Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-11
THE AMERICAN QUESTION.

EARL RUssELL's PLEAS or DEFENCE AND ASSURANCE
OF ESGLAED's FRIENDSHIP PoR The UNION.
IN the House Of Lords on the sd Of March Ear!
Russell in Ia! i.g the table the de patches from
the Minister O! TIE United States, said wish to
make statement in regard 10 the relations be-
tween this country and the United States. Ny
lords one of these papers is letter from Mr. Ad-
ANS, in which ne states that he is commanded by
the President TO deliver to the British government
Q notice, da;ed March l3, in regard TO the termina-
ton Of the Rttip octy treaty between this country
and the United States, and stating that this treaty
will terminate twelve on;bS from the date OF the
acknowledgment Of tina; notice. MI Adams also
encloses the vote Of the Congress, which has been
approved by the President, declaring that il was no
Aonger for the interest Of the United States that
that treaty should continue. Coupled with this no.
tice is a uotcc given with respect 10 the armament
o. the lakes / think i: must be admitted tLat le-
cent occurrences on the akes-Lantk ,t4e seizure of
.4essels 10y tbes7ae eats Of the confederacy
aud other ac's Of hostility, completely JaStjJy
tAs Lnikd S1eS ia giviHg notice Of the
termination Of he conuntion. Ny lords, il
was not to be expected that the United States
should So init passIvely 70 such octs Of riolence
without avaIg themselves of all tie means Of re-
preston within their power. With regard to the
Reciproct, treaty, although ! will not say there
are sufficient grounds, yet there are grounds with
respect tn the admission &C articles duty free into
the United states which may induce the United
States GovernTnNnt 10 wish tor renewal Of the
treaty wi b mod .hcatiOns that may be more advan-
taqeous and Sh oh tbe United States Government
NAV consider more just, 10 the United States
When NJ. Adams informed me Of the result of the
neg ,tiatious which had token place between the
President Of he United States and the agents Of
the so-ca!lrd Confederate States, J expressed to
him q hope that when he should presen; to me the
notice Of the termination OF the Reciprocity treaty
] should fad that the Congress and Government OF
the Uaited States Sould be ready TO consider pro-
positions by which small and limited armament
might be kept up on The lakes for the purposes of
police, at both SIDES and also that renewal Of the
Reciprocity 'rraiy, upon terms to be agreed upon
by both parties, might be negotiated during the
twelve months TO eapse before the existing treaty
ceasel its operation. OF course Mr.. Adams was
not authorized to give me any assurance upon tpe
subject, bus the words used induced me To
trust that such 81 assurance would be civ
en-. j am sure your Lordshps UiH al BE- d.1-
iouS that he re'etiORS betloeen this c0untry and
the United Sd.cS should continue as tbeu are
nOw-0f EGc.f aud friendly character (Cheers0
And for my part ! should be very sorry that any
thing should occu, pr be cone in this country that
would .end 20 prevent such satisfactory result
But my lords, cannot hu; think that tie erDreSseas
lohjch Rau Jtea used and the speeches uhich hare been
gadis pcy tend 10 Grc,'e IN the United States spo-
sitiou N favorable towards the eud which We thus
desire to ,o- accomplished. / alllde to speeches
declaring ;.G tG.s country has behaved wrongly 10
the United States, has given the United States
just cause or complaint and that an untrieudly
spirit be- been SHOWN throughout these tTanSuc-
irons. Mg ,rdS, the Obvious effect Of speeches
such a, yne.o a.Gs: be that inGv.dQaLs in the Uni
ted State, wac are in faUcr Of hostities ,cih tbs
CoaH!ry must know thar there is in this country
party ready 10 take up the view that the United
Safes are u ,ae right, and, therefore, that they
viii be wanting in proper spirit and in proper re-
gard ios .hc national interests ami the national
Louog if the. d. no. COM lain loudly of the con
duct Of :Ais clGairy. | ask your lordSiips to at
tend for o >Loit :ue 10 the statement which have
to maxi; t.Ca- ! cannot but think that the gov
ernmca. Of thi. country and this country itself
have been r,oHg. ..y accused upon these various
points. One or the Z complaints put forward 5
shat thi, country, ~ gre& hurry aud without
proper consideration, granted bcligerent rights |
20 what are BLed the Confederate States
Now, every Que who knows anything Of Gle law /
of nations knows perfectly well that al |
Slough country may put down insurgents