The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-19
Mr.. Seward on English Recognition Of
the Termination of the Rebellion.

the Iermlnatlon OF the Rebellion.
Earl Russell laid before Parliament on
the 4th inst. the following despatch
from Mr.. Seward to Sir F. Bruce, the
British Minister at Washington, in re-
ply to the official notification that the
government of Great Britain had recog-
nized the rebellion in the United States
as at an end -
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
| WASHINGTON, June 19, 1865.
SIR-Due consideration has been given
| to a despatch which Earl Russell adj
| dressed to you on the I'd of June instant,
| and of which, on the 14th instant you
were so kind as to leave copy at this
Department. The President is gratified
by the information which that paper
contains, to the effect that her Majesty Is
government have determined to consid-
er the war which has lately prevailed
between the United States and the in.
surgents of this country to have ceased
de factO, and that her Majesty's govern.
ment now recognize the re-establish-
ment of peace within the whole terrific
ry Of which the United States were in
undisturbed possession at the beginning
of the civil war.
The President is also grati6ed to learn
from Earl Russell's despatch that her
Majesty's government will forthwith
send to her Majesty's authorities in all
ports, harbOrs and waters belonging to
her Majesty, whether within the United
Kingdom or beyond the seas, orders
hencefOrth to refuse admission into any
such ports, harbors and waters of any
vessel-of-war carrying the insurgent
flag, and to require any insurgent ves-
sels-of-war, which after the time that
the orders may be received by her Ma
jesty's authorities may have already en-
complied with the previous proclama-
lions of the British government, may
be actually within such ports, harbors
and waters, forthwith to depart from the
same. 1lI
1t is with regret, however, that have
| to inform you that Earl Russells dis
patch is accompanied by some reserva-
| tions and explanations which are deem
ed unacceptable by the government OF
the United States. 1t is hardly neces
sary to say that the United States do moi
admit what they have heretofore con
stantly controverted, that the origina
concession of belligerent privileges tt
the rebels by Great Britain was either
necessary or just, or sanctioned by the
law of nations.
The correspondence which took place
between this government and that OF
her Majesty at an early stage of the in
surrectiOn, shows that the United States
deemed the formation of a mutual en-
gagement by Great Britain with France
that those two Powers would act in con-
cert i'm regard to the said instruction, TO
be an unfriendly proceeding, and that
the United States therefore declined to
receive from either of those Powers any
communication which avOwed the eXis-
tence of such an arrangement. l have
therefore to regret that Earl Russell has
thought it necessary to inform this gov.
eminent that her Majesty's government
have found it eXpedient to consult with
the government of France upon the
question whether her Majesty's govern
ment will now recognize the restoration
of peace in the United States.
1t is further source of regret that her
| Majesty's government avOW that they
will still continue to consider that any
United States cruiser, which shall here
after be lying in British port, harbor
or waters, shall be detained twenty
hours, so as to afford an opportunity for
an insurgent vessel, then actually being
within the said port, harbor or waters,
to gain the advantage of the same time
for her departure from the same port,
| harbor or waters.
| 1t is further source of regret that Her
| Majesty's government have deemed it
proper to make the additional reserva-
| ton in favor of insurgent vessels-Of-war,
| that for aperiod of a whole month which
shall elapse after the new orders now to
be issued by her Majesty's government
shall have been received by the said au-
thorities, any insurgent vessel which
may be found in or which may enterany
port, harbor, or waters of Her Majesty's
dominions, and which: may desire to di-
vest itself of its warlike character, and
to assume the flag of any nation recog-
nized by Her Majesty's government,
with which her Majesty is at peace, will
be allowed to do so; and further, that
such vessels, after disarming themselves
will be permitted to remain in such port,
harbor or waters without an insurgent
flag, although the twenty-four hours
rule will not be applicable to the cases OF
such vessels. Far from being able toad
NIT the legality or justice ofthe instruc-
| tons thus made, is is my duty to inform
your Excellency that, in the first place,
| the United States cannot assent 70 an
abridgment of reciprocal Inequalities
between the public vessels ofthe United
States and those of Great Britain. So
| long as her Majesty's government shall
insist upon enforcing the twenty-four
hours rule before mentioned, of which
the United States have so long, and, as
they think, SO justly complained, the
United States must apply the same rule
to public vessels of Great Britain. ,,
Again, 1t is my duty further to state
that the United States cannot admit, and
on the contrary they controvert and pro-
test against the decision of the British
Government, which would allow vessels
of war of insurgents or pirates to enter
or leave British ports, whether for dis
armament or otherwise, or for assuming
foreign flag or otherwise. AS to all in
surgento or piratical vessels found in ports,
harbors or waters of British dominions,
whether they entered into such ports,
harbors or waters before or after any
new orders of her Majesty's government
may be received by any authority of her
MaJesty's government established there,
this government maintains and insists
that such vessels are forfeited to and
ought to be delivered to the United
states upon reasonable application in
such cases made, and that If captured at
sea, under whatsoever flag, by naval
force of the United States, such capture
will be lawful. ay sss .Fr
~ IL. ANrH NJ