The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-09-24
Foreign Selections.
Debate in Parliament on Recognition of
the Confederacy.
From the Y. Y. spee.ator, July ISL

In the House Of Commons, on the Both July, Mr..
Roebuck offered his motion with respect TO recogniZ-
ing the Southern Confedrscy. After some prelimin-
airy remarks, he cited the case Of the American
revolution, which established the right of rebellion
or secession, and that of foreign governments 10
recognize the revolted states. The time bad come
for taking such a step, and longer delay would only
force the South into manufacturing for itself. he
narrated the history of his visit to the French En-
peror last fall, and pledged his word that the En-
peror had authorized him 10 say in the House Of
Commons that he had instructed Baron Gros TO pro-
pose negotiation 10 the English government. Much
Of the gentleman's speech consisted Of o TRADE OF
aouse of this county, and the antislavery party in
England.
Lord r. Montague moved. as al amendment, that
this House earnestly desire that the impartial neu-
rrslity should continue TO be maintained by her
Aisjesty's government during the present unhappy
contest in the states of North America. He yielded
to no one man in sympathy and admiration for the
South, but they were now on the point OF working
out their independence. and they ought not to be
interfered with. He also objected to any interven-
Mr.. Clifford seconded the amendment.
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer said 1t was the
duty of every responsible adviser Of the crown 10
divest himself of Partially in considering such a
question as this, and TO regard facts alone IN form
ing a calm and deliberate Judgment. Few who had
observed the heroic deeds Of the South could with
hole that sympathy ; but, on the other hand, the
noble lord conceived visions of extended dominion
to which they chung with pardonable tenacity. Such
a question as this must be argued, not as the basis OF
brltlSn interests, or mat Drltlsn Interests were
threatened by the prospects OF the American Union.
He believed that the policy Of strict neutrality and
non Intervention was the only one that would have
been approved by the country, and in the spirit OF
that policy government still desired TO act.
He did not believe that the restoration OF the Union
WAS attainable, and this was the general opinion of
the country, regarded in the light that there could
be no doubt of the issue. No practical benefit could
result from recognition at present. There was no
case in which such "A recognition had taken place
without being followed by war. and admitting the
evils OF the war, they must take care that in remedy
ing one evil they did not fall into a greater. y
recognition would deprive this country OF the charac-
ter and weight OF impartiality. When a time for
Intervention did arrive this country had many
traditional relations and interests. France, by her
action in Mexico, had engagements which prevented
her recognition Of tie South without mourning a
tnunt of impartiaIty or self-interest fatal 10 their
interest and authority.
additionally and naturally America affected 10 be
independent of European opinion; but they had more
faith in the gentle act OF that opinion than in diplo-
matte acts, but action would be destroyed by q
recognition OF the S,uth. II would also rouse ~ the
North that spirit Of patriotic TeistGnct rhich had
hitherto been the grcat secret Of Southern success and
Northern in feriority, and it would check any reac-
ton that might be going on in the minds Of American
citizens in favor Of peace.
Mr.. Forster reviewed the relations Of Mr.. Roebuck
to The French Emperor, terming the former a second
Ambassador. He deprecated the idea OF England
following the Imperial guidance into war with Amer
lea, as 1t had drifted into the Crimean war, and
would probably do so into another Russian war on
account of Poland.
Lord r. Cecil supported the motion, maintaining
that the North could never conquer the South and
that the present English Government was the sole
obstacle 10 recognition.
MIR. Bright said that the honorable member for
Sheffield had lett them in no manner of doubt as TO
his object, which,, when his recent character and re-
cent speeches were considered, was the same as if he
had asked the House to address the Crown and de-
clare war against the United States. The Chancellor
of the Excheouer, who was not very warm On this
subject, was obliged to charge him with bitter hos
tility.
The honorable gentleman told them that the North
was overbearing, but he did not tell them its govern
nent had hitherto been Administered by his friends :
Of the South. He told them that the South were
English, but not the scum of Europe. He had de-
tailed Il conversation with the Emperor Of the French,
and asked them TO follow his lead in the greatest
question ever submitted TO that House. There was a
time when the honorable member held very different
language. He said be had no faith in the Emperor
OF the French, and he looked for nothing but enmity
aud bad faith from him. The honorable member then
proceeded 10 defend the policy of the North, and ex-s
pressed his opinion that slavery was doomed, and the
restoration of the Union not impossible. He would
suppose that il was possible the Union would be re-
stored on the basis of the South, although he did not
believe il, for he had faith i'll the moral government
of the world. The United States could. with their
army and navy and vast recources, drive us out Of
Canada and the West Indies.
He condemned in strong terms the policy and OBJ
jects of the Southern seeded states, and spoke Of the
North as the organized defender of liberty, freedom
aud equality. 4 war with the United States would
be n war OH the ocean, and everything belonging TO
both countries would be swept from the seas. When
the trouble in America was over, whether the Union
was restored or not. it would leave n wound in the
hearts of the most instructed and the w~ealthiest peo-
pie on earth which IL century would not heal; but he
prayed the Great Arbitrator Of events would never
permit this country to commit the most stupendOus
act 81 guilt ever recorded in the annals of the world.
Mr.. Wyndham moved the adjournment of the de-
bate.
Sir G.. Gray said he would not now notice the ex-
traOrdinary conduct of Mr.. ROebuck in constituting
himself an envoy to the Emperor of the French,
although such conduct was a violation of all conf
dence and oticial courtesy. He repeated the declara-
tiOns Of Earl Russell in the House of Lords. and
expressed his inability to reconcile them with the
statement Of Mr.. Roebuck. As to his personal
knowledge o. the views of the Emperor of the French,
they were totally at variance with the information
possessed by the Foreign Office. He utterly denied
that there was the slightest ground for the complaint
that confidential communications of the Emperor had
been submitted to the Federal Government; such a
Charge was preposterous, and Mr.. Roebuck must
have misunderstood the Emperor, who has always
expressed his satisfaction ut the manner in which
his views had been considered by Her Maiesty's
government.
The debate was then adjourned to the 18th.
of Foreign uIinel