, as
agent for the State Of Alabama, addressed communi
cation to Consul Magee at Mobile informing him that
ish subjects interest coupons the State bonds to the
amount Of some forty thousand pounds sterling that
this interest payable in London at the Union Bauk
and at the counting house of the Messrs Rothschd,
and requesting know whether the Bank would be al
lowed to place 10 the hands Of the Consul in coin, the
sum necessary for transmission to England at the
| pense OF the Siate for the purpose mentioned.
On the nth November, Consul Msgee replied that he
had sent to Her Britannia hajesty's Consul at New Or
leans to ask if Her Msjesty's steamship Rnado could
h. tn IN ma faLa
to HAvana be forwarded themes by the Consul Gene
| raj Of Great Britain TO London.
The specie was not conveyed by the RinAldo, but by
Her Majesty ship "Vcsuvius," and accompanied
by certificate OF the President Of the Bank stating
that the remittance OF the thirty-one kegs OF specie
containing each five thousand dollars together 600
:, is for the purpose Of paying dues TO Brit
sh subjects from the State of Alabama and is the pro-
perty and belongs to the subjects Of Her Britannia Ma
jcsty."
The shipment was accompanied by letter addressed
by the Bank agent Of the State Of Alabama to w.
w. Scrimgcour, Esq, Manager OF the Union DO TX Of
London directing its appropriation to the payment Of
the interest due to British aud other foreign holders Of
the State Bonds With statement of the dates at which
the several instruments OF the interest would become
DUE aud of the places in London where they to
be paid.
SO little doubt seemed to have been entertained of
the proprety of this transaction by all that
gagged in it, that the commander OF the "VcsuVus" in
formed the commander of the United States bockadng
squadron that the British Consul had money to send by
him, and no objection nor protest made. Among
the papers ineIed you will ind the account given by
Commodore Hitchcock himself OF the conversation with
the commander of the 'Vesuvius" written after the
dismissal Of Consul Magec, and therefore at a period
when the Commodore could certainly have no motive
for giving coloring TO his narrative adverse TO what
was then known TO be the view of his Government
the subject.
Under these circumstances the "Vesuyius received
in England and stated in the public journals paid
in whole or in part to British subjects thus establish
ing the bona es of the conduct OF all the parties to
the transaction.
1t now appears that no sooner was the intention of
making this remittance communicated TO her Britannia
Msjestys Minister at Washington tbau he took active
measures to prevent it, by sending dispatches to Mobile
forbdding the shipment They, however, failed to ar
rive before the departure of the "Yesuvus" with the
specie, Whereupon Consul Magee dismissed from
Office for receiving and for"ardng it and tue vacancy
thus created in the Office of British Consul at Mobile
was filed by Lord Lyons by the issue of commission
to Mr. Crdland and his departure for Mobile under the
circumstances already explained.
These facts are of character 80 grave as to have a..
acted tho earnest attention Of the President aud il lie
my duty apprise you of the conclusions which he
has arrived in order that you may oae no time in lay
ing them before Her MsestJs Government in the hope
| that q renewed examination o. the subject and
knowledge Of the serious complications which the pres.
ent anomalous relations between the two Governments
may involve will induce the British Cabinet to review
is whole policy connected with those relations and to
place them the sole footing consistent with accom-
plishsd facts that too nooriOvs and too firmly
| tabshed TO be much longer ignored.
By the principles Of the modern public code debts
due by State not subject TO the operation of the
laws Of war; and considered sacred 10 be be.
yond the reach of cocfscation An attempt at such
copHscation would be reprobAted by mankind TIE
United States alone modern times have cOurted such
reprobation, and just detestation has been universally
expressed of their confscaon laws passed during the
pending war. The Government of Great Britain, on
the contrary, has at all times manifested s adherence
of such breaches of public faith, and in the Crimean
war gave the world memorable example of its own
high regard for public honor by paying 10 It's
vvvhi IL b.