The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-28
Correspondence between the Ameri'
can Minister and Earl Russell.

Important diplomatic correspondence be
tween Mr. Adams, the American Minister,
and Earl Russell, is published in the London
Gazette Of the llth instant.
Tine correspondence begins with a letter
from Minister Adams, dated the 9TH of
April last. in which he calls the attention Of
Ear Russell to the official reports respecting
the ravages Of the Shenandoah, and an
nounces that for the damages caused by
such cruisers his government eaLnOt avoid
entailiug the responsibility upon Great
Britain.
The reply Of Earl Russell iS dated May 4.
He saws that the duties OF Great Britain to
ward the United States are not measured by
the losses which the commerce Of the latter
NAV have sustained. The question is sim
ply whether the Queens government have
| faithfully aud honestly performed the du-
ties which international laws and their own
municipal laws imposed upon them.
The reply Of Mr.. Adams IS dated May 4.
He saws that the insurgents became bellIg-
erents on the ocean solely be reason of the
faeilities furnished in her majestys ports
| for them TO do 50. He complains Of the Sc
| cret sympathy OF her msJesty's officers in
the port Of Liverpool, and contends that,
| after the information which he supplied
respecting the Alabama, it was by the ia
| grant negligence Of her majesty's board Of
| customs that this vessel, admitted TO be in
/ tended for war purposes, was suffered 70 de-
part from Liverpool.
An interval Of three months elapsed be-
| tween the above letter and Earl Russell
/ reply 70 t.
| In response, Earl Russell proceeds 10 jus
| Gfy the course Of her majesty's government
| in recognizing the belligerents, and reasons
are given why there was extreme difficulty
in giving orders 70 exclude from British
ports vessels Of war partly fitted up IN The
| United Kingdom.
| A very important point is referred 10 IN
/ this letter. Earl Russell notices a state
| ment IN q letter from Mr.. Adams, In 1865
A 10 The government Of Washington being
ready 70 refer these disputes 70 arbitration
Earl Russell declines this offer, and say
1 il Is question IN the hTst place, whether
| the Queens government have acted N good
faith in maintaining Their neutrality, aae
in the second place, Whether the law ofnceri
/ of tbe crown have correctly Interpreted {
| Rritisb statute. Ear Russell contintinues
"Tbe Oueen's g government can refer neith
| a. Of these Questions to arbitration" Tb'
| words used BY him are as follows;
Her maiesty's government are the sol
| -,ardisns Of their own honor. They can
~ admit they have acted with bsd faith il
rnaintaininE the neutrality they professed
| Ths iaw officers Of the crown must be held
- 81 better interpreters af British statut
] thar any foreign government csn be pre-
/ sumed 10 be. Her msiesty's goverumen
r-,rst therefore decline 70 make repsrstioi
end ampensatiOn for captures made BY th
Alabama, OF % refer the question 70 any for
eien state. Her majesty's government con
eeive that u they were 70 act otherwise
tbev would eudanEer the position of neu
t-sis in al future wars. Her msjesty's gov
e-pmeut are, however, ready 70 consent .
the appointment Of commission, to whicl
San be referred sll claims arising durin
| tbe late civil war, which the two power
sbsU agree % refer 70 the commissioners.
The reply Of Mr.. Adams is dated the Ist
: Of September, and is very serious in Il
NJ. Adams considers that there is nov \
sisnute as b. the fact that the recognition (
~ south a. belligerents was such an sct 8
4 / - never done By one nation toward a.
,tbar IN s state Of amity. He charges n
p-itish government with having acted with
? ont knowledge and upoa mere presumptio
= h assaming that the evidence Of the blosi
> s8e Of the southeTn ports was iInperfec
/ me bloclzale, he says, was the conssgnene
not the cause Of British policy he thini
tbaf the only excuse for the British goverE
meut is that its conduct was preeipItat
Re then intimates thst II the doctrines an
rraefices of the British government are .
igU.d to become the rule, the United stat
III nos BE- the greatest losers thersby-
M. Adams does not ayPca- 20 tliEk IN
"a tbs u-opoaal Of Esrl Rusasl 70 refer Z
=. susstio1i IN dispute . e eoiarniIsion 'slii
p, seeepisi D fis gaitsa Sisiss gogsTN1ssHi.