Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-11-17
A FRANK CONFESSION.
MIR. Reobuck's Views and Attitude and Lo-a
raimerston's Opinion During the American
Rebellion.


AT the close of an address deliver.
Oct. 10, by Mr.. Reobuck, NJ. p, to
the workmen of Messrs. Rodgers 4
Sons, of Sheffield, Mr.. Wimot said he
wished to put question OF great i'm
| portance not only To Sheffield, but to
tho community at large. He should
like 10 ask Mr.. Roebuck if he did not
uee his utmost endeavors in the
American conflict 10 bring about a
war between this country and the
United States in order to promote
the shareholders rebellion.
Mr. RoEBUoK-Sir, if you will al,
low rue, ! will go through that mat
ter completely. The American re-
bellion broke out, and all | did was
and | had the sanction of rs large
meeting in Sheffield [cheers] as ev-
er was met together-aU 1 asked ,UdS
that ice should acknowledge the Southern
States as sovereign and independent
States. ["Hesr, hear" and cheers
Now, ] will tell you distinctly; ] will
make frank breast Of it, and you
shall not mistake me- My belief is
that the American people by and by
will be ." numerous that they will
DO ail-powerful among mankind. 1
have ever tound--I beg you to lis
ten and think upon what | say
have ever found that persons of des~
potic power-that is, of uncontrolled
power--do not use that power as they
ought to do. 0fy object 'caS to prevent
the United States from hauing that inn
ntense uncontrolled po,osr, and | said
"Here is the opportunity we can
take it with perfect safety" No
war would have followed there the
gentleman made 3 mistake. Here
is an opportunity; acknowledge these
States, just as America acknowledge
ed Hungary when she was in rebell-
ion against Austria wo have the
sanction Of American example, ac-
knowledge the existence Of these
States" The moment that acknowl
edgment had come, away would have
gone the blockade of the shores Of
America. There would have been an
end TO the American civil war, very
much, / believe, to the benefit of the
seperate States themselves ald if
that had been done | believe that
mankind would have received an im~
mense benefit. Gentlemen, if you
will permit me will tell you q story
After that meeting in Paradise square
! went back to London, and in day
or two it was necessity of the case
for member Of Parliament there
is often that neeossity--to wait upon
the Prime Minister. | waited upon
Lord Palmerston. The moment |
got into his room-he was standing
writing at his desk as be always did
he turned round and put out his hands
and said, "Roe5uck, Roebuek, ,ohat a
deujhSh good speech you made in Shef-
Geld.' | said. "My Lord, am
greatly obliged to you, and tiattered
for the kind phrase you have used
about my speech"-though it was
rather a hard one, you know laugh
ter ID am very much flattered. -
"Flattered ~ he said Why, / am
entirely Of your opinion, but / dare not
officially say so. Now, that struck
me, according TO the old woman S
phrase, all of q heap, that man in
power should say to me openly and
without disguise that he was entire~
~ OF my opinion, and lead the people
OF England directly the opposite way.
10
atty. [Laughter.] | did my work
with the gay and pleasant old Lord,
and bowed my way out of his room.
Now | want to know if that is not q
very striking circumstance, and that
men should now come forward and
say that l did this for the purpose Of
creating a war to aid the shareholders
Of America, who in my youth had
done my utmost to fight the question
of black slavery throughout the Brit
ish dominions who was as Mortified
as the gentleman opposite can be at
the idea OF slavery who have really
wept over the story Of ''Uncle Toms
Cabin, Il who feel, as the feels, all
the misery and all the horrors of that
situation. But had to look further;
| had to look at the poor creatures
themselves / had to look at the des>
TIMES of mankind and thought of
the destinies of mankind that we
should have taken that opportunity
of separating the United States
And nobody feels this more than they
who govern the United States now.
They are surrounded with difficult
ties they cannot heal the wounds
which were then made, and | believe,
if they dared to speak the truth, they
would say they were sorry peace was
not made upon the terms that | pro-
pose.
Mr.. Wilmot differed from Mr.. Roe
buck, as to its being impossible for
America to have declared war with
England, and asked whether, if he
were again returned TO Parliament,
be would be prepared to pay the Ala
bama claims,
Mr.. RoEBUCK-Certainly not with
out inquiry but i, upon inquiry, it
shall be found that England rs really
bound, and ought to pay these claims, 1
shall be prepared to pay them. Bnt 1
lcW not pay them unless our claims up
on america are paid also.