Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-11

COunITY fITUV TUNVI
neutral commerce unless i assumeB the position 81
y hegt ient. Hear, hear.l But tnat Is what the |
United States cid The President OF the Unhed
States by his proclamation declared that the coasts
Of particular Ststes ere in state OF blockade ana
thai armed vessels belonging to those States were
to lie treated as pirates. There came representa-
lions on this subject from her MaestyS Minister in
the United States but in the first instance these
merely covered dispatches from Admiral Sir a.
Milne commanding Der Rajesty's squadron in those
waters, asking how he was to treat the armed yes
sells of the two parties. At that time Lord Camp
bell held the high office of Lord Chancellor, and
of course we consulted him and the law officers of
the crown as to what should be done. Lord Camp
bell declared as we all supposed he would do, that
there was no course but one to pursue-namely, to
regard tie blockade on hf part Of The United SGtS
Us ne exercise Of q beAgerent right. And as BELL
peyept rights cannot be confined TO one party, but
are usually exercised against somebody else, our i'd
tses tod lls that We entitled 10 recognise ths
egistence of beiiiqeren! rights on the port Of boh
the con5GtostS, and 10 declare her Aajestys
neutrality between the two parties. Cheers.l-
And this, accordingly, was the course which
we recomme nded. The proclamation in that
sense was approved, if not actually drawn up,
believe, by my learned friend the present
Lord Chancellor; and the course of neutrality
thus adopted certainly received with favor and,
believe, commended itself TO the sentiments of
the country as the right course for us 20 take II
is SalO now bndt We ~ udNO dh e!bSi A4c
rival of Mr.. Adams. know not what M. Adams
could say on the subject If ! had told nay col
leagues that must wait for him and consult him
believe i would only have caused embarrassment
in the relations between the two countries. He
could scarcely have approved anything which we
did short Of taking the part Of the North against
the South. But, then, il is said, if the proclama-
ton Of neutrality not altogether wrong, al any
rate It ought 10 have been delayed, and that IN
frendliness was shown in the manner Of its pro-
mitigation. / conceive that there was nothing IN
friendly nothing uncourteous in the declaration;
but, on the contrary, that it was the proper
for this country declare at the earliest moment
that It meant 10 take part neither ,1ith he North
nor NTH the South, out TO remain entirely ReItrd1 in
tie contest Hear, hear.) Belt observed also that
from the issue Of that proclamation On the 18th
Of NAV her Naesty's subjects were bound 10 take
no part in tie contest, and were warned that they
would dsobey her hajesty's injurct If
they gave aid 20 one side or the other
Your lordships all remember the affair ofte Trent
Ii is said with regard TO that affair, as with regard
TO the proclamation Of neutrality that the proceed
inrs Of the government were unfriendiy and an
courteous, and am accused no; for the first time
certainly, probably or the tenth time but with
as little u tice now as on any OF the former coca
sions-of having had despatch put into my hands
which ought 20 have been published, because il coz
tanned IN assurance the part Of the United States
government that they did bot intend TO resist the
delivery OF the vessel and the commissioners. Ny
lords that rcS Uay far from being the cqSe; and
although Mr.. Adams did bring me despa;ca on that
occasion, it wGs despatch relating chief! other
questions betV cen the two countries, ana 7erelg
ending nth declaration that i any demand J,Te
made upon tie SUBJECT Of the 7ren:, that question
,coud Be fairly Considered by the United States goU-
erR,neat The despatch was not put into Il 7 hands,
and therefore could not publish it. Even Lad il
been left with me, and had published it, it would
have given no satisfaction, because | certainly be.
= = =. 81 Il
eminent also believed, up to the last moment, that
il was entirely a matter Of uncertainty whether the
United States government would give up these
commissioners, or whether they would refuse to do
so. and withhold arbitration. And now as 10 the
manner in which these demands we're made. In the
first place, wrote to Lord Lyons. and begged him
not 10 make aj,y demand in the first instance, bu,
TO acqusnt the Minister with the nature # the des
matches and requested that he would name day
when tie dispatches could be put into his
hand, after consulting the President That ap
peared 10 me the course Il was most courteous TO
take And | am bound to say, il mention nc these
facts, that there is one Circumstance connected
with them which does the highest credit 20 the me.
mOry good taste and discretion Of the late Prince
Consort. At the last moment, after her Majesty
had approved the despOtch, We received letter
from the Prince Consort, in which he said that
some or the expressions used ia the despatch might be
considered too abrupt, and suggested other phrases
which he thought might make it more easy fer the
Government of the United States to accept the re.
quest which it conveyed. These phrases were
adopted by the Government and embodied in the
desp tcb, and, doubtless, tended in some degree
render the document IRE acceptable 10 the Uni |
ted States Government, who were called apon by
It's terms to perform duty in conformity with the
law of nations and reg rded by the people of this |
country as an act of justice. (Cheers) But it is |
said that, while we displayed great haste in ac-
knowledging the nth as belligerents. we were
guilty of great supineness in the case Of the Ala
oama, and upon this poin, have only to state that
the evidence on this subject furnished to Us by
Mr.. Adams, aud that the information which we &c
ceiyed Immediately laid before the Law officers
Of the crown, and that the very morning of the
day on which they reported the Alabama lett Birl-
enhead. On this question, however, will say no
more, becaus, it may form a matter for discus
sion between the Government of the United States
and our own. do not wash in any way to fore
stall that discussion but | think ! may say
81, Loo avprvfhinr which aitb Ia,