The Portland daily press., 1865-09-19
IMr. Seward to Mr.. Adams
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Washington, Aug. 10, 1865.
Charles Frances Adams, ESQ. Sir: have
the honor TO acknowledge the receipt of your
dispatch. No, To-, ed, together with papers
which contain an interlocutory decree which
has been made by the Vice Chancellor in the
suit of the United States against PrioleanS and
others, which suit was instituted for the recov-
cry of 1856 bales of cotton. A copy of the
Vice Chancellor's reasons for the inventory
is found among the same papers. The Vice
Chancellor is understood to have affirmed the
title of the United States to the property in
question, 1t is with the judgment of the Vice
Chancellor, not with the reasons he assigns
for such judgment, that the United States are
concerned. In this view of the subject it
might seem proper for this government to
leave the subject unnoticed. 1.-The frankness,
however, which ought to be practiced in the
proceedings of States, requires an explanation
Of the views which this government has taken
of the question which the Vice Chancellor has
discussed inhls reasons before mentioned-
The United States do not admit that the COM
bination of disloyal citizens which. have raised
the standard of instruction. is now, or has, at
any previous time, been government defacto
or in any sense a political power capable of
taking, holding, giving, asserting or maintain
ing corporate rights in any form, whether Ilil-
nicipal OF international; tits true that differ
cllb OEucT III tlc C1ldrdcLeT Vi Tile insurgents
has seemed to find favor with some portions of
the British nation and even with the British
government. 1t must be remembered, how
ever, that as oftensa as that antagonistical opin-
ion has been advanced by her Britanic Males
fys government in its course with the United
States, it has been as firmly, though, we trust,
as courteously denied. The United States
controyerts and deny the declaration of the
Vice Chancellor that they are the successors
of the rebellion, and on the contrary they.
maintain that they are now, and during all the
hme of theireb ellion have been, just what they
were before the rebellion begun, sovereign
States, absolutely entitled to the regulation and
control Of all property and persons within the
United States, subject only to the liabilities of
their own constitution. 1T need hardly be
said that the United States will hold them I'M
der no obligation to accept ofor to SO conform
their proceedings to the condition which the
court Of chancerF or any other municipal
court OF Great Britain may have the presump-
ton to dictate or prescribe in the present Or
aIly ULLsr 1egatfoh.s tn ey claim and insistup-
ON the restoration of the cotton now in ques-
ton, and while they are content to receive it
through a decree fthe municipal tribunals of
Great Britain, they insist upon their absolute
right to the same through the action of Her
Britannia Majestys government. You may
instruct the counsel who'afe acting in behalf
of the United States the views herein express
ed. Her Britannia Majesty's government
have not in any way made themselves respon-
ssible for the position assumed blythe Vice
Chancellor, and therefore it would seem not
only unnecessary but even improper to bring
at the present time the subjects herein discuss
oedto the attention of Earl Russell. III, how
eyer, you should discover that Her Majesty's
ministers are laboring under any hisappre-
ahensions of the views Of this government
which should seem to need correction, you
win supply such correction upon a proper oc-
casion and ID afriendIy and courteous man
z neraa Is assR3sa 4 8ssls.4 s sss,hg4Isss
!. am, Sir, your obedient servant,
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