Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-15

A . 3
to dshouor bis obligations and incur the reproach of
being fathess 10 his engagements wsgess praeal and
not honorable warfare, and becomes hosts seers
hi,an Public honor is he'd sacred by international
Law against the attack of the maeyolent foe and
susceptible Of loss only by the rscrsabcy of its pos
sessOr. .4.l-. "a. .s.fsr
What possible lawful interest could the United States
have in preventing the remittance Of tho specie due
II creditors Of the State oil Alabamal Blockades
allowed by the law of nations means OF enforcing
the submission of enemy by the destruction OF his
commerce. the exhaustion Of his sources, and con-
sequent forced abandonment of-the struggle. The re.
mitance of the specie ia the present case far from re-
tardng these legitimate objects, tended, on the con-
rary 10 promote them, by the diversion oil the money
from application TO military purposes. The United
States could have desired that the specie should re-
main within the Confederacy with one OF two mo-
tives ls 10 dshonor the State of Alabama by giving
color to the reproach thst it regardless OF public
faith and on this comment has already been made or
secondly in the hope that by the fortunes of war; the
money would coms within the reach OF spolatou under
It's conscation law. is scarcely necessary to observe
that the desire to enrich itself by plumber At the
peDse OF neutral creditors as little consonant with
respect for public law and the rights OF neutras the
purpose forcbly TO prevent the State of Aabams from
redeeming its pighted faith. '' tpu'1''.h
Whatever may be the value TO which these views may
be Justly entitled t is certain that there but two
poets in which the State OF Alabama be regarded
by Her Majestys Government. Alabama 10 either one
of the Saus of the former Union engaged in armed re-
beion against the legitimate authority OF the United
States, is independent STATE agd member of this
Oonederacy engaged in lawful against the United
States An examination of the effect of either of these
relations upon the facts connected with the dismissal OF
Consul Magee and tho appointment Of Mt. Crdland, will
now be presented in vndcatOn OF the actoa which the
President deems it his duty TO take this subject.
l. If the Brush Government think proper assume
(ahough the contrary deemed by this Government TO
be fully established by convincing reason and victorious
arms) that the State of Alabama Is still one OF the
United States then the Government Of the United
States is bound towards Great Britain. well 10 all
other neutral nations render al legitimate aid in the
collection of their Just claims against that State Al
though by the Constitution OF the United States its
Government may be without power to enforce the pay
ment Of debt due TO foreign subjects or Powers By an
unwilling State can doubt It's duty 10 int pose no
obstruction 20 tho payment OF such debit and no mole
legitimate ground OF complaint could be Afforded 10
Great Britain against the Government of the United
States than opposition made by that Government 10
the payment of Just debt due by Asbams 10 the SUBJ
iects OF Great Britain In this aspect OF the case there
iore the British officials st Mobile were doing duty
which ought to have been equally acceptable both 70 the
United States and Great Britain when they facilitated
the Transmission of funds by that State for that purpose
to England where the deb. made. payable, and
mered applause rather than manifestation Of dis
pleasure. 80
g. IT, on the contrary, the State Of Alabama be re-
garded las in right and fact she really is indepen-
dent State engaged in against the United States
foreign enemy then the President cannot refrain from
observing that the action of her Brittanic hsjestys
Minister at Washington favored this occasion rather
of unfrendly cooperation with eheny than Of just
observance of neutral Obligations. For in this view Of
the case, Minister accredited to the Government Of
our enemies has not only assumed the exercise of
thority within this ConfedsrAcy without tue knowledge
or consent OF its Government but has done 80 under
circumstances that rather aggravate than paAte the
offense Of srcgardng its sovereign rights His action
further conveys the implication that this Oonederacy is
subordinate to the United Rates and that his credentials
addressed to the Government at Washington justify his
gnor ng the existence Of this Govern ment and his
garding these States appendage of the country 10
which he is accredited. Nor will Her hdesys Govern
ment fail to perceive that In no sense it be con-
sdered cousonant with the rights of this Government,
or with neutral obligations that public minister should
be maintained near the cabinet Of enemies charg
both with the duty Of entertaining amicabe relations
with them aud with the power OF controlling the Uon
duct Of British officials resident with US.
Nor will the application Of the foregoing remarks be
at all impaired il Her Msjesty's GOyernmsnt declining
TO determine the true relation of the State of Alabama
TO the United States cbooe 70 consider that question
as still in allegiance and to regard that State simply
beBgerent whose Interior status must await tue event
of the war. In this hypothesis, the objection to dele
eating authority British officials residing with us,
to minister charged with the duty of rendering hia-
self acceptable to our enemies, N sti grayer than
would exist in the Of hostile nations equally recog
nized az independent by neutral poNe For in the
latter case the parties would have equ1t ability to vnd
cate their rights through the usual channels of official
intercourse whereas the former the beligerent which
enjoys exclusively this advantage, armed by the neu
trail With additional power to ihci injury on his enemy.
The President has in the facts already rected seen
rene we'd reasons for adhering 10 his determination,
mentioned in my previous Dispatch of prohibiting any
direct communication between Consuls or Consular
Agents residing within the Conederacy, and the func
tonares of their governments residing amongst our
enemies. He further INDUCES the hope, (Which Her
haestys Government cannot but regard REASONABLE,
aud which he is therefore, confident will be justified by
it's acon) that Her Majestys Government VII choose
come other mode of transmitting its orders nd exer-
cising its authority its SCENTS within the Jonfede
racy than by deegatng to functionaries who reside
among our enemies the power TO give orders nsruc'
tOns to those Who reside among US.
Finally, and in order to prevent any further nisun-
derstanding in Mr.. CrdlsRds case that gentlem, has
been informed that he cannot be permitted to ercse
Consular functions Mobile and has been intir 1ated
TO him that his choice Of some other State than Ala
bama Tor his residence would be agreeable to this Gov
ernment. This intmatsn has been given in order, to
avoid any difficulty which might result from the do lbt-
full position of Nc. Cridiand who is looked hers
a private individual and who in Alabama repres mts
himself as Acting English Consul" =.
The President 10 confident that her hajestys Govern
msnt will render full justice TO The motives by which
these prompted and will perceive In them
manifestation Of tue earnest desire entertained by
him to prevent the possibility of any unfortunate
plications having tendency to impair the amy WIN ii
il is equally the and the desire of this Govera
ment 10 cherish with that Of Great Britain a.
The President wishes copy Of this despatch 10 be
placed by you in the hands of Earl Russell
lam, &C., j. T. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of Stale.
Hon. JAMES N. Mason, 30, &C., London.