Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-07
on question whether the blockade is or is mot be re-

on question whether the blockade is tito be re.
spected.
IL is declared in that letter that
at appears to her Msesty's government to be suf-
GENTLY clear that the declaration of Paris could not have
been intended to mean that port must be bockaded
in all winds, and independently of whether the commu-
nication might be carried on Of dark night or by
means Of small low steamers, coasting craft creeping
along the Shore"
As general rule the ports and harbors of the Con-
federate States obsructed by bars which do not adj
init the passage of large vessels What might be
sidered " smallp slow" steamer coming in from
sea to the port Of New York. would at one of those
Southern ports be rated vessel of very fair size when
referred 10 the ordinary stage of water its bar yet
look in vain in the of the convention referred to
for any authority to expound them in subordnation TO
the depth OF water, or the size or mould of vessels
hnding ready and comparatively safe to the har
Dor.
In accedng to the terms of that treaty great advan
tages are yielded to maritime NEUTRAL with like immu-
mites to maritime beligerent. The property of the
neutral safe under the flag Of the begerent and tho
property of the begerent equally safe under the flag
oil the neutral The only equivalent to the begerent,
not maritime, but dependent on other nations as car
riers, is this strictly defined principle of the law of
blockade, which the Confederate States presumed
extended to them when at the request of her Msestys
Government they became parties 10 those stpuations
of the Convention Of Paris of 1885, 1t results that az
ter yielding full equivalents the stipulation 10 regard
them, would seem ilusory.
In regard to the character Of this blockade to which
your ordshp again adyers in the remark that the man.
ner in which it has been enforced gives neutral govern
ments no excuse TOR asserting that it has not been Ell
GENTLY maintained although have not been instructed
to make any further representations TO Her Majestys
Government on that subject since its decision TO treat
it as effective, cannot refrain from adding that for
many months past the frequent arrival and departure of
vessels most OF them steamers from several Of those
ports have been matters OF notorety single steamer
has evaded the blockade successfully aud most general
" from Charleston than thirty times. And with.
in few days past has been brought to my knowledge
that two steamers arrived in January last and within
ten days of each other at Wilmington North Carolina
from ports in Europe, one of four hundred and the
other of five hundred tons burthen both Of which have
since sailed from Wilmington, and arrived with their
cargoes at foreign ports cite these only as the latest
authenticated instances. And as another remarkable
fact is officially reported by the Collector Charles
tor that the revenue accrung at that port from duties
on imported merchandise during the past year. under
the blockade than double the receipts of any
one year previous to the separation of the States and
this although the duties under the Confederate Govern
ment much lower than those exaced by the United
States.
As regards other portions Of your lordships letter
may freely admit, il is there stated, that blockade
would be in legal existence although sudden storm or
change of wind might occasionally blow off the bocka.
ding squadron. Yet with entire respect do not see
how such principle affects the question Of the efficiency
Of such blockade whilst the squadron is the coast
And again. whilst not informed whether or no de-
fence resting the nadequacy Of the bockadng force
has been urged in of capture before the prize
courts in America well see how futile such de.
fence would be when presented behalf of neutral
ship whose had only not objected to- but
had admitted the suifciency of the blockade / have,
&c, j. NJ. MASON.
EARL RUSSELL TO Mr.. MASON.
FOREIGN OFFICE, Feb. 10, 1868.
Sir-Wth reference to my letter of the 18th instant
acknowledging the receipt Of your letter Of that day
calling attention to the which had reached this
country tending TO show that the blockade Of the ports
of Galveston and Charleston had been put end to by
the action of the Confederate naval forces have the
honor to state to you that the information which
Her Maesys government have derived from your letter
and from the public journals this subject is not suf
icieny accurate to admit OF their forming opinion
and they will accordingly by the first opportunity, in
struct Lord Lyons to report fully on the matter.
When his ordships report has been received and con-
sdered, shall have the honor of making further
municatiOn to you on the subject. lam, &c.
RUSSELL.
| EARL Russell TO Mr.. MASON
FOREIGN OFFICE, Feb. 81 1863.
SRI have the honor to acknowledge the recep. Of
your further letter of the 18th ins on the subject OF
Inc Interpretation placed by her Msjestys government
on the declaration of the principle of blockade made in
| 1856 by the conference at Paris.
have already in my previous letters, fully explained
to you the views of her Majestys government this
matter, and have nothing further to add in reply to
your last letter. except to observe that have not in
tended to state that any number of vessels of certain
build or tonnage might be left at liberty freely to enter
blockaded port without vitiatng the blockade; but
the occasional escape of small vessels dark nights
or under other particular circumstances, from the vig
lance of a competent bockadhg feet, did not evnce
that axty in the beigerent which enured, according
international law, to the raising of blockade.
am, &c. RUSSELL.
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