Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-06
RECOGNITION.
Mr.. MASON 10 EARL RUSSELL.
No. "a, DgvoYsHIRE ST., PORTLAND PA
RUSSELL.

No. "a, DEvoSsHIRE ST., PORTLAND PLACE,
LONDON, July "a, 1862.
Ny LORD In the interview had the honor 10 have
with your lordship in February last laid before your
lordship under instructions from the Government of
the Confederate States the views entertained by that
Government leading to the belief that it was Of right
entitled to be recognized separate and independent
Power and to be received equal in the great fam
lily of nations.
then represented to your ordship that the dissolu
ton of the Union of the States of North America, by
the withdrawal therefrom Of certain Of the Confede
rates not to be considered as revolution in the
ordinary acceptaon of that term far less was to be
considered act of instruction or rebelon that
it was both in form and fact but the termination of
Confederacy which, during long of years, had
violated the of the federal compact by the eIer
else of unwarranted powers oppressive and degrading
to the minority section That the seeding parties had
so Withdrawn as organized political communities,
and had formed 8 new Confederacy, comprising then,
Us now, thirteen separate and sovereign States embrac
ing an area of So $40 square miles, and with popua
ton of u 100000. This new Confederacy has
been in complete and successful operation, gov
ment, for period of nearly eighteen month";; has
proved itself capable of successful defence against every
attempt subdue destroy it. and in war, conduct
ed by its late ContederateS on scale to tax to their Ut
most power has presented everywhere united people,
determined at every cost 10 maintain the independence
they had affirmed.
Since that Interview more than FIVE months have
elapsed, and during that period events have but the
more fully confirmed the views then had the honor TO
present TO your ordshp The resources strength and
power in the Confederate States developed by these
events, think authorize to assume, as the judy
ment and intelligence of all Europe that the separation
of the States of North America is fna that under no
possibe circumstances can the late Federal Union be
restored that the new Coniederacy has evinced both
the capacity and the determination to maintain its indie
pendence and therefore, with other powers the question
of recognizing Neutrality-suspicious. smpya question of
time.
The Confederate States ask aid from interview
ton by foreign powers They entirely content that
the strict neutrality which has been proclaimed between
the beigerents shall be adhered to- however unequay
it may operate, because Of fortuitous circumstances
upon them. -,
But if the principles and the morals Of he public law
be- when nation has established before the world both
its capacity and its ability to maintain the government
it has ordained that duty devoyes on other nations
to recognize such fact then submit that the govern
ment Of the Confederate States Of America, having sus-
tanned itself unimpaired through trials greater thai
most nations have been called to endure and far gre
than any it has yet meet has furnished to the world
sufficient proof Of stability, strength aud resources to