Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-04-29
England and the Conserva tiges Co
Quetting.


We published, the other morning, a
revelation from the Blue Book" of the
English Cabinet, (which contains their
diplomatic cOrrespondence,) III the form
of a letter of the most extraordinary
character, from Lord Lyons to Earl Rus
sell in relation to our affairs. In that
letter, written Nov. Il, lS62, Lord Lyons
informs the British Premier that he had
AN interview with the leaders of what he
calls the"60HScrgati0e party in New York.
lie details TO Earl Russell the system oi
tactics which these ICON servatives' more
generally known as 'copperheads!) are
to inausurate in view of reglining theI I
power over the country, lost when Bu-
chanan closed his career of inthmy. He
informs the British Minister at home
that they look for European mediation,
but have fears that it will come toe
soon ri. e. before these conservative cop
perheads get control of the Executive
Government; and he signifies to Russell
that these very conservative leaders
would desire mediation at a SeaSoRaJit
time, even at the risk of losing the
Southern States altogether
All this only reveals the animus of the
proceeding to gain the control of the. Ex-
ecutive Government, 'as Lord Lyons calls
it, which is to harass and embarrass, him
der and impede the operations of The
Administration in order 10 prolong the
war, and thereby weary the people to
such a degree as TO induce them TO trust
the COpperheads with the next Admins
tration. This being done, then Europe
an mediation may come forward success
fully, only England must not be too con
spicuous in it and the independence of
the Confederacy is TO be recognized by
the Copperheads and the war closed Icy a
peace, as though compelled by the con-
joint demands of Europe. This then be-
ing the programme of the Copperheads
as to their part, what is the policy of
England in this regard, as the party of
second the party.
Lord Lyons informs his Government
that an armistice, which is the first step
toward peace, and which these 'COnseI-
vatives' clamor for, will most likely be fol-
l0,red by the recoghitiOH of tie COnteieracy.-
This. then, is the issue of affairs towards
which he, as the representative of Great
Britain, directs his hopes and expecta-
tions. This, then, is the key to the poll
cy of England: it is to divide and con-
quer. She knows that separation will
weaken us beyond all estimate; and
therein she sees the removal of her great
est maratime and commercial rival
With America sundered, divided, and
beset with all the distractions and distur
Dances that division must engender for
generation to come, England sees the
commerce of the world within her own
control. To divide this nation is, there
fore, her great hope; to promote disun-
ion and to render secession successful is
her grand desire. And to this end it is
that ner Minister to this country is CO.
quoting, and secretly billing and cooling
with these leaders of the Copperheads in
New York, with whom a return TO power
is more absorbing motive than the pres
ervation of the Union
As TO the propriety of such course on
the part of the British Minister, the
world can render but one opinion, and
that of censure and condemnation. 1t is
surely sufficient to excite surprise, possi-
bly, disgust, to find British Minister,
accredited to our Government as the dig
niied representative of England, meet
ing in secret with the party leaders of a
school of politicians whose loyalty is by
no means free from taint, representatives
too of the same party from which went
the traitorous chiefs and leaders of the
comforting with them in rela-
tion to their plans in the future as to the
control of the Executive Government
with them concerning the action
of European Courts in relation TO media
tion, expounding to them in secret con-
clave the policy and purpose of Europe
our affairs, receiving their sug-
gestions in regard to delaying mediation
to a more seasonable time,-does not all
this look as though Lord Lyons regarded
his mission as more to the leaders of the
Conservatives than to the
United State Government? Nor would
the world be slow to conclude that his
purpose was more to prompt conspirators
against the Government III order to Sc
cure disunion, than to watch over the le-
Ultimate interests of his own country. In
this aspect he ceases to be Minister and
becomes an EmmisSary OF England TO stir
up disloyalty, to encourage sedition and
privy conspiracy. to foment party dis
cords, and to promote party machina-
tions, whereby the policy of England in
ulhlHS OuI power ny means Vi sectSSlOn
may be realized. Lord Lyons ought to
remember that French Minister was
once sent home from this country for his
intermeddling with our domestic affairs
and for conniving with partisan leaders
for giving direction to political questions.
In this attitude, the British Minister
stands in no better position than do those
leaders who would plot and
colleague with him against their own gov
If, under cover of his repre-
character, he prostitutes his
diplomatic privileges TO the hatchings of
treason and to the support of the rebel
lion, he forleits all respect either as a
man or an Envoy, and deserves to be dis
missed from his official relations with this
Government.
The whole matter as revealed by Lyons
own letter was simply scandalous. And
the infamy of the transaction is as great
against him as those who voluntarily
turned their backs upon their country
and took counsel with the British emissa-
ry, in relation to their party plans and
State Journal