Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-15

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Aug. 10.

Charles Francis adams, Esq, Sc.
SIR l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
Of your dispatch, No. l,022, together with papers
which contain an interlocutory Decree which has
been made by the Vice Chancellor in the suit of the
United States against Prioleau and others, which
suit was instituted for the recovery 1856 bales of
cotton; a copy of the Vice Chancellors reasons for
the interlocutory is found among the same papers.
The Vice Chancellor is understood to have affirmed
the title of the United States to the property in
question. 1t is with the judgment Of the Vice Chan
cellor and not with the reasons he assigns for such
judgment, that the United States are concerned. In
this view Of the subject it might seem proper for
this Government to leave the subject unnoticed-
The frankness, however which ought to be praCiced
in the proceedings of States requires an explanation
of the views which this Government has taken of
the questions which the Vice Chancellor has discus
sed in his reasons before mentioned. The United
States do not admit that the combination Of disloya
citizens who have raised the standard of insurrec-
ton, is now, or has at any previous time been
Government dc Tact0 or in any sense political pow
err capable Of taking, holding giving asserting or
corporate rights in any form, whether
municipal or International II is true that differ
ent view Of the character of the insurgents has
seemed to find favor with some portions Of the Brit
ish nation, and even with the British Government.
It must be remembered, however, that as often as
that antagonistiCal opinion has been advanced by
her Britannia Maestys Government in lis inter
course with the United States it has been as firmly
though as We trust, rs courteously denied The
United States eOntrovert and deny the declaration
of the Vice Chancellor that they are successors
of the Rebellion; and, on the contrary they main
tain that they are now, and during ali the time of
the rebellion have been, just what they were before
the rebellion beguH-a sovereign State absolutely
entitled to the regulation and control of all propery
and persons within the United States subject only
to the limitations of their own Constitution 1t
need hardly be said that the United States will hold
themselves under no obligation whatever to accept
Of to so conform their proceedings TO the condi
lions which the Court of Chsncery, or any other
municipal court Of Great Britain may have the pre-
sumption to dictate prescribe in the present or
any other litigation. They claim and insist upon
he restoration Of the cotton now in question: and
while they are content to receive it through the de-
cree of the municipal tribunals of Great Britain.
hey insist upon their absolute right to the same
through the action Of her Britannia Maestv's Gov
You may instruct the counsel who are
lctng in behalf of the United States in the views
herein expressed Her Majestys Government have
lot in any way made themselves responsible for the
position assumed by the Vice Chancellor; and
therefore, II would seem not only unnecessary, but
wen improper, to bring at the present time the sub
ect herein discussed to the attention of Earl Rus
ell. If, however, you should discover that her
hajeStys Ministers are labOrinr under any misap-
orehensiOn Of the views Of this Government which
hOuld seem to need correction, you viii supply such
direction upon proper occasion and in friendly
nd courteous manner.
| am, sir, your obedieut servant,
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.