The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-20

on the commerce Of this nation, but others
have been actually built, furnished, and
cleared from British ports 10 pursue the same
nefarious business.
All these facts have been carefully noted by
our people, and duly complained Of by their
representatives at Washington and yet the
work Of aiding and abetting the Rebellion by
British subjects still goes on, without that
efectual prevention of it which It is but
reasonable TO believe the British authorities
could, If they would, enforce. Yet in spite Of
her glaring derelicDion in this most grave
natter the English Government Affects TO be
a neutral in our civil war, and claims the
benefits Of that pretenson This double
dealing is not only not right, not honest
not legal, but 1t is highly disgrlcefu
to the Government which permits 10, and
therefore practically and virtually sanctions it.
One of our own statesmen, and perhaps the
most illustrious of them all in point Of intel
lectual ability and familiarity with the princi-
pies OF public law-DANGEL WEBsrER-ex-
pressed while Secretary Of State Of the United
States, in a diplomatic letter to Mr. Fox, then
the British Minister at Washington, the true
doctrine as regards the neutral obligations Of
State. In a despatch to Mr.. Fox, dated
April "a, 1871, in the case of ALEXANDER
MCLEOD, Mr.. WEBSTER, speaking Of the
duties of neutrals, said:-
"1hc Government of the United States has not
r ON the first, fallen into the doubt else who're ca
trtalntd, Of the true extent Of the duties Of nou-
uary. IL has held that, however II may have
been in less enlightened ages, the just intcrpreta-
tun OF the modern law OF nations is that neutral
States are bound TO DO strictly neutral and that
il is manitcS and gross improperly for indlvi-
ouals % engage in the civil conflicts Of other
States, and thus to DO at war while their Govern
mentis at peace. Waraud peace are high national
relations, which can properly be established and
changed only by nations themselves. The United
States have thought, also, that the salutary doc
uine Of uOn-interyentiOn by one nation in tho
affairs Of others is likely TO be essentially i'm
paired, if, while Government reirans from inter
ueuCC interference Is still allowed to its su ubeCts
Individually or IN masses
This is q sound exposition of public law on
the subject in question, and it has the positive
sanction Of all respectable publcists, from
! GRoTIUs so WHEATON. Yet England, who
plumes herself on her Judicial learning,
and her strict regard for the law which
governs the relations and intercourse of
nations, suffers her own subjects to violate,
in the most open and audacious manner, the
plain duties OF neutrality which are imposed
by the public code. Nor does her Secretary
OF Foreign Affairs hesitate to avow, in an
official letter, the serai-recognition which his
Government has given, and yet gives, to the
Rebel States Of the South, as independent
soyereignties, under the title of the "so-called
Confederate States of America" We quote
below, in confirmation of all we have said
the following reply Of Lord JouN RUSSELL
to the despatch of the Rebel Commissioners
and the manifesto Of the Rebel Congress: -
"FoBEIGE OFFICE, November 2j, 1864. .-Gen-
| tlemen II have had the honor to receive the
copy which you have sent me of the m lnifestO
issued by the Congress OF the go called COufede-
rate States of America. Her Meje,ty's Govern
mlnt deeply lament the protracted nature of the
struggle between the Northern and Southern
States of the formerly united republic of North
America. Great Briiain has since 1888 remained,
! with the exception Of short period, con
nCctod by friendly relations with both the North
EN- and Southern States. Since the commence
menJ Of The civil war, which broke cut in 1861,
. Her Majesty's Government have continued TO
entertain sentiments OF friendship equally for the
1 North and for the South. OF the causes of the
rupture Her Mnjesty's Government have never
! presumed TO judge. They deplOred the com
mencement OF this sanguinary struggle, aud
GnXiuusly look forward to the period OF its ter
! minatiOn. In the meantime they arc convinced
that they had best consult the interests of peace and
respect The rights of al parties, by observing strict
| aud impartial neutrality. Such neutra ity Her
Majesty has faithfully maintained, and will con
tuue to maintain.
81 request ou, gentlemen, to accept, etc.
(Sgned) "RUssELL.
al SLiDBLL, Esq, ]. MASON, Esq, A. DUDLEY
MANN, Esq"
The following comment of the London
Times on the above note supplies all the re-
marks we might otherwise have made:-
earl RUssBLLs letter will find no favor
either with the North or South. First he
slubs the Coniederates. They are only So
called Confederate States, and have vet to
establish their right 10 the appellauJn. This,
too, is compliment 10 the United States,
but then follows a counter snub to the United
States. They are the formerly United Repub-
lie; but TO say they were formerly united Is to
imply they arc nov 'disunited, and TO acknOw-
ledge, therefore, the existence of the COntede-
rate States. Earl RUSSELL seems to be in danger
Of forgetting that 'neuter' 0oes not mean both
Therefore, If lie would maintain, even in words
strict neutrality, IL is necessary avoid any de-
monstIatiOn Of friendship to eithor btligerent "
T1TREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE.
The daanotrb of tha Sacrot a -, of W.. gto+o,