The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-01
RIGHTS OF ALIENS.

Correspondence Between the british Con.
sui ne NJ. Louis and General wash
buFne.
The following important correspondence ap-
pears in the Memphis Argus -
"BRrr1sH CONSULATE, ST. LOUIS, June 9,
l864.-Sir Il have the honor 10 inclOse herein a
newspaper extract, dated the ID instant, being an
order purporting 20 be issued by your ORDER
GAS Il was only short time since that Mr..
Consul wilkins did himself the pleasure Of re-
porting In an official despatch to Lord Lyons her
Msjestys Minister at Washington, that he had
been informed that Il was the strict intention of
the United States authorities at Memphis not 10
infringe on the rights Of any alien who properly
conducted himself, feel convinced that the third
paragraph of this order, as reported TO be issued
was without your knowledge or approval, as the
principle involved In that paragraph Is, in my
opinion, of so grave nature that lose no time
in calling your attention TO IL.
81 have the honor to be, sir, with great respect
your Obedient servant FRANCIS WILKINS,
III. b. M. Acting Consul"
Reply Of General wRshburne.
"HEADaAuRTERs DISTRICT WEST TENNESSEE,
MEMPBIs, Tenn, 10th June, 1864. Francis
wilkins, Esq, Acting Consul, Sc. Louis, Mo. -
Sir:-Your communication Of the 9th instant is
received You have been correctly informed
that II is the strict intention of the United States
authorities at Memphis not TO infringe on the
rights OF any alien who properly conducts him
sef!
II regret tnAt any MISUNDERSTANDING ShOulu
arise as to what those rights are, as am very
anxious in the discharge of my duties 70 W.
Government to ~-cid co. ..Ct InAt shall Justly
-sHcvd ground OF complaint TO any friendly Power.
l cannot admit that the order to which you call
my attention eau justly be regarded as violating
the rights of anybody. You are quite mistaken,
i assure you, in suppOsing that the third para
graph Of the order alluded to was issued without
my knowledge or approval. The principle in
volved in that paragraph was fully considered
by me.
'"The city of Memphis is a military post,
governed by martial law, and the authorities
must be allowed TO Judge upon what terms any
person shall remain here. II Is well known that
there are many persons now in Memphis who
claim the protection Of foreign Governments, who
have been in the service of the Confederate
Government, fighting against the Government Of
the United States, and that Others presuming
upon their claims of neutrality, have, In the
character Of spies, been our most dangerous
enemies
"Thc liberalty displayed by the Government
of the United States towards the subjects of other
Governments who have followed our armies
and who were found dOmciled in places Wrested
from the enemy, has no parallel In the annals Of
war.
"Supposc that during the Crimeau war, after
the allied troops had landed at Eupatoria, Ame-
rican citizens, in the pursuit of gain, had pre-
sented themselves at that point and demanded
that they should be allowed Co remain there and
engage in business pursuits would their claim
have been listened 20 for an Instant
"If / am not grossly misinfOrmed, no private
American citizen was permitted to enter the lines
of the Allies during that war. 1t was right that
they should be excluded and the Government
of the United States did not and could not
complain.
"In regard to the exemption of subjects of
neutral powers fIom militia duty In the defense
Of this city, have conceded in the order 10 which
you allude their right to such exemption. have
done so from earnest desire TO avoid Offcnse to
any neutral or friendly Power rather thln be-
cause conceded the principle that they could
not rightfully be called out to defend the city in
case il should be assailed.
81 think that there are precedents fully estab-
lsbing the opposite principle, aud If l mistake
not the parallel, and may be allowed to comptre
small things with large there is an instance which
comes to my mind where your own Government
at date not remote, recognized this same prin-
cpe. Ialludc to the case of the supposed in
tended rising OF the Chartsts in l8i7, under Fear
gus O'ConnOr, " here all the able-bodied men of
all the large cities were compelled to come out,
regardless of their nationality, TO defend them
against any attack that might be made. The pre-
sent Emperor of France, then an exile in London,
among thousands of other Foreigners, was called
out and did duty on that occasion. True, he was
called out and sworn in as a special constable,
but the object was to defend the city, and SO far
as the principle is concerned it matters not
whether he was called a constable or a militia
man. ,t
az have the honor to be your obedient servant,
&C, G. WAsHBURNB,
"Major-General Commanding"