Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-15
OvPICIaL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE
sTATE DEPARTMENT.
RELATIVE r6 1HE DISMISSAL OF TIE BRITISH
CONSULS
M. BEHJAMIN TO M. sLIDKLL.
CONYEDERAFE SrArEs or AMERICA,
DEPARTMENT or STATE,

Richmond, sth October 1868.
Sir-The conduct OF the British consular agents IN
the Consderacy has compelled the President TO take the
decisive step OF expeing them from country, and
il il deemed proper put you possession Of the
which have produced this result that you may have It
in your power 70 correct any misrepresentation on the
subject To ths en is necessary TO review the whole
course Of the British Government and that OF the Con-
isderacy. in relation to these officials.
When the OoUlejersey first formed, tsere was In
our ports number Of British Consuls and Consular
Agents who had been recognized a. such, not oAy by
the Government Of the United States which was then
the authorized agent Of the several States for that pur
pose but by the State authorities Themselves. Under
abe law Of nations these officials are not entitled 10 ex-
ercise political or diplomatic functions nor are they
ever accredited 10 the soveregns within whose domn-
ions they reside Their only warrant OF authority 10
the commission of their Government; but usage re-
ouires that those who have the full grade Of Consul
should not exer ise their functions within the territory
of any sovereign before receiving his permission IN The
form Of 40 ersg4atir While Consular Agents OF infe
ror grades simply notify the local authorities OF their
intention TO act in that cap1oi l. has not been Gus
tomarS upon any change Of Government to interfere
with these commercial officials, already established IL
the discharge Of their dues and is the recognized
obligation TO treat all Governments winch may be e.
tabhshtd de dctO tne porte Hhcre toey reside
governments de lure The Brush CO. suiar Cthc!as
gave no cause OF complaint THIS score aud h
President interpreted objection Ln the cont nu"d t1-
ercise OF tier functions On her grounhS, no sever
various o complain, subsequv u slo-e, aud IN
she case Of Consul Moore ii found necessary % re-
woke his srsQlatr foe his dsre ard OF the legitimate
REQUEST of this Department that he shopld aba ain rom
further action as Consul until he had submitted his CON-
mission for inspection and because Of his offensive re-
marks touching the eoRduct Of the Confederate author
es in relation TO enlisted soldiers as fully explained
in published dispatch OF this Government Attention
was also called in that dispatch (which was comnuni-
Gated to tho British Cabinet to the Objectionable con-
duct of British functonGres in the onemyG country,
Who Assumed authority within the limits Of the COufed-
eracy, thereby implying that these States we're sti
members o. the Union to which those functionaries
were accredited and Ignoring the existence Of this
ernment within the territory over VII CD It Ws e1er-
cising uuquestoned sway. Notwithstanding the grave
character Of this complaint the President confined him
self to reprehending this conduct and TO informing the
British Government that he had forbidden for the flu
ture any direct communication between British Consua
here and British officials in the United Siates Aud
here may lot be improper 70 observe that although
this dispatch Was published At the time of itS date and
was communicated to the Foreign OHioe in LondoU Her
Maesy's Ministers made the strange mistake OF assert
ing in the House OF Commons that Mr.. AOores dis
missal Was connected in way with alleged cruel
ties committed on BelshsW, of whose existence the
Department iguOrant till the publication Of the de
bate and concerning whom representation exists on
its files
Soon after that dispatch vas forWarded, the Presi-
dent was sppIised by the Governor OF Alabama that
Her NaicstyS Government had visited with dis
pleasure and bad removed from Office the British Con-
suar agent at Mobile because he had we'd and for
uarded from Mobile on an English mGn-of-WGr, money
due By the State of Alabama to British subjects for
interest the public debt OF the State and that the
British Minister Washington, after failing in sctve
efforts 10 prevent the remittance Of this money had
assumed tho power Of appointing Consular agent with
ia the COnfederacy 70 replace the officer at Mobile, who
had incurred and punishment for the discharge
OF plain duty 10 British subGcts, which happened
be dsLAsSiul % the United States copy OF the dis
patch on this subject communicated to the British Gov
eminent is enclosed and you will perceive that the
ton of the President marked by extreme forbear-
anee and that he confined himself to refusing permission
that Mr. CridlAnd should under Lord Lyons ms
ions and to exercising the confident hope that Her
MAsstys Government would in the future choose some
ether mode Of transmitting its orders and exercising its
authority its agents within the ConfederAcy thAn
by delegAting to tuuctionares who reside among our
enemies the poWero give orders or instructions to those
who reside among
In his answer to this despatch (of which a copy is
also enclosed) Earl Russell while acknowledge the
ustcS Of against the assumption Of
authority by Lord Lyons, defends the action OF the
British Government 10 the matter Of the Mobile Consul
late by maintaining that the transmission of the specie
By Consul hagee, under the circumstances above
pansd chad the character in the eyes OF Her AAjestys
lGoVernment, OF ding Of the beligerents against
the Otnef. ibis Shtoment clearly assumes that the
transmission Of specie from Of these States TO Great
BtAin in payment Of public debt British subj cts
is an OF hostility against the United States which
British officials canno: promote with due regard 70
tral obligations because il "aids of the begeTens
GgziRst the other" No is given for this cohclu
son which appears to at variance with all received
notions Of International law The States Of the Con-
federAcy have under the most adverse circumstances
made great efforts aud sacrifices TO effect puuctuA pay
ment OF their debts 70 neutra and these efforts do not
TO uS to be properly aracteriEed as bel bel
igerent acts against enemies. We can but regret
that Her MsjestyS Government have determined to
regard them and to discourage the discharge Of duty
in which Brit SD subjects 20 deeply interested.
Within the last few days the President has been in.
formed By communications addressed to the State and
Confederate authorizes by two out of the three British
Consular Agents remaining here, that they had we'd
instructions from their Governments to pursue course
Of conduct IN regard 70 persona of British origin
residing within the COniedsracy, which II has been i'm
possible tolerate 1t scarcely probable that ho
instructions Of Earl Russell have been properly under
stood by his agents, but have means of commu-
eating wi the British Government Tor the correction
Of Misunderstanding. You are aware that Great Br.
tain has diplomatic agent accredited 10 U.s. and that
Earl Russell having declined personal Interview With
Mr.. Mason, the lat err after some time spent 1t
sactOry interchange of written communications mas
osen relieved Of mission which had been rendered
painful 70 himself, aud productive OF no benefit o
his country. The President WAs therefore, compelled
to take the remedy in o his own hands
brief statement will suffice for your full comprshep-
sion of the mater In April, 1862, Congress pas ed
Law directing draft for the army Of cal white
who are residents of the Confederate Saes between
the ages of eighteen and fOry6ve years and legal
" exempted from military service" The. draft was
made stated in the law in view Of the absolute
cessty "of placing in the 6sld large additional force
20 meet the advancing columns of the enemy inVa
ding SOIL" in other words all residents capable Of
bearing arms were called to protect their homes
from invasion, their property from plunder their
own families from cruel outrage. You will observe that
the call was not made until after year Of war, during
which it had been entirely within the power Of all for
ssners 70 depart from the country threatened with in
vSson if they preferred not 20 share the common lot
its inhAbitantz
Upon the PRONUNCIATION Of this Nv objections was
made by several foreign ConSus to is application to the
subjects Of their Soysregns and the President directed