Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-09-10
ALLEGED RESTRAINT ON BRITISH COMMERCE

The British Government has recently caused to be pub
she the between it's Dep Of For
eign Affairs and Mr. SEWARD, running over the period
embraced between May GOTH 1862 and July 18th of the
present aud having reference restrictions alleged
to have been placed upon British commerce between
American ports and these islands. The following 10 sum
mary Of it,
The important portion of the correspondence be-
gan in September 1862 in note from the British repre-
sentative in this country Mr. STUART in which he rectes
ike grievances OF Great Britain and announces that his
Government cannot acquesce in the system OF interference
with the legitimate trade of Great Britain which he says
is now practised by the United States authorities in
prevention of existing treaties and International law.
These grievances stated to be that British vessels
lawfully trading between New York and the Bahamas
instances refused cearances at New York. and in
Others after having been regularly cleared with full
knowledge by the United States authorities OF the articles
board detained and searched, and are required
either TO Ireland portions of their cagoes or to give bonds
that part Of the cargo shall any indefinite time be
used by the enemies Of the United States Mr. Stuart
asserts in continuation, that trade between Great Britain
and the United Staes-at least to ports and places in
the undsurbed of the United States not in
any degree affected by the state Of in which the Uni
ted States engaged aud that trade between
Great Britain and an enemy OF the United States-the
former preserving strict neutrality indifference be-
tween the begerent pArtescan be affected only in the
and to the extent prescribed by the international
law Of blockade And he concludes by saying that ship
mens Ike those now subjected interference if made 10
time Of peace could prohibited without giving us
of complaint to Great Britain, especially while they
remain open to other nations and that such course
state of quasi hostility to Great Britain on ac
count of geographical other supposed to
mix her with the int rests of the enemy OF tho United
Stats
10 this protest Mr. SEWARD replies that thereha been
violation Of treaties International law that by the
law of nations every State is sovereign its own c
and strangers within its limits that it has right to
maintain that sovereignty against sedon and nsurrecon
by civil prevenves penalties by armed force, and 10
nterdct such expectations from within its own borders
as may supply traitors in against itself with the
means OF carrying rebellion. These rights he denies
have BEEN surrendered by treaty convention
prohibited by international law. Admitting tho
principle that proceedings, regulations and laws
should not discriminate to the prejudice OF Great Britain
Mr. Seward shows that they have not Disseminated
all of them applying with equal force to American citizens
and people of all other countries but that the difficulties
experienced by British traders is owing to the peculiar
nature of their shipments and the position of the pOrts
with which they trade The letter concludes with
that Government will examine upon its merits
any infringement upon British rights, and promptly
render the redress DUE if the complaint sustained
On the 18th of December, 1862 Earl RUSSELL replies
to the arguments of Mr. SEWARD and reteraes that there
has been serious violation of treaty obligations by the
United States which violation has been attempted to be-
disguised under preence Of the right of domestic egsa-
tion He contends that it is not case OF domestic legs
laon but stoppage of British goods IN transiu from
Great Britain to the Bahamas for not justified by
international law and insists that there had been
ydious distinction made by the United States against
Great Britain.
In answer to this Mr. SEWARD again responds dsclam
ing the charge of nvdous disc minaton and the
spondence closes with from Earl RUSSELL to Lord
LYONS dated July 18Th in which he says his Govern
ment has been disappointed of its expectations that s
respecting the interference complained of
fresh remembrance the subject to the United States