Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-09
", Secretary assured this minister tia, she had no sr'

Iss1 PqsSe-t Lincoln proclaimed the blockade Of the
entire coast of the Coniederacy extending from the
Poomac 20 the Rio GTande embracing, according to the
rns OF the United States coast survey, coast line
Of three thousand FIVE hundred and forty nine statute
mes on which the number Of rivers, bays harbors, in
lets sounds and passes ia hundred and eghty-nine
TIE navy possessed by the United Aes for enforcing
this blockade was stated in the reports communicated
by President Lincoln to the Congress OF the United
States to consist of tWentyour vessels OF all classes in
commission of which half were in distant sess. The
absurdty of the pretsnson Of such blockade, in face
Of the authoritative declaration Of the maritime rights
of neu;ra made at Paris in 1855, was 80 garing that
the attempt regarded as experiment Ca the for
bearance Of neutral powers which they would promptly
resist This conclusion was justified by the fact that the
Governments Of France and Great Britain determined
hat it was Necessary for their interests TO obtain from
both beig rents "securities concerning the proper
rsatment Of neutras In the Instructions which con
6ded the negotiation this matter to- the British Con-
tu in Charleston be was informed that the most perfect
accord on this question exists between Her haestys
Government and the Government of the Emperor Of the
French aad these instructions accompanied by
COW of the despatch OF the British Foreign office of
the Is May 1851 stating that there was no differ.
ence Of opinion between Great itan and the United
States as to the validity Of the principles enuncated in
the fourth article Of the declaration of Paris in refer
ence TO blockades Your predecessors Of the Provis
iOnal Congress tad therefore, no difficulty In proclaim
ing nor in approving, theresolutons which abandoned
in favor of Great Britain and France our right to cap
ture enemys properly when covered by the Tags OF
those powers The securities" desired by those gov
ernments were understood by to be required from
both bellgerents. NeutrAs exposed on our part
to the exercise Of the begerent right of capturing
their vessels when conveying the property OF our enc
mics They were exposed, on the part Of the United
States 20 interruption in their unquesioned right OF
trading with by the declaration of the paper block
ade above referred to- We bad to doubt the
good faith of the proposal made 70 nor to suspect
that We we're to to the only parties aound by its &C
cspance 1t is true that the instructions OF the neutral
powers informed their agents that II was essential
under present crcumsar that they should act with
great caution in order avoid raising the question of
the recognition Of the Confederation, and that the
understanding on the subject did not assume for that
reason the shape OF formal convention. But It was
not deemed JUST by US TO decline the arrangement
on this ground, as little more thAn ninety
DAYS had then elapsed since the arrival Of our COM
misseners in Europe and neutral nations were fairly
entitled 70 a reasonable delay in acting sube Of
80 much Importance, and which, from their point Of
view presented difficulties that We, perhaps did not
fully appreciate. Certain il is that the acton Of this
government on the occasion and its faithful perform
snce of its engagements have been such ~ TO en-
lille it to expect on the part Of those who sought in
their own interests mutual understanding, the most
scrupulous adherence 70 their own promises feel con-
strained TO morn you that in this expectation We have
been disappointed and that not only have the govern
!
TO the prob btion against with Us which hAI
been dictated by the United Safes In defiance Of the
law of nations but that this concession Of their
trail rights 10 our detTimsnt has than
SION been claimed in intercourse with our enemies, as
an evidence OF friendly feeling towards them. few
extracts from tie correspondence OF Her AaJettS 3
Chief Secretary o. State TOR Foreign Affairs will suffice
20 show marked encouragement to the United SAFES
perseyere Ia its paper blockade and unmstAksbe in
mstons that Her Asjesy Government would not con-
test i validity.
On the 2l,t Nav, 1851, Earl Russell pointed out to
the United States Minister in London, that he block
ade might no doubt be made effective considering the
small number Of hArbors the Southern coast even
though the extent Of 900 niles we're comprehended
in terms of that blockade"
On the l4.h January, 1882, her Majesty's Minister
Washington communicated 10 his Government that in
ext mutton OF the barbarous attempt to destroy the
POI Of Charleston by sinking stone feet in the harbor
Mr. Seward had explained tnat the Government of the
United States had, last spring. undertaken 70 blockade
upwards of 900 miles of coast The Secretary of the
Navy had reported that he could stop up the Large
holes by means Of his ships but that he not stop
10 the ''smal ones" IL had been found necessary,
therefore, TO close some Of the numerous small inlets
oy sinking vessels in the cbGnnel"
Ga the 9th Nay, 1884, SO far from claiming the right
of British subjects e. rails 70 trade WITH US As be-
gerents and 20 disregard the blockade the ground
Of this explicit confession by enemy OF his inability
70 render it effective, Her AsjesJs Secretary Of State
for Foreign Affairs claimed credit with the United States
for friendly acton in peCt to it, HIS Lordship stated
that "the United States Government the allegation
If rebellion perVadlng from nine TO eleven States OF
the Union, have now for than twelve month";
deavored maintain blockade Of three thousand miles
OF coast This blockade kept up rregulary, but when
on creed enforced severely has seriously injured the
trade and manufactures of the United Kingdom. Thou
sands are now obliged to resort to the poor rates for
subsistence owing this blockade Yet her Naestys
government have sought to take advantage
obvious imper ectons Of the blockade, In order to de-
clare il ineffective. They have, to the loss and detr
ment Of the British nation, te.upulousy observed the
duties of G,eat Britain towards friendly State"
Again, on the 22d September, 1852, the noble
Earl asserted that the United States every far in
deed" from being in "a condition to ask other nations
70 assume that every port OF the Of the styled
Confederate States is effectively bOckAded"
When, in view Of these facts; Of the obligation of
the British ration TO adhere to the pledge made by
Their government at Paris in 1885, and renewed to this
COniederacy In 1861 and Of hsssrepeated and explicit
svoWals OF the lmperfecon, irreguarty and necier-
cy Of the pretended blockade Of our coast drec ed
our Commissioner at London, TO call upon the British
Government to redeem its promise and to withhold its
moGl aid and sanction from the hogrant ostion of
public law committed by enemies, We were informed
that Her hsesty's Government could not regard the
blockade Of the southern ports a. having been other
wise than practically effective in February 1852 and
that "he in which it has since been enforced
gives 70 neutral governments no excuse for Gsieri-K
that the blockade has not been efficiently maintained"
We we're further informed when insisted that by the
terms of our agreement blockade to be conSid
cred elective unless sufficient ally to prevent access
to our coast" Shat the declaration of Paris WAS in
truth direct against bloOkAdes not sustained by any
actual force, sustained BY notOriOusy inadequate
force such the occasional appearance Of msn-of-
var in the citing, o. the like" Il was impo:Sb that
this mode of constituting agreement to make its
terms almost tho reverse Of what they plainly
veyed could be considered otherEise than as MOTIF
ca ion of the refusal Of the Britsh Government to re-
main bound by it agreement or longer to respect those
articles of the declaration Of PArs which had been re-
peatedy denounced by Britain statesmen and had been
characterized by Earl RUSSELL very imprudsnt" and
" mOst unsatiS'Actory
II any doubt remained of the motives by which the
British Ministry have been uAted in their conduct
it would be completely dissipated by the distinct
ala and explanations tanned in the published speech
uar n iaaLHls SacreLaLH for Enraian