Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-15

nreVent access 10 our COAST that they nave gone
farther and have alleged their inabt y.to render their
paper blockade effective the for the odous bar
bary OF DESTROYING the entrance TO OF our harbors
sinking vessels loided with stone In the channe that our
commerce with foreign nations has been intercepted not
by the effective investment of ports, nor by the
cezure of ships in the attempt TO enter them but by
The capture on the high Of neutral vessels BY the
cruisers of enemies whenever supposed TO be bound
TO any point on extensive coast without enquiry
whether single blocksding vessel to be found at
such pet that bl0ckading vessels have left the ports
at which they we're stationed for distant expsditions
have been absent for many days and have returned
without notice either Of the cessation or renewal of the
blockade; in word that prescription Of mari
time law aud every right of neutral nations to trade
with begsrent under the sanction Of principles here
tofore universally respected have been systematically
and Lsrsstently violated by the United States Neutral
Europe has received circumstances and has submit
ted in almost unbroken silence TO all the wrongs that tie
United States have chosen TO nfiict its commerce
The Cabinet Of Great Britain, however, has not
confined itself such implied acquieseence in these
breaches OF international Law results from simple in
action but has in published despatch of the Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs assumed to make change
in the principle enuncated BY the Congress of Paris to
which the faith of the British Government consider
ed to be pledged change too important and too pre-
Judicial to the interests of the COnfederacy be
looked and against which have directed solemn protest
to be made after vain attempt to obtain satisfactory
explanations from the British Government. In pub
ished despatch from her Majestys Foreign Office her
Minister Washington under date Of the llth Fehrus
~, 1862, occurs the following passage:
"Her Msesty's Government however, are OF opinion
that assuming that the blockade duly notified and
also that number of ships is stationed aud remains at
the of port sufficient really to prevent
TO it to create eVidsnt danger Of entering IL
learning IT, and that these ships do not voluntarily permit
ingress egreS the fact that various ships may have
successfully escaped through it las in the particular in
tnlyy will mt of itcaf
blockade from being efectual one by international
law"
The words which / have italicised are an addition
made by the British Government Of its authority to
principle the OF which settled with
deiberation by the common consent of civilized ma
TONS and by implied convention with this Government
as already explained and their effect is clearly to
open to the prejudice OF the Confsderacy Of the
very disputed questions the law Of blockade which
the Congress OF Paris pro!cssed TO settle The import
ancs of this change is readily illustrated by taking
OF ports example There is "evident danger"
in entering the port of Wilmington from the presence Of
bockadng force and by this test the blockade is sf
fectve. Access IL not really prevented" by the bloc
aiding feet to the same port for steamers continually
arriving and departing that tried by this test the
blockade is ineffective and invalid The justice Of
complaint on this point is manifest leave little
room for doubt that further reflection will induce the
British Government TO give US fuch ASSURANCES will
ece the painful impressions thai would result from It's
language, If left unexplained.
IRON tho foregoing remarks you will perceive that
during nearly two years of struggle in which every eer
gy OF country has been evoked for maintaining its
very existence the neutral nations of Europe have pu
sued policy which nominaiy impartial has been prae
tcaly most favorable to our aud detrinen
tai to us.
The exercise of the neutral right Of refusing entry
into their ports prizes take by both begerents
eminently hurtfal the Confederacy. 1t sernly
asserted andmantained
The exercise of the neutral right Of commerce with
belgerent whose ports are pot bocksded by fleets suf
hcen really to prevent access 70 the would have becn
eminently hurtul to the United States, il cRnpla
sanity abandoned
The duty Of neutral States TO receive with cordially
and recognize with respect any confederation that
independent States may think proper to form was too
clear to admit Of denial, but its posponemsnt was en-
inently beneficial to the United States and detrimental
TO the Confederacy. 1t was postponed.
In this review OF our relations with the neutral nations
Of Europe, il has been my purpose to point out dis
tiney that this government has no complaint to make
that those nations declared their neutrality II could
neither expect nor desire more. The complaint is that
the neutrality has been rather nominal than real, and
that recognized neutral rights have been alternately
asserted and waived in such manner to bear with
great severity u.s. and to confer signal advantages on
our enemy.
have hitherto RETAINED from calling to your atten
ton this condition of relations with foreign powers
for various reasons. The chief Of these The fear
that statement of our just ground, of complaint
against OF policy so injurious to our interests
might be misconstrued into appeal for aid. Unequal
as we were in mere numbers aud available resources
to our enemies, CONSCIOUS OF powers OF ress-
tance in relation to which Europe was incredulous,
and Ger remunslrances therefore peculiarly liable
to be misunderstood Proudly sel-reliant, The Con-
federacy Knowing fall we'll the Character 81 TIE con
test into which forced, with full trust IN the
superior qites of ito population, the superior yalor
of its soldiers, the superior skill OF its Generals, and
above all in the justice OF It's cause, ie no Rseq " s'
peal for the maintenance of its rights to other earth
aids and il began aud has CONTINUED this struggle with
The. calm confidence inspired In those WHO with
consciousness of right can invoke tue Divine blessing
on their cause. This confidence las been assured
that We have neye: yielded TO dependency under
defeat nor DO VS. feel undue citation at the present
brighter prospecrof successful issue to contest 1t
tbereGre because our qs grounds OF eenglaint csn
no longer bs nsinterpreted that lay them Clearly be-
fore you Ii u me now proper TO gave YOU The
information aud although no i1msdata esGis may We
attained it is well that truth should DC preserved anu
recorded il is well that those who are to follow US
should understand the full nature and character OF the
tremendous conflict in which the blood OF our people
has been poured out like water, and IN which they
have resisted Gnaded the shock OF hosts which would
have suiced to overthrow E.apy Of the powers which
by their hesitation In sccordng our rights IS an nde-
pnadept nation Imply doubt Of our ability to maintain
national sIsteuce IL may be FOO, that II 10 future
times YDfrenaly discussions not now anticipated shall
unfortunately arise between this ConedsFacy ard some
European power, the recollection of our forhearance
under the grieyances which have enumerated, may be
evoked with happy influence n preventing any serious
disturbance Of peaceful relations,
1t would not be proper to close my remarks on Lke
subject of foreign relations without adVerting 10
the fact that the correspondence between the Cabinets
of France, Great Britain aud Russia recently published
indicates gratifying advance in the appreciation by
those governments of the true interests OF mankind
involved in the war this continent. 1t is to the
ghtened ruler of the French nation that the pIblic
feeling of Europe is indebted for the first official exh
htionof ~ syRPathy for the suferlngs endured BY this
awful Sarnsge with which the progress Of inc war has
been marked, and Of its desire Tor speedy peare-
The clear and direct niinlaon contained in the Ian
guage of the French note, that our ability to maintain
our independence has been fully established was not
conrovered by the answer Of either OF the Cabinets TO
which it was addressed It is indeed difficult to
ceive just ground for longer delay on this subject
after reading the following statement of facts contained
in the letter smanating from the minister of his mpe-