The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-11-03

on States in regard TO the payment oil public debts
towards their enemies, M decucr reurgach
stain their name than the refusal 10 DO iuzice
to neutral creditors. The observance Of p!ightad
public faith concerns mankind at large in Il IN
nations have n common interest; aud tlt haiii-r
rent who perverts the weapons of legitimate var.
fare into instrumcutaty for forcing his enemy
TO dishonor his obligations aud incur the reproach
of being faithless to bis engagements, wages ri.
raticnl and not an honorable warfare; aud becomes
hOstiS yeBeris hUmaRi. Public honor is hdld sa.
cred by International law against the attaek OF the
most malevolent foe, and susceptible Of loss on
y BY the recreahcy of its possessor" lie inquiries
what possible interest the United States could
have in endeavdriug 10 arrest the shipment OF this
speciey and concludes that one orthe other he
might bave said both of two motives prompted IL,
viz: to dishoDor the State of Alabama or 20 korp
the money where the fortunes OF war might enable
the United States to plunder it, Alabama is. Ell
ther one OF the United States or is il not Fit is,
then the United States is bound 10 Great Britain
render all legitimate aid in the collection of Just
debts; and has certainly no right to nterpose OBJ.
stacles to the payment. Ifshe did, il would be
cause of offence to Great Britain. But if tho
State of Alabama is not one of the United States,
but an independent State the action OF the British
Minister IN endeavoring TO prevent the shipment
was not noutral'act but an unfriendly co-opera-
tion with an enemy
To this letter, which was laid before Earl Rus
sell on the oath July, he replied on the 10Th Au-
gust approving in very few words of the attempt
to prevent the shi pment of thrspeoie, but admit
ting, also very briefly, that "thc sostyled Confcd.
crate States not bound TO recognize an author
ity derived from Lord Lyons Her Maiesty's Min
isrer at Washington" TO this he adds:
"But it is very desirable that persons authorized
by Her Majesty should have the means Of repre-
senting at Richmond and elsewhere in the Confcd-
crate States the interests Of British subjects who
may be in the Of the war previously wrong
ed by the acts of subordinate officers. This has
been done in other similar of States moi re-
cognized by Her Majesty, and it would be in con-
furmty with the anity professed by the so-stylcd
Confederate States towards Her Majesty and the
British nation, if arrangements could be made for
correspondence between agents appointed by Her
Majestys Government TO reside in the Coniedcr-
ate States, and the authorities Of such States"
A letter from Mr. Mason TO Earl Russell, 10 re-
ply to the above, closes the correspondence. lie
says the Confederate Government has certainly
shown disinclination to permit British Consuls
to reside within the Coafederacy and 10 be in com
munication with the government In regard to
the closing suggestion Of Earl Russell, he says:
"That if it be your Lordship's pleasure to make
this proposition in such form may be agreeable
to Her Mujestys Government, and not at variance
with the views expressed in the despatch Of Mr.
Benjamin, / do not doubt it would receive the
favorable consideration Of the Government at
Richmond; and l should be happy in being the
medium to communicate it,"
We think tho "so-styed Confederate States
would have consulted its own dignity and self
respect by treating Earl Russell's suggestion with
until submitted in more respectful
language.