Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-11-02
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER IS, 1865,
The Adams.Russeu Correspondence


text of the important correspondence
between Mr.. Adams, our Minister In
London, and Lord John Russell, the
British Foreign Secretary.
The correspondence is OF great length,
sccupying nearly fifteen columns OF the
London Times. 1t opens with dispatch
from Mr.. Adams to Earl Russell, dated
April Z, 1865, enclosing an account OF
the ravages OF the pirate Shenandoah,
and stating that for these depredations,
as well as for those of the Alabama, the
American government Cannot avoid en-
failing upon the government of Great
Britain the responsibility Mr.. Adams
points out that, as the effect OF these
depredations, "the United States COM
merce is rapidly vanishing from the face
Of the ocean, and that that of Great Bri-
tain is multiplying in nearly the same
ratio" Earl Russell replies on the 4th
Of May, with over two columns OF pre-
cedents and explanations. On the Goth
OF May Mr.. Adams rejoins at still greater
length, advancing these propositions
That the act OF recognition by her
Majestys government OF insurgents as
belligerents on the high seas before they
had a single vessel afloat was preclpitate
and unprecedented.
That it had the effect OF creating these
parties belligerents after the recognition
instead Of merely acknowledging an
existing fact.
That this creation has been sine ci-
fected exclusively from tho ports Of her
Maiesty's kingdom andits dependencies,
with the aid and cooperation Of her
Majesty's subjects,
That during the whole course Of the
struggle in America, OF nearly foury years
in duration, there has been no appear
ance of the insurgents as q belligerent
on the ocean, excepting in the shape OF
British vessels, constructed, equipped,
supplied, manned and armed in British
ports.
The remaining correspondent is pub
lishe6 in full in some of the New York
papers. 1t consists Of two letters one
from Earl Russell, dated August 80,
1865, more than three months after Mr..
Adams last letter, and one from lIr.
Adams in reply, dated September is,
1866. The former commences by stating
that he had pWp0Sely delayed an answer
30 Mr.. Adams letter of the Goth of May.
He now resumes it with perfect shower
Of congratulations. He rather holds out
the idea that he has waited till now in
order that he might write at a time when
America, being freed from her troubles
and perplexities, might be able to discuss
matters calmly but the manner in
which he has ransacked the wide crea-
ton for precedents to justify the course
of "Her Majesty's Government" shows
that he or somebody must have occupied
portion of the three months in that
business.
Mr. Adams meets him with his own
weapons, and in several instances shows
that the presidents quoted, instead of
favoring the view taken by the British
government, tell the other way. Earl
Russell acknowledges that the recogni-
ton of the belligerency Of the South
was unprecedented. Mr.. Adams charges
in addition, that it was precipitate, and
shows by the Foreign Secretary's own
words that at the time he acknowledged
the South as belligerents at sea he had
no official Information that a blockade
had been established, but only a state
nnent Of the probable intentions of the
United States Government. Our Minis
ter puts it that the blockade might pos
sibly never have been instituted had no
Englands precipitency in ConCeding bel
ligerent rights to the South left them ut
other alternative. The consequence
likely to result from the conduct Of tn
British government towards us, if repa
ration is denied ana a precedent estab
lished, are forcibly stated by Mr.. Adams
A new era, he says, in the relations 0
neutrals to belligerents on the high sea
win open. Neutral ports. in that event
will before long become the true centre
from which the most effective and dan
gerous enterprises against the commerce
Of belligerents may be cortrived, titte(
out and executed. New Floridas, Ala
oanas and Shenandoahs will appear Of
every sea. Ano he adds significantly
II need not remind you which OF TIL
nations of the world presents on ever,
sea around the globe the most tempt
ing prizes, in an event no friend woul
more deplore than myself, OF its bein
again, as it has so often been heretofor,
doomed to be afflicted by the calamnitie
Of q war"
In endeavoring to justify the cours
of the British Government, Earl Russo
had stated
"That the history OF modern nation
Affords no example of an iusurrectio
sgainst a central government so widel
extended, so immediate in its operation
so well and SO long prepared, so 500
and 80 completely furnished with til
machinery of civil government, nj