Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-22
English Recruits in the Union Army.

The large and increasing emigration
from Great Britain and Ireland to the
United States, and the enlistment of some
of the emigrants in the Union Army, has
several times led to animated discussion in
the English Parliament. The subject has
generally been brought up by partisans of
the Southern Confederacy, and always
furnished a part of the most imnoderate
charges against the Government Of the
United States, and the most violent attacks
upon the American people and American
institutions.
ssofen as the subject has been discussed,
and it seems exhausted, it again came up
on TIE 2Sth of July, on the day before the
prsrogstion Of Parl aren't. It was intro
duced by Lord Edward Howard, brother
to the late Duke OF Norfolk, and the only
Roman Catholic representative Of an En-
glish constituency. Lord E. Howard is &
member of the Distress Relief Committee
of Glossop, one Of the towns most affected
by the cotton distress. From. a census of
the population of that district, which it be-
came necessary to take, he learned that
there was large emigration 70 America,
and at the same time he was
shocked to find that amOnga sl46O
married people who emigrated to the United
States, NO lass than $50 had deserted their
wives and families. He also became ia
miliar with the many dangers awaiting the
English emigrants, and especially that Of be-
ing forced into the Federal army. Lord
Howard cites number of cases, in which
emigrants were forcibly enlisted. He ex-
presSly and more than once deprecated any
intention of bringing charges against the
! Government of the Z nited States, his OBJ
iect beng only to warn his countFymen
against emigrating to the United States,
and to urge upon their serious attention the
great dangers which await them. Yet,
while abstaining FROM directly impugning
the Government Of the United States, Lord
Howard claims TO have ample reasons to
| believe that there were on most OF the en-
/ igrant ships agents Of the Federal Govern
ment, endeavoring, both by fair and unfair
means, TO obtain recruits for the gnlo9
army.
Lord Howards speech, on the whole, is
moderate in its tone. It is free from the
venom and rancor which ehareotorias all
1 the speeches of men like the Marquis Of
CIanricarde, Lord Cecil, Roebuok, Lind
say. and other champions Of the Southern
| Confederacy. He does not CONCEAL his
| sympathy with the rebels; but does not inc
dulge in direct and viol mt invectives
against the Government Of the United
States. His reference to the recruiting
agents is, however, extremely unfair. He
might have easily found out that if there
really are recruiting agents on board the
emigrant ships, they could not be, as be
sought to intimate, agents Of the United
States Government, as on the State Coy
! ernments, not the Federal Government
falls the duty Of raising troops called by
the President. Some Of the States hayt
now official recruiting agents, and tol
aught we know, several Of these agent
may have gone to Europe to obtain re
cruits; but Lord Howard does not bring
out single well authenticated fact to SHOW
that any act of fraud committed agains
, the emigrants is chargeable to an otticia
agent.
The only point in the speech Of Lore
Howard, and in the numerous communl
cations in the columns of the English news
papers on the subject, which has any foun
J. | dation, is the fact that Englishmen, on AT
Z riving in this country, have in few in
stances allowed themselves to be mad
drunk, and have IN this condition entere
|, the Union army to their own subsequen
regret. Such outrages, however, are no
confined to foreigners, and we, Of course
. heartily unite with Lord Howard and Othc
= speakers on this subject in the wish tina
means may be found to prevent them. Blu
we have failed to discover in the Englis
complaints any reasonable ground of cen
: sure against either the Federal or the Stat
Governments of the Union, or for diseoul
!, aging emigration. The emigration froI
the United Kingdom has been this yea
larger than usual, and no case has yet bee
adduced that any Federal or State oficf
has knowingly forced an emigrant agam
: his will into the service.
1t is not by such disingenOus argumen
that the Government and aristoeracy
3 England will be able to put stop to Il
T. emigration of able-bodied men. As loI
81 81 as good land and high wages are so muC
Il more easily obtained in this country thG
= in England and the English colonies, the
1 will not be wanting EngGshmen, Irishm'
: 10 other Europeans ready to avail theI
r aaIr,,s NJ If the offered advantages.