Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-16
Mr.. BENJAMIN TO MR.. FyLLARToN.
DEPARTMENT OF STaTE,
RICuMuSD, October 5, lSO.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
RICuMoSD, October 5, 1863.
Sir: Your letters of the lst and Sd instant
have been received. You inform this govern
ment that, "under your instructions you have
felt it to be your duty to advise British sub
jects that whilst they ought to acquesce in
the service required 80 long as it is restricted
to the maintenance of internal peace and or
der, whenever they shall be brought into ac
! tual ccahict with the forces of the United
States, whether under the State or Confede
rate Government, the service so required is
such as they cannet be expected to perform.
Your correspondence with the Governor of
Georgia leaves no doubt of the meaning in.
tended to be conveyed by this language. In
that correspondence you state that ''under iu-
structions, you have felt yourself compelled
to advise those drafted to acqucsce until
called from'thcir homes, or to meet the United
States forces in actual conflict: hut in that
| event to throw down their arms and refuse Ia
render IL service directly in the teeth of Her
Mnjesty's proclamation, which would incur
the severe penalties denounced in the neu-
traIity act"
In a communication from the acting British
Consul in Charleston, TO the military authorities
he also has informed them that che has advised
the British subjects generally to acquiesce in the
State militia organizations, but at the same tina,
he informed them that in The event the militia
should be brought into conflict with the forces
of the United States, either before after being
turned over to the Confederate Government. the
services required of them would he such as Brit
ish subjects could not be expected to perform
1t thus appears that the Consular Agents Of the
British Government have been instructed not to
contne themselves to an appeal for rnlress, either
to courts Of justice or to this Government when
ever they may conceive that grounds exist for
complaint against the Confederate authorities in
their treatment Of British sub jecs, ian appeal
which has in no rase been made without rcceiv-
ing Just conSideration,) but that they assume The
power of determining for themselves whether
enlisted soldiers Of the Cunfederacy are properly
bound to its service that they even arr0gaie the
right to interfere directly with the execution Of
the Confederate laws,and to advise soldiers of the
Confederate armies to throw down their arms in
the face of tho enemy.
This assumption ofiurisdicton bv foreign
officials within the territory Of the Cumtadera
cy, and this encroachmcnt on its sOverei gnty
cannot be tolerated for moment, and the
President has had no hesitation in directing
that all Consuls and Consular Agents of the
British Government be notified that they can
no longer be permitted to exercise their func
tions or even reside within the limits Of the
Conledaracy.
am directed, therefore, by the President
to communicate to you this order, that you
promptly depart from the Confederacy, and
1rat in the meantime you cease to exercise any
Consular functions within its limits.
| am, sir, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
j. p. BENJAMIN,
Secretary Of State.
4. FuLLARToN, Esq, Savannah, Ga.