The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-01


selves and their commerce against afmed cruisers
proceeding from British ports as AGAINST the naval
forces OF a public enemy; and ala TO ciaiH aud
Insist upon indemaities for the fwlNsles when a
sach expeditions have hifheri0 coIHu:itteh or sfa
hereafter commit, against this ;ovesnnent and the
cirizens of the United States. To this end this
Government Is now preparing nagai ioice VITA
the utmost vigor; aud II the na'loHai navy, whlch
ii is pidTy creating shall not be su3fclent TOR the
emergency, then :he United States must bring into
employment such private armed naral forces rs liz"
mercantile marine shall afford. British poii+,
domestic well colonial. are now open,
Under certain restrictions, 10 the visits OF p,
ratical vessels, and not only Hirnish them
with coils, provisions, and repairs, out even
receive their prisoners when the enemies of the
United States come in to obtain such fehef from
voyages in which they have either burned SHIPS
which they have captured or have even manned
ard armed them As pirates ana sent them ABROAD
as auxiliaiies In the work OF destruction. Can IL
be an casion 20. either surprise or complaint mat
II this condition of things is In reHiaA and reeiVe
the deliberate sanction of The Hritish Gorcrninent
the navy ofthe United States viii receive insfYuc-
1ions pursue these enemies iHto me port Whlch
thus in violation Of the law OF nations and the Oh
legations Of neutrality, become haISofs Tor the
pirates The F.esiden; vety distinctly peictlves
the risks and h yards " hich naval conflict ihas
maintained viii bring 10 the commerce, and even
10 the peace, of the two counties. But ne is
ob ged 10 consider that in the ess8s<upeeseG the
destruction az commerce viii probably aH' unt
10 naval war Wagcd by portion, At Sea-t, OF tie
British nation upon the Government and people OF
the United Siates--a war tolerated, although not
declared avo~ed, by the British Government.
II, through the necessary employment Of all our
sleans OF national defence, such partial war shall
become a general one between the two nations,
the President thinks that the responsibility inf that
painful result wi not iall upon the United State.
H,c!AsD' RESPONSIBILITY
Earl Russell to IHr Aims
FoEEIGS OFFICE, Sept. II. 1853
Sill have received your letter of the 5t!i inst,
and have read il with great regrrt.
/. has been the aim OF the government of Great
Britain 10 maintain s,ric; nertfaiiry betwee the
parties who for two years have carried on 4 civil
war OF unusual extent and loss Of life Oh The CON
tinent of North America.
Her Najcsty's Government have, for the most
part, succeeded in this impartial course. If they
have been unable To prevent SOM violations of
neutrality the part of the Queens subjects, the
cause has been that Great Britain is a country
which is governed by definite laws. and is not sub
jcci tn arbitrary viii. But law, you well
aware, is enforced here, in the United States, by
Independent courts Of Justice, which will NOT al
nit assertions forproo, nor conjecture for certainty
I'm the case sti pending Of tie iron. clad steam
rams Mt R7rtcnhead, Mr. seward, with his know
ledge and pc, spicuiiy of judgment, cannot fail 70
arkBwledse that i! was necessary tn show not only
that these vessels were hnilt and equipped for pur
poses Of war, but also that they were intended for
the so called Eoafed rate states.
With view To complete the evidence on this
head il was material to prove that the iron clads
were rot Intended for the French Government, or
f., ,hn pa IN, of E-vnt With rc.rpc; to the Franch
t;oyrynmen, her Naiestv7s Government have re-
ceiyed, upon inJn!ry, assurances, through Eatl
cn,yIey ard the .i,rcs oft'aa0rp that tl,c French
;-ova,rnen, ha 90 uofi,;na 10 do with The Birkpn-
head i,on- clad:
kl fespect to the Egyr.idn Government, it was
nnl; on. tie 9th instant that her Majesys G0Vprn
men, rpce vel 4 diSpateh from Mr. ColGuilon her
M.jssty's f,Qnsul General in Egypt which is con
clnSiye on this subject
Ismaii Paclia refused to purchase these vessels.
From tnis example and that of the vessels bnt
for the Emperor Of china, whose name was al
I.red all over the United States 10 be mere sham
10 cover the real destination OF the vessels, the
President will gather how necessary il is to be dis
p3ssionate and careful III Inquiries aud statements
upon subjects involving such great interests, and
affecting the good fth and character Of Power so
honorable as C. eat Hritaa
These matters ..,. 10 doubt, be duly and tiispas-
sjanatetv considered hy the GaVGrtinens Al Wash