The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-07

another friend, sent him a similar message,
which he received and perfectly understood.
need not recall words of ninety years ago to
be persuaded that in peace America and the
United Kingdom should be friends. have
right to say this; tor when in the public service,
proved it by public acts: and rs private
citizen, have never wished our Government
to demand OF foreign power anything but
justice.
Pray send Lord Russell copy of this letter,
which he is at liberty TO publish; and 1 consider
myself equally at liberty to publish his letter,
to which this is a reply.
am ever, my dear Mr.. Adams very truly
yours, GEORGE BANCROFT.
LORD j. RUssELL's LETTER TO EARL oowLEY,
ALLUDED TO BY MR.. BANCROFT.
FOREIGN OFFICE May 6, 186l.-My Lord:-
Although her Maiesty's Government have received
no dispatches from Loro Lyons by the mail which
has just arrived, the communication between Wash
ington and New YORK beng interrupted, yet the
accounts which have reached them from some OF her
Majesty g COnsuls, coupled with what has appeared
IN the pubic prints, are sufficient to show that
civil war has broken out among the States which
lately composed the American Union
Other nations have therefore to consider the light
in winch, with reference to that war heY ale to
gard the confederac into which the Southern states
have united themselves; and iU appears to her Ma
jesty's Government tnat, looking at all the cIrcum-
stances of the case they hesitate to admit that
such confederacY IS entitled to be considered a
bellRerent, ano, as such invested with all the rights
and prerogatives of a bel igerent have stated this
to Lord Lyons in the despatch of which inclose
copy for your Excellency's information.
In making known to NJ. fhouvene the opinion OF
her Majesty's Government on this point, your Excel
lency will a0d that you instructed to call the
attention of the French Government to the bearing
which this unfortunate contest threatens to have
the rights and interests of neutral nations.
On the one hand. President Lincol m, in behalf OF
the northern portion of the late United States, has
issued proclamation decaIatoTy of an intention to
Union to vigorous blockade; on the other hand,
President Davis, on behalf of the southern portion
OF the late Union has issued proclamation declara-
tory OF an intention to grant letters of marque for
North.
In thus state of things it appears to her Majestys
Government to be well deserving of the immediate
consldera OF all maritime po Ters but espe.
caIly OF France and England, whether they should
not tai some s'eps to invite the contendng parties
to act upon the principles laid down in the second
and third articles OF the Declaration of Paris OF
1856, which relates to the security of neutral pro-
perty on the high seas.
The UniCed States, an entire Government, have
not acceded to that declaration; but in practice
they have, in their conventions with other powers
adopted the second article, al hough admitting tlat
wi hout some such convention the rule was not one
of universal application
AS regards the third article in recent treaties
concuotd by the United States with South Amer.
can republics, the principle adopted mas been at
variance with that LAID down in the Declaration of
Paris
Your Excellencv will remember that when 1t was
proposed 10 the Government OF the United States,
Paris, they in the first instance, agreed to the
second third, and fourth proposals, but made con.
ditlon as to the first that The other powers s1oud
assent to extending the declaration to exempt
all private property whatever IRON capture the
high seas; but before any final decision was taken
Buchanan, which in the interval had come into
power, withdrew the proposition altogether.
1t seems TO her Majesy's Governme Mt to be deserv
ing OF consideration whether JOINT endeavor should
not now lie made to obtain from each of the belli-
laid down in the Declaration of Paris 50 that such
principles shall be admitted by both as they have
sefR the by s h %ae SS9dSd
OF the general law of nations.
Her Majesty's Government would be glad to be
made acquainted with the views OF the Imperial Gov
ernment on this matter with as little delay az pos
slble. am, etc., j. RUSSELL.
LORD j. RUSSELL TO LORD LYONS.
FOREIGN OFFICE, May 9, lS61-My Lord:-Her
Majestys Government disappointed in not having
received from you by the mail which has just arrived
OF the several parties with reference to the
the struggle which appears unfortunately to have
commenced between themi but the interruption of
communication between Washington and New York
sufhciehtly explains the non-arrIval of your des-
patches.
l he account, however which her Majesty's consuls
at different ports were enabed TO forward by the
packet coincide in showing that, whatever may be
the final result OF what cannot now be designated
ohei wise than as the civil war which has broken
out between the several Stat of the late Union, tor
the present at least those states have separated into
distinct confederaces, and as such, carrying
wal against each other.
The question for neutral nations to consider is
what IS the character of the war, and whether it
SHOULD be regarded as wal carried on between par
ties sevt rally IN position to wage war and to clam
the nghts and to perform the obligations attaching
Her Majesty's Government consider that the ques.
government of the Northern portion of the late
Union possess the advantages inherent in longes-
tablshed governments, the government of the
Southern portion has, nevertheless daily constituted
itself, and carries on in regular form, the admin
istraton OF the civil government of the States of
which IL is composed
Her Najesty's Government, therefore, without
assuming TO pronounce upon the merits of the ques
ton on which the respective parties are at ssue can
90 no less than accept the facts presented to them
They deeply deplore the disruption of cOnfederacY
with which they have at all times sought 10 cultivate
the most friendly relations; they view with the
greatest apprehension and concern the misery and
desolation IN which that disruption threatens to in
vo We the provinces now arrayed in arms against
each other; but they feel that they cannot question
the right OF the Southern States TO claim to be recog-
nized as belhPerent, and such, invested with all
the rights and prerogstiVes of bellIgerentA
think 1t right to give your Lordship this timely
notice OF the view taken by her Majestys Govern
ment of the present state OF affairs in North America
ano her hajesty's Government do not wish to make
/ shall send your Lordship, by an early opportu.
nifty, such further information on these matters
may te required for your guidance. At present
have only to add that no expression of regret that
you may employ at the present disastrous state of
affairs will too strongly declare the feelings with
which her Majesty's Government contemplate all
the evils which cannot tail 10 result from it.
l am etc., j. RUSSELL.
EXTRACT FROM LORD JOHN RUssELL's SPEECH IN
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS MAY 81, 1861.
My honorable friend, the member for the West
Ridng of Yorkshire alluded the other night 20 one
subject in a tone which 1 was very sorry to hear
'the great republican bubble IN America
had burst" Now, sir, am proud to con-
fess-I may be subject to correction - but
tyIannIcal despOtism has been abolished, and that
people are likely to enjoy free government in ITS
place. Irejoice. 1t is my duty to represent her Ma
pOtic COVER nment fall, and the people whO have
been subjected likely obtain better and reer