Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-04-10
MIR. Mason and the British Government.

Inc Northern papers have recently brought To
light from the English papers, the correspondence
between Mr. Mason, the Confederate Minister, and
Earl RUSSELL extending from April to August, 1852
In July, it seems, Mr. Mason expressed desire for
personal interview with Earl Russell, to which
the latter replied that he "did not think that any
advantage would arise from the personal interview
which Mr.. Mason proposes, and must therefore
| decline it."
We publish below the letter of Earl Russell to
Mr.. Mason, of date August 2, 1852 as embodying
the gst of the correspondence 1t will be that
Earl Russell holds out no hope that the English
government will speedily recognize the Confederate
| States.
Mr.. Mason, it seems, stated in of his letters
that the separation of the Southern States from the
old government was "the termination of Confed-
eracy which had, during a long course of years.
violated the terms of the federal compact" This
Is not true in point Of fact. Up to the time when
the cotton States seeded the old government had
not only not made, but had not threatened to make
any encrOachment on the rights. of the South. 1t
is true several of the non-saveholding States had
nullifed the fugitive slave law, and had proved re-
creant in this respect to their Constitutional obi
cations; but the common government had at no
time "violated the terms of the federal compact"
This statement of Mr.. Mason is similar to the one
made by Mr.. Yancey, in August, 1861, to the gov
ernments Of Europe. Mr.. Yanccy, in letter writ
ten at that time declared that the Southern States
did not secede account of slavery but on account
of the tariff; and to prove this he referred to the
fact that after the cotton States went out the black
Republican Congress- by twOthirds vote, agreed
to guarantee slavery in the States for all time. 1t
may be that Mr.. Yanccy, Mr.. Mason ond others of
their school of politics, advocated and desired
cession on account of the tariff; but if they had
made the issue the tariff alone even in the cotton
States, the secession movement would have failed.
But it is we'll known that these gentlemen conspred
to break up the Democratic party at Charleston and
Baltimore not on account of the tariff but because
the national Democracy refused, and very properly
refused TO pledge themselves to urge Congress to
enact laws to protect and establish slavery in the
common territories. That party was willing to See
slaves carried to the territories, and the rights Of
their protected by the Courts under the Con-
stitutIon until the territories should become States;
but it had always refused as it refused at Charles
ton and Baltimore, to take any steps to legislate
slavery into or cut of the territories Mr.. Yancey
and his followers knew in advance that the party
would not change its platform in this respect but
it was urged to do il, and the public mind was in
famed on the subject, because they determined
in any erent, to 6reak up the gOcernment. This is
the truth of history and it is to be regretted that
the statements of the causes Of dissolution, made
by Ministers in Europe, are not consistent with
the truth. 1t would have been much more truthful,
as we'll as moro manly, to have said that portion
of the Southern States desired separate and nGe-
pendent government; that they availed themselves
of the election of Mr.. Lincoln which, to some ex-
tent, they aided in accomplishing to announce their
separation from the old government; that contrary
to their belief and expectation the old government
levied war against them, and called the border
slavehodng States to aid it in prosecuting the war
that the border States though they dsaPproved the
act of separation, regarded the call on them for
troops and the use of the sword against the seeded
States as a violation of the Constitution and sub
version of the gov eminent itself as it originally
formed; that they also held that the wrong of Sc
cession at will could not justify the wrong of CO.
ercion by the common government, which was the
creature of the States; that if the was the pa
! rent of anarchy the other the parent Of des
potism; and so holding and being united with the
seeded States by the bonds of common institu.
ton and common sympathies they determined to
! oin them in resisting the old government and tC
persevere in this resistance until the independence
! of the new government should be established But
we are OBTAINING read deTS from the letter of Ear
! Russell which as follows
EARL RUSSELL TO MIR. MASON.