Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-02-24

them, should be indignant when they found
that operations Of war were carried on III
those lakes. They adopted a mode which
| think again was not unnatural. They
suy that II they remain in those lakos with
unarmed chips, the CoufcderateB would
come into those lakes aud take posscssion
oi those ships. II is very painful thing,
aud matter dangerous to tho peace Of tho
two countries, that tho United States should
be obliged TO suspend that convention which
was so useful TO tho interests Of both. [
cannot expect that the United States should
ever permit that war should be made
against them on tho lakos aud that they
should DO without tho means of delence.
For my own part think that, though it
may DO natural on the part Of the Conrcd-
crate States, their attempt TO make Cana
dian soil basis for operations some, no
doubt, OF a belligerent character, but others
more resembling the robberies and murders
that take place in social ife--are doing that
which is most unjust. And trust that her
M9jestys Government will be cnublod, as
they propose to tho Canadian Parliament, 10
preserve tho neutrality Of this country. AT
the Same time, In the irritation that has
been aroused, thor0 has been disposition,
with respect to two questions, TO maze most
unlounded accusations against tho Govern
ment OF England. They have complained
that We have allowed a belligerent charac
ter to-the belligerent States. Woll, look.
ing at the character of the contest. Rt the
extent OF the territory which they occupy,
! and at the great operations of war which
they have carried op, what could we do bnt
allow them the character of belligerent I
[Cheers. know OF no Instance in which
there has been so mighty an enterprise oI
war carried on and in which beligerent
character has not been allowed.
There ia another question with regard to
which there has been great deal Of popu.
lar agitstion, and evory now and then there
had been sort of threat that the day will
come when the United States Government
will make demands upon her Majesty's Gov.
ernment. Your LOrdships heard last year
and the year before, that demands would be
made for the capture and destruction oI
merchant ships by the Alabama and other
vessels having some Of their original buid
in England, which were afterward conyayed
TO distant ports, and there received arnla-
menis which enabled them TO cruise against
the commerce Of the United States. Imust
say, my Lords. looking at all the procedents
looking ut the international law, looking al
the declarations that were made by the Uni
ted States Government themselves in the
case Of the Spanish and Portuguese war
when there were chips of war directly fttet
out from the United States ports for the
South American continent, where they prey
ed on the commerce of Spain and Portugal
that such claim upon the Government
this country would be utterly unjust, Well
say that while we make every allowance
for irritation that may arise in the United
States in the course of the war which hai
come upon them Unexpectedly, and bai
caused 10 both sides great loss, we thinl
unnecessarily, aud are most strict and scru
pulous in performing all the duties of neu.
trality, We must not allow any unfoundet
claims to be pressed as founded in justice
There is one thing l cannot help saying be-
lore sit down, on II subject affecting thl
welfare Of mankind. When / see in thii
American contest an attempt 10 put an ont
TO that horrible aud abomiuabe crime o
keeping men in slavery and putting an end
forever 10 involuntary servitudc in the Con
stilution of the Quilted States, l do rejoic,
that great blot is about TO be remove,
from the character of a civilized nation.
do rejoice that mankind may hope tina The
crime of slavery may be blotted out forever
and freedom be the rule Of the world.