Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-23
SPEECH OF EARL RUSSELL

Earl Russell delivered @ speech at Blair
gowrie, Scotland, on tho 2Gth ultimo. 4
synopsis by telegraph has been published,
but the following portions Of the address re.
latipg to America will be found interesting
DELLIcERENT RIGHTS.
|. This was the state of affairs when tha
which we certainly had no partin broke out
when, if 1 remember rightly, nine Of the
Southern S atcs Of America declared that
hey would form on independent republic
Our course On the subject has been attacked
and blamed in the Interest terms-blamed
sometimes by the Federals and sometimes by
the Con!ederates. The first offence was felt
by the Federals. They say We had no right
70 grant-so far as we were Conference.-The
the Coniederates tho rights Of belligerents.
Well, now, gentlemen, thot question of the
rights of belligercnts is Il question of fact ]
put it to You whether, with FIVE millions Of
people, 100000 I mean of ~freemen, declar-
ing themselves in their several States collect.
lively an independent State, we could pass
over that es a petty rebellion. Our Adtuirnls
asked whether the ships they met bearing the
Confederate flag should he treated as pirates
or no. If We had treated them rs pirates. We
should have been taking part in that contest.
Cheers. It was impossible to look on the
uprising Of q community Of 5000, 900 people
~ a mere petty Instruction hear, hear +
or as not having the rights which at all times
are given to those who, by their numbers and
importance, or by the extent Of the territory
they possess, GRO entitled to these rights
Cheers.
We'll, it was said"wo ought not 20 have done
that because they were a community of slave
holders. Gentlemen, I trust that our abhor-
renee Of slavery is not in the least abated or
diminished. Loud and prolonged cheers l.
For my own part, I consider it one of the
most horrible crimes that yet d;sgraces bu-
manity. lCheers. But then, when we are
treating of the relations which we bear to n
community of men, I doubt whether it would
he cSpedient or useful for humanity that we
should introduce that new element of declar.
ing that we will have no relations with a peo-
pie who permit slavery to exist among them.
We have never adopted it yet; We have not
adopted it in the case Of Spain or Brazil, and
/ do not believe that the cause Of humanity
wonld be served by our adopting it. Hear,
hear.J
ARE THE coNYEpERATEs RzsELs2
Well, it was said that these Confederate
States we're rebels-rebels against the Union.
Perhaps, gentlemen, I am not SO nice as ]
ought to be on the subject. But l r~ecollect
that we rchelled against Charles I. ia laugh
we rebelled against James III. and the peo.
pie of New England, not content with t-ese
two rebellicns. rebelled against George III
Hear, and laughter. l am not saying now
whether all these rebcliions were justiiahle.
or whether they were wrong. am notsaying
whether the present rebellion in the Southern
States is iusti6able instruction, or is a greet
fault or q great crime. But l say that the
mere fact of rebellion is not in my eyes n
crime of so deep o dye that we must renounce
all fellowship and communion, and all rels-
tionship with those who have been guilty Of
rebellion. Loud cheering But, certainly,
it I look to the declarations of those New
England orators-and / have been reading
leteiy;; if not tho whole. yet a very great part,
orthe very long speech by Mr.. Sumner on the
subject, delivered ut New York; own l can
rot but wonder to see these men, the of
spring as it were of three rebellions, as we are
the offspring of two rebellions. really speak
ing, like the Gear of Russia. the Sultan of Tur-
KEY, or Louis XIV. himself, of the dreadful
crime and guilt of rebellion. loud laughter
and cheers
fhE BLOCKADE.
Our people were suffering. and suffering
very greatly, for the want Of the material
which was the great support Of their industry.