The New York herald., 1868-03-13

perso MS more strenuousiy than by the United States
aJ the United States government proposed to recog
n.ze the revolutionary government OF Hungary, not
now, hut as an established thing. The Austrians
complained and . correspondence ensued. II was
conducted on the American side by Mr.. Webster,
certainly not the least able Of American statesmen
and Mr.. Webster's reply was in these words:-"That
II they had done So though the step wond have been
preclpNate ana one from which no benent would
have resulted, 1t would not nevertheless, have been
an act against the law Of nations, provided they
not that utterance 90 immeasurably further than
anything which has come from nsY (Cheeringl And
YET that Is document put forward Dy the United
States. will cite another case:--In 1888 Texas was
fighting for independence from the Mexican repub-
lie. The question arose about the admission to New
States government defended the admission OF these
vessels, and In the course OF their argument they
used some remarkable words which should like to
read. They begin by saying that from the beginning
Of the Revolution South American vessels had been
admitted, with their own or any other nag, to the
ports OF the United states, and that the same rule
had been observed tn civil wars that had arisen be-
tween the various States.
Mr. ROEBUCK-WhO Is the writerf
Lord STANLEY-The Foreign Minister Of the day.
And he goes on:-"it has never been held necessary
hospitality to either party that the chances of the
war should be balanced and the probability OF
eventual success determined For this purpose it
has been sufficient that the party had declared
its independence and at this time was actually main
tanning it.'' Had not the South declared Its inde-
pendence in 1861, and was it not maintaining it 2
(Cheers.) In the face Of these claims, put forward
by the United States government to absolute free
dom Of action in such matter, how can they con-
tend that an independent State ought to submit to
pay fine II its discretion has been unwises Put it
IN the other way-snppose we had not recognized
the South, and suppose that fortune had decided In
their favor could they be entitled to call us to
count for not having recognized them soon enough,
and thereby having injured their proSpectsY So
stated, the question seems absurd But II we are re-
sponsible one way we are responsible the other. II
damages are to be given for premature recognition
as injury on one slde why not Tor tardy recognition
as injury on the OtherS In what position is neutral
Power placed whenever war breaks out This Is
not question for the moment only. (Hear. hear.)
1t is q question OF general international law. 1t
Is question which will create precedent, and we
are bound not merely TO what is convenient for the
moment, but what Is right in the light OF duties OF
nations in general towards each other. (Cheers.)
But the grounds rest on are these:-First that the
United States propose to US matter for c0nsdera-
tion which is irrelevant to the ISSUE Secondly that
the irrelevant question was one to be decided
obligation, and therefore is incapable OF receiving
legal solution. Thirdly, that the United States gov
to admit any responsibility for adopting q similar
course; and, lastly, that believe no one would I'M
derake to arbrate on case entirely vague and un-
defined will not now argue the case on its merits
as far as recognition Is concerned, but 1t
may be necessary to remind the House that
we were simply declaring on May 1s, state of
things to be civil war which, in official documents
since published, Mr.. Seward, on the part OF the
SUCH These documents were not private letters, but
papers which have been since published and laid be-
sixteen days before the Queens proclamation. l
will read only one. and that shall be brief. On the
proclamation Of neutrality, Mr.. Seward writes in
these terms:-"The insurgents have instituted revO
luton, with open, iagrant, deadly war, to compel
of the nation. The United States have accepted the
civil war rs an inevitable necessity" Correspond
ence relating to foreign affairs accompanying the
Presidents Message to Congress in December, 1S6l]
should be sorry TO say anything that would even
loon IKE want OF respect Ior lne dstnguisned diplo
pnn
Quoted throughout, and than whom no man In the
Uni United States has probably had greater experience.
apart from politics, and II We were not
thousands OF miles apart, but could meet
whether he could with gravity call upon me solemn
ly TO refer 10 the arbitration OF some neutral body
OF some third party-this question, whether We the
British government, had right, the 18th of May,
10 declare that 10 be a civil war which in various
documents, especially in one dated the 4th of May
he tMr. seward) himself had chrstened by that
name. (Cheers Let 1t be noted also, that the high
est court OF law in the United States, in passage
which has often been quoted, declared the state OF
things which then existed to be state of war; and
another argument familiar to all who have studied
the subject, is that II there there was,
OF course no blockade, and we might claim damages
for every blockade runner captured. (liear hear.)
inconceivable total, and l really cannot think that
the statesmen OF the United States would he willing
to let IN these enormous claims for the sake OF
insisting upon q point which, practically and In
Its immediate applications not Important though
admit that indirectly 1t may have considerable i'm
L IL,
think, he no doubt that, as there has been great
change OF feeling here within the last two years. So
ON the other side OF the water corresponding
change Is taking place. (Cheers.) Now that the
question Is better understood do not wish to detain
the iionse-tloud cheering)-but think have said
enough TO show thai the proposed conditions Of the
reference were not arbitrary capriciOus Still less
were they tas have seen limited out of doors that
they were) mere devices 10 evade referring the mat
ter to arbitration at all; but that they founded
on an Ineligible and, think, sound principle. II
The negotiations have been for time suspended-l
W nut hrnk on or lint ad- bp runfu
or suspension does not come from our side. We
made our oder and II has been declined. According
to the ordinary usage is now Tor the complaining
party, II they do not like our plan OF an arrange
ment, to propose their own. Something was said
varied at different STAGES of the negotiations 1t Is
difficult To remember with accuracy all the argu-
men,s which have been put forward; but can
answer Tor IL that my own ideas on the subject never
varied.
Nj. SHAW LEFEvEE--I said that Mr.. Seward's
language varied.
Lord STANLgy-Oh, very well then, win pass that
matter over. tCheers.) ! am very glad that the
honorable member, with his recent American ey-
perience, agrees with TO the general character
OF the correspondence. But then II is said sou ought
10 settle ths matter at once, or you will have "a
quarrel am as anxious TO settle 1t as any In
any part Of this House can be, but Ito not believe in
the likelihood OF the quarrel. liearl hav never
concealed my opinion that the American claim
ant', or some OF them, at least under the
reference proposed by Us, were very likely to make
out their case ana TO get their money, To Us the
(cheers)-especia.iy as we have on our side claims
which. If only snall portion OF them hold water
and you never can tell beforehand how these matters
viii turn out-will form 10y no means unimportant
set OF 10 ne claims preferred against US. lear, hear)
But think ii matters were fairly adjusted, even IL
the decision went against us. we should not be dis
posed 70 grud9e the payment. loud and general
cheering.l The expense would be quite worth In
curing II only Ia order ~ obtain an authori-
tatNc decision as To the position Of ncu-
trails In luture wars uIcar, hear.) II, therefore,
the Alabama claimants are kept ont Of what
may be due them, they ought to understand,
and think that they will understand that II is not
by the act OF this government. And though party
politics may run high in the United States will not
believe that any party can be so reckless or insen-
sille to the interest Of their own country, AZ to
engage IN quarrel possibly ending In a great and
costly war for the sake OF enforcing In particular
way claim which IT was In their power TO settle,
and probably settle In their own sense, without any
recourse to violence. To do so would be contrary,
not only TO the reasonable view OF American
people but would be, in the French phrase,
for winch no English equivalent exists, eiy0acer
locked (sHear. hearr and laughter.) cannot but
think that In some way indirectly II not directly. the