Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-28
Earl, RUSSELL ON AMERICAN AFFAIRS

Earl, RUSSELL ON AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
II the House Of Lords April 5, Lord CLANRIcARDE
in moving correspondence relating 10 Inc removal VI
p,.h Consul from the Confederate States of America
descrbed and defended the proceedings for which these
of;cers had been dismissed by the Foreign Secretary
rb Cnsus were accredited to the Federal Government,
and the charge against them in case was forwarding
dr an certificate letters to the Northern States
containing bills of exchange for the payment Of debts due
in England in another that the Consul had been nstru
nanal in sbiupng specie board English vessel Of
war for transmission England to pay the dividends on
. pubic debt He coutended that these acls were not
eus az the state of did not cancel private or public
obligations
Earl RUSSELL sail 1t is rather difficult to make out
the ex act object which my noble friend has In vew put
will detain your lordships short time oy lew REMARKS
IN the various to which he h,s alluded Ia
the first place. he said 1t was not rght W say lnal Tue
Confederate Government had sent away our Consus nor
that many British subjects had been oomPesd 70 serve IN
the Confederate armies only speak OF the acts re-
ported to me- and / thought quite notorious lnere
have been complaints aud over sgn from different
mart of the Confederate States that BRUSH subjects were
obliged to serve in their militia aud armies We have had
10 consult the law officers who have said that IL was not
fair to make British subjects not being American citizens
serve in the armies Of either begeren without giving
them time to the country il they thought mt have
acted on that opinion and it to me not only law,
but fair and equitable My noble friend may thnk they
ought to be compelled; believe they ought not TO be-
Then my noble friend enters into the question OF the
withdrawal of Mr. Bunchs exequstur, which was taken
away think very unfairly by tue United States Govern
ment the ground that be had communicate win the
enemy Then he INTO the oil Mr. M agee, VINO
sent spece ia British shp-of war and he bames Lord
Lyons for Whist he did in that matter believe Lord
Lyons has taken the utmost palms. 10 his most Responsible
position TO behave fairly and impartay between both
parties Permission obtained IRON The American
Government that British ships ofwar should Dc allowed
from time to time 70 go to blockaded ports out LORD
LYONS Thought it an abuse OF the privilege that specie
should be sent to Confederate port in British ship OIL
war nasmuch as such specie might afford means OF carry
ing on war against State friendly to Great Britain de
stated that opinion and he had not done 80
the American Government might have withdrawn the
privilege and think there snothng IN the law OF hatohs
that would have deprived them OF tue power 10 DO So
thought that Lord Lyons right and sent OUT an
order that the Consul who had sent the specie should not
be continued in his functions.
But NV noble friend gave a rather detailed account of
the conduct Of Mr.. Crdland Now while mat gentleman
the and respect Of every one tor The manner In
which he performed his duties He was desired TO go to
Mobile Consul but to act as Cousu-to defend ana
pro ct British property and interests 1t was certainly
very unustfabe act the part OF our Consus OF oil
any acting for British Consul TO tell British subjects
that they not to resist their INTO the Con-
edera army but to desert their coOrs IN the moment OF
action think that very improper advice on the part OF
Consul aud do not think there was any instruction
given our Consular agents which could justly any OF
opinion of theta officers the Crown, or in any directions
that gave myself, any thing that would justify that
course and the Secretary Of the Confederate States had
written this country to complain OF that conduct
should have thought it right to reprmand and even to dis
mi the Consul who had acted IN so improper manner
of that President of the called Confederate
Government sent away our Consuls though these the
persons to whom British subjects would naturally have
recourse in order obtain redress for grievances The
only remedy they would have when the Consuls were
removed that suggested by Mr. BenJsmin-namey,
tba 6..Id In he M
the country might easily write 10 his Consul 70
CLAIM redress, but that marching about should go
court Of law-that was thing which could not De
done
therefore thought that was very harsh and unfriend
y proceeding the part Of the Confederate Government
At the time it ought to be remembered, likewise,
that the Confederate Government had good to
plain Of Consul and Consul saying that he had
been SO instructed the Confederate Government might at
first have believed him Therefore, did not enter into
any complaint angry remembrance; but asked MT
Mason whether il Consular agents. persons under any
other name sent to the Confederate States inter-
course might not be carried and negotiations opened
by which we might be able to obtain redress where re-
dress ought to be given have stated Tor It's re-
fusa My noble friend does not complain OF That There
has no doubt bsen delay in carrying that arrangement
into effect 1t thought necessary to send letter to
Richmond to know whether such persons would be re-
ceyed and the letter the Federal Government would not
allow to be sent But think it quite right Of the Bri-
sb Government to endeayor to open with
the 80 called Confederate States without recognising them,
vet IA being States OF considerable extent ia which civil
war Ia carried o. and in which there considerable
number Of British subjects, cay there can be nothing
wrong in endeavoring enter into communication with
those States.
NV noble friend has addressed your Lordshps various
other subjects desired Mr. Crawford when he arrived
nj Richmond to call the attention OF the Government to
the intercepted correspondence correspondence which
believed the time to be genuine, and which showed
that party in the country had been employed by the Con-
federate Government to procure means OF carrying on
war against State amity with My noble friend is
aware that her Majesty declared at the beginning Of this
war her determination to preserve strict neutrality and
prohibited her subjects from taking part side or
the other am sorry say the injunction Of her Majesty
has NOT been obeJed have thought it right every
occasion when it appeared that there ground
of complaint against the United States. to demonstrate
with the Federal Government With regard to the docn