The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-07-28
THE AMERICAN QUESTION I'm EU-
."T- ROPE
Proceedings Of the Engzish Parliament-Ae Re
cognition question.

'0CCCuttJo
cognition question.
Mr. G. Grey, in reply to MIR Roebuck, stated
that the Government would give up Monday, the
18th, unless any question OF public Importance
should intervene for the ption OF the debate
on the motion for the recognitioa Of the Southern
States of America.
Mr. W E. Foster asked the Under Secretary
for Foreign Affairs if he could inform the House
whether it was true that proposition was made
some time ago for joint mediation between the
Federal and Confederate States on the part of the
English and French Governments.
Mr. Layard, after considerable interruption from
Mr.. Roebuck, denied the truth of statements made
by Mr. Roebuck on the evening when he made his
motion, and said that since November last no com
munication had been received from the French
Government proposing mediation between North
and South He also denied the truth of Mr. Roe
bucks assertion, on the authority, as Mr. Roebuck
alleged, of the Emperor of the French, that
Lord Lyons had committed breach of confidence
by taking to Mr. Seward copy of dispatch ad-
dressed to Her Majesty's Government by the Gov
ernment Of France relative to the affairs of
America.
MR. RoEBUcK's STATEMENT IN FULL.
I was met in the lobby outside some days since
by an honorable and learned friend of mine, who
said to me, ''You propose that the House should
address the Queen, to- ask her to enter into nego
tiaton with the great powers Of Europe. Now, I
have heard to-day, on very good authority, that
the mind of the French ruler has changed, and if
Lord Palmerston can come down to the House and
say so, what becomes of your motion for the recog-
milton of the South?" I acknowledged to my hon
orable and learned friend the force of his state
ment, though, like the Scotchman about the fish,
doubted the fact a laugh Therefore, I wrote
to my honorable friend, the member for Sunder-
L
write to the French Emperor whenever he wanted
to see him-[a laugh land [ said to him in eff
feet, "Suppose, for the purpose of ascertaining
whether this rumor be true, we go across and ask
at once for audience" A laugh For, sir,
I know the Treasury Bench right well. I know
they are wonderfully expert at circulating rumors;
indeed, when they have an object in view, there
is hardly any rumor they won't circulate. A
laugh My letter to the honorable member of
Sunderland got to Paris, and subsequently We had
the audience asked for. I going to make
statement which the Under Secretary for For
eign Affairs may think somewhat surprising, but
it is true for all that The Emperor of the French
said, and he gave me authority to repeat it here,
GAS soon as learned that that rumor was circula-
ting in England [ gave instructions to my Am
bassador to deny the truth of it., Nay, more, [
instructed him to say that my feeling was not,
indeed, exactly the as it was, because it was
stronger than ever in favor Of recognizing the
South. told him also to lay before the British
Government my understanding and my wishes on
this question: and to ask still again whether they
would be willing to join me in that recognition"
T TApplause Now, sir, there is no. mistake about
This matter And to tell me that the British Gov
ernment does not know that that has occurred must
mean some diplomatic evasion. 1t can't be the
truth Hear hear And if there be contradic-
tion, as the Judges say, between the witnesses, I
pledge my veracity for what state. And what
is more, laid before His Majesty two courses of
conduct I said, "Your Majesty may make a for
NAL application to England" He stopped me,
and said: "No, I can't do that, and will tell you
why; some months ago did make formal appli-
cation to England. England sent my despatch to
America Hear, hear.1 That despatch getting
into Mr. Stewards hand, was shown to my Ambass-
ador at Washington It came back to me; and I
feel that was ill-treated by such conduct. Loud
cheers from the Opposition won't, Che added
can't subject myself again to the danger of simi-
lar treatment. EHear hear But will do every
thing short of it. give you full liberty to state
and to say to them that have determined in all
things and 1 will quote his words-"I have de,
termined in all things to act with England; and
more than all things have determined to act with
her as regards America" Hear, hear A large
portion of our manufacturing population have been
for some months living upon charity. Now, there
is very acquired habit of idleness, and
have learned from Lancashire that at the present
time unwillingness to labor is creeping upon
the people, and if we carry them through the com
ing winter in idleness, we don't know what may,
be the consequence to our manufacturing popula-
ton. Again, sir, will quote the words OF His
Majesty the Emperor of the French. and they are
very remarkable words. He said: 81 afraid OF
the coming winter with respect to my manufactur-
ing population" Hearl And my honorable
friend, the member for Sunderland, said: "Slre,
We don't dread the winter, althoughswe know that
great misery must of necessity be entailed upon
our manufacturing population if the cotton famine
continue; but We, Sire, desire to avert from our
countrymen the calamity that must arise from the /
continuation of that famine"
Other members spoke ia opposition to Mr. Roe
bucks motion for recognition, some doubling the
statements of that gentleman. The debate was
then postponed to the 18th Of July. !