The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-21
IN YuuT UUcUI1Dt aoFNlutI
WM. H. SEWARD.



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHIEaroS, Au-
gust 10, ls65.-Charles Francis Adams. Esq.,
&e.,-SIR. I have the honor TO acknoWl-
edge the receipt Of your dispatch, No. I ,09a,
together With papers which contain an in
terloeutory decree, which has been made By
the Vice Chancellor in the suit OF The
Uaited States against Prolean aud others,
which suit was instituted for the recovery Of
1 $50 bales Of cotton. A cepy Of the Vice
Chancellor's reasons for the interloc1tory
decree is found amonE the papera. The Vice
Chancellor is understood 10 have affirmed
the title Of the United States 10 the proper
ty in question. Il is with the judgment Of
the Vice Chancellor, and not with the
reasons he assigns for such judgment, that
the United States ass concerned. In this
view OF the subject it might seem proper for
this Government to leave the subject unno-
ticed. The frenlIness, however, which
ought 10 be practiced in the proceedings Of
States requires an explanation Of the views
which this Government has taken Of the
questions which the Vice Chancellor has dis
cussed in his reasons before mentioned.
The United States do not admit that the
combination Of dislOyal citizens which have
raised the standard Of insurrecion, is now
or has at any previous time, been govern
ment de fact0, or in any sense a political
power capable Of taking, holding, giving,
asserting or maintsining corporate rights In
any form, whether municipal or intsrna-
iional. II is true that a different view Of
the character of the insurgents has seemed
70 find favor with some portions Of the Brit-
ish nation, and even with the British Gov
eEBment. Il must be remembered, how
ever, that as often as that antsgonistical
opinion has been advanced BY Her Britain
nio Majesty's Government in its intercourse
with the United States, it has been as hrm-
ly, though, IS we trust, as courteOusly de-
MED. The United States controvert and
deny the declaration Of the Vice Chancellor,
that they are successors Of the rebellion, and,
on the contrary they mention thst they are
now and during all the time Of the rebellion
have been Just what they were before the
rebellion began 6 sovereign State, abso-
lutely entitled to the regulation and control
Of all property and persons within the
United States, subject only to the imita-
tions Of the Constitution. Il need only 70
be said that the United States viii hold
themselves under no obligation whstever to
accept of, or 10 50 conform their proceedings
70 the conditions which the Court of Chan-
Gerry or any other municipal court Of Great
Britain may have the presumption 10 die
tate or prescribe in the present, or any other
litigation. They claim and insist upon the
restoration ef the cotton now in question,
and while they are content TO receive il
through the decree Of the municipal tribu-
nails Of Great Britain, they insist upon their
absolute right 10 the same through the ac-
tion Of her Britannia Majesty's Government.
You may instruct the counsel who are ac.-
ing in behalf of the United States, the views
herein expressed. Her Majesty's Govern.
ment have net, in any way, made them
selves responsible for the petitions assumed
by the Vice Chancellor, and therefore It
would seem not only unnecessary, but even
improper to bring at the present time the
subject herein discussed to the attention Of
Earl Russell. IT, however, you shoald dis
cover that Her Najesty's Ministers arc la
boring under any Misrepresentation Of the
views Of this Government which should
seem to need correction, you will supply
such correction upon proper occssion, in q
friendly and courteous manner.
am, sir, your obedient servant,
VIZ. II. SEWkRD."