Litchfield enquirer., 1865-04-20
Europe and Asnerica.

Europe and America. Our foreign relations are just now being pret1 |ty thoroughly discussed. The second volume |of Diplomatic Correspondence just issued' shows that our representatives in Europe have pot failed to assert our rights and to vindicate them by unasswerable arguments. The proc lamation of our late President. too. found in |another column. sounds like new story. and must be very entertaining one to some for |eign powers
 The late unfriendly conduct of the Portu- guese authorities in assisting rebel pirate to escape from Lisbon, is. we hope the last indig7 Inity that shall be offered to our National lag in foreign ports.
 Every one of Oar neighbors across the ocean has understood from the heeinning what our rights are, hut they have come to understand that we would not enforce and maintain them. Our diplomatic agents St home and abroad have exhibited profound wisdom and sagacity in their discussion of international customs and preceaents, and have repeatedly cohfounded our enemies in their attempts to misapply or evade the established laws of comity. Tbs fol lowing correspondence between MT. Adams ard Lord Russell must have completely silenced the British Secretary. Lord Russell. in letter to Mr. Adams, attempts to paIiiate the crime oi hsrhoring piratica! vessels, in the following way:
 "I cannot refrain from observing that Hel Majesty's Government have been far more sue cessful in preventing breaches of neutrality with regard to the fitting out of cruisers to take part in the civil war in North America, than the government of the United States were in pre- venting the fitting out of ships of war to aid the South American Republics in their revolt against Spain, which. however, then stood ir the position of central authority resisting in surrection.'
 To this Mr. Adams replies
 "Were it expedient at this late day to entel upon an examination of the relative merits o the two governments in the two very widely different stages of their condition, in s.cquttine themselves of their obligations of neutrality under circumstances of difficulty. l am no. aware that any result which might be arrived at would have an effect in materially varying the views that should be taken of the shortcom ings of either. Very fortunately, am saved the necessity of further discussion of it bJ pointing out to your Lordship 8 circumstance which seems to have entirely escaped your at tention.. Whatever may have been the def ciencies of the United States in the instance alluded to. compensation therefor has beer made to Spain. and her full and free release ha been given under the sanction of her hand t. Ia solemn treaty. Whenever Her Majesty Government shall acknowledge itself prepared to perfect the parallel. the example may be cit led against the United States. but not untl then"
 But while foreign powers thought oar gov ernment to be too much occupied with hom matters, or too careless to protect it's hono abroad, the heat diplomacy was unavailing. Tn building and harboring of rebel privateers ha never been question of right with Europe but of might. And, now that our governmen is relieved of so heavy'a burden of war, and Mi Lincoln has prescribed an unauestionable threa of retribution, We shall expect our foreig1 neighbors to exhibit more wholesome discre tion, which with them. is the better part ( valor.