, 1864-06-28


ant:
Bnr71su CoSsuLATs. sT. Lor1s,l
June ., 1851
S1E: have the honor to enclose herein
newspaper extract, dated the Sd instant,
being an order :pnrporting to be issued BY
As it was only short time since that Mr.
Consul Wilkins did himself the pleasure OF
reporting In an official dispatch to Lord
Ii ons, Her Majest3's Minister at Washing
ton, that he had been informed that it was
the strict intention Of the United ststes
the rights Of any alien wbo properly con-
Quoted himself, feel convinced that the
third paragraph Of this order, as reported to
be issued, WIS without your knowledge or
approval, as the principle involved In that
paragraph ia In my opinion Of SO grave a
nature that hare no time in calling your
attention to 1t.
I have the honor to be, slr, with great
respect, yonr ob't serv't,
/. tsignsdy Fn4xc1s WnK1Es.,
a true e?pS H., and y s.:'1 4. MSs,a4s sS',, ~
uaArquAnr11ss D1s7n1or WEST Tszaxssr1,
Memphis, Teun., 10th Jane, l564.
FRANCIS IL. wilkins Esq. Acting Consul St. Louis
SIR Your communication Of the 9th inst.
is received. You have boen correctly in.
formed that 1t is s'the strict intention Of the
United States authorities at Memphis not to
infringe on the rights Of any alien who prop
e1ly conducts hlmselE'' I regret that any
those right are, IS am very anxious, in the
discharge Of my duties to my Government.
to avoid any act that shall Justly afford
ground Of complaint to any friendly power
/ cannot admit that the order to which ron
call ny attention can justly be regarded as
~. = $1m l.~k$ ,f 14l-
quite mistaken, assure you, In supposing
that the third paragraph Of the order alluded
to wae issued without my knowledge or ap-
proyal The principle involved In that para-
graph Was fully considered by me.
The city Of Memphis is Military Post,
governed by martial law, and the authorities
must be allowed to judge upon what terms
known that there are many persons now In
Memphis who claim the protection OF for.
ejGn governments, who have been In the SER
yicc OF the Confederate Government, fight
fns, against the Government of the United
States, and tAat, others p1esumiug upon their
claims Of neutrality, have, In the character
Of s.'ies, been cur most dangerous enemies.
The nberality displayed by the government
Of the Uuitdd States towards the subjects of
othtr governments who hare followed our
armies, and Who were found domiciled in
Dlacts wrested from the enemy, has no par.
Suppose thai during the Crimcan war, al.
ter The allied troops had landed at Eupato-
nia, American citizens in the pursuit or gam,
Lad presented themselves at that point and
demanded that they should be allowed to re-
matt there and engage In business pursuits,
would their claim hare been listened to for
4n instant?
II AM not grossly .nisinformed, no prl-
yate American citizen WAS permitted to en-.
ter lie lines Of the Allies during that VIII.
1t was right that they should be excluded,
aEd the Government Of the United States dld
lot and could not complain.
In reg%rd to the exemption OF subjects OF
neutral powers from militia duty; In the de-
tense ol this city, have conceded in the or
der to which you 11lude, their right to such
exemption. 1ave done SO from an earnest
desire to ayoid offcnse to any neutral or
friendly power. rather than because I con-
ceded iht principal that they could not right
fully te called out to ceftnd the city IN case
it should be aesailed.
/ think that there are pEecedents fully es-
tablishing tie opposite principle, and if
mistake net the parallel, and may be allowed
10 compare small things with largge, there is
1n instance which comes to my mind where
your, own Government, at ! date not remote,
recognized this same princtple.' I ailude to
The case Of tile supposed intended rising OF
the Cbartists In lS47; under Fergus OCon.
nor, where all the able-b 4died man Of all the
large cities were compelled to come out, r..
| gardl.ss oftleir nationality, to defend against
any attack tllat might be laxde. Thaprescut
Emperor OF France, then an exile in London,
among thousands Of other foreigners, Was
called out and did duty on that occasion.
True, 10 WAS called out aud sworn in Us q
| Special Constable, b1t tile object was to de-
| fepd the city, and SO far as the principle IL
| concerned It matters not whether he was
called constable or nilit1a man.
have the honor to be e.,
Your obtdieut servant,
C. G. WAsHBunE,
Major General Commanding.