Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-10-12
RUTLAND HERALD
THURSDAY, OCTOBER o, 1865.

SOUTHERN INDRPRSDEYoE ASSOCIATION,
An interesting document has recently
come into the possession of our govern
ment, revealing one of the numerous
forms taken by English sympathy with
the rebels of this country. On the 9TH
ofNovember, 1868, circular was issued
by Berescord Hope, W, S. Lindsay and
Robert Bourke to certain prominent par
ties, proposing the organization in Lon
don Of q Southern Independence Asso-
citation, with the object Of "dlfiusing in
formation as to the merits OF the war in
America, and of keeping before the minds
of the British public the policy and jus.
tiee of recognizing the independence of
the Confederate States at the earliest pos
sIble moment" In the list of those who
received the circular and accepted the
proposition-some OF them contributing
money TO the Assoeiation-are the fol-
lowing names:
Alexander Barring, M. r., Marquis of
n. IL
bell, Lord r. Cecil, Earl of Donoughmore,
Hon. Ernest Duncombe, Sir James Fer
guson, NJ, p, W. II, Gregory, Esq, M, p
Col. Greville, NJ. p, Judge Halliburton,
MP, A. J. b. Beresford Hope, Sir E.
Kerrison, Baronet, Nj. p, Marquis Of
Lothian, Sir Coutts Lindsay, Baronet,
w. S. Lindsay, NJ. p, George Peacocke,
Nj. p, James Spence, Lieut.. Colonel O..
M. Sturt, NJ p, Lord Edwin IL. Trevor
M. p, Lord Eustace Cecil, Sir A. ii. Ell
ton, Baronet, Lord Wharnclihe, Hon. G.
Fitzwilliam, M. P, John Laird, M. p,
w. Scholefeld, M. p.
These gentlemen constituted the Pro-
visional Committee, who met on the I'd
of December, 1868, and drafted consti-
tuition, which was ratified at a subse-
quent meeting. The following is copy
of the constitution:
/. An institution shall be founded in
London called the Southern lndepend-
ence Association. having for It's object
70 diffuse information as to the merits Of
the war in America, and to keep before the
mind of the British public the policy
and Justice Of recognizing at the earliest
possible moment the independence OF the
Confederate States.
II. 1t shall be governed by a commit
tee composed of the gentlemen whose
names are subjoined, with power to add
to their .number. The committee shall
have entire control Of the finances and
publications Of the association, and shall
elect a chairraD, vice chairman, and one
or more honorary treasurers and secre-
taries out OF their own number, and
shall also have tSe power of appointing
paid officers.
III. All persons desirous OF becoming
members of the association may be elect
ed by the committee Who shall attest
their sympathy with the objects OF the
association. The members of the asso-
citation shsll pay an annual subscription
of at least ~----
". General meetings of the assocla-
ton may be held at the direction OF the
committee, at which only questions shall
be discussed of which notice has been
previously given. This was provision
to exclude the subject of slavery from
discussion, according to a report Of q
member Of the committee,
The association may be dissolved after
the recognition of the Confederate States
by Great Britain, by the vote of a ma
jority of members at a general meeting
convened for that purpose.