The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-03
ROebuck and PalmerstOn.

On the l4th inst. Mr. Roebuck
made his motion in regard to Federal
recruiting in Ireland, and INDUCED in o
most bitter and abusive speech against
this country. The utterances of this
fiery orator are of no account, and it
needed not the assurance Of Mr.
Bright and Mr.. Kinglake to quiet any
tendency to undue excitement on the
part of our sensitive cOuntrymen. Mr.
Roebuck' chief object was to assail
Earl Russell, whom he charged with
using "A tone like the scream ola cock
Rtoo or the scolding of an angry wO-
man. and who subsequently crouch
ed before the menace of Mr.. Adams
He was glad that the priyateers had
chased American commerce from the
face of the waters, 'for the Americans
are corrupt, base, cowardly and cruel. y
He was also pleased to believe that
Lord Palmerston did not approve the
course of Earl Russell
In his reply, Lord Palmerston de
clined the fattery of Mr. ROebuck, and
observed that he could accept no one 5
compliments at the expense of a col
league, a sentiment that will bear trans
ference to the seat of the Federal Gov
eminent. He said he was equally re
spOnsible with the noble earl for every
step that had been taken in the negO-
tiatiOns of the Government, and that
those who pretended to discover differ
ences in the Cabinet betrayed igno-
rance of the principles and practice OF
the Government.
Lord Palmerston then proceeded to
present his views of neutrality. He
said:
We have declared our intention to
observe strict neutrality in the contest
in America, and | maintain we have
kept our word and acted on our decla-
ration. The gentleman contends that
we have dealt a different measure Of
Justice to one side from that we have
dealt to the other Well, it should be
remembered that the two sides stand
in very different position m regard to
the assistance which they may derive
from this or any other quarter The
Federals command the sea; all their
ports are open they can 20 TO Birming-
ham, Liege, or any other place where
arms and ammunition are manufac-
tured; they may buy what articles they
like, ship, and safely convey them to
their own ports They have command
of the markets of Europe The Con
federates, on the other hand, have not
these advantages. They are shut out
from the sea; they can only get sup
plies by blockade runners, many OF
which are taken, and few comparative
" escape Therefore the conditions
Of the two parties are not equal, al
though we observe an equal law Of neu-
trality in regard to both
1t is true that there is also a great
difference between the obtaining ships
from a neutral country and the obtain
ing of arms and ammunition. ] don
dispute that in point of principle and
our own municipal law these two things
stand on an equal foOting-that is to
say that by international law and obi
CATION, if belligerent goes to a neutral
country and buys arms, cannon and
ammunition whereWith to arm large
armies, he derives from that neutral a
greater assistance towards deciding the
war than perhaps one, two, or more
cruisers can have on the ultimate fate
of the war, although they may effect
the injury of individuals But we have
a municipal law which Overrides in
some respects international obligations,
and we are bound to prevent certain
things being done in this country for
the benefit of one belligerent against
another. We are bound not to permit
enlistments and organization of men,
and also to prevent the equipment and
armament of ships. The one is an easy
thing to prevent The armament and
equipment of a ship is a notoriety. A
ship is a tangible thing; you can see
with your eyes the progress made in its
construction and equipment; you can
interfere at the proper moment, and
lay your hand on it to prevent breach
Of the law being committed.
In regard to Federal recruiting, Lord
Palmerston said there was no proof THAT
it had been in progress in Ireland.
Enlistments might have been made,
but the men who are induced to 60 out,
20 as labOrers, though they might be
recruited when they arrive Mr. Roe
buck was answered, and soon after the
debate closed without subscribing any
more important purpose than the aft
ording an opportunity to a sensation
speaker to let loose the turried streams
of his rhetorical blunder.