The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-05-26
FREMONT. SANDUSKY COUNTY. OHIO; FRIDAY MAY 26 1871
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
England and the Southern Confed-
eracy.

eracy.
In an editorial in the Ledger o.
this date, it says: "There is a state
ment in the papers that Vice Presi
ldent Colfax recently published in
the Independent statement to the
effect that Russian influence alone
prevented the recognition of the
Southern Confederacy, which Lord
Granville subsequently, denied in
the House of Lords, in the following
llanguage-'as a member Of the
Palmerston and Russell Cabinet, he
could say that a proposition to rec
ognize the South was not even en-
tertained."
AS a mere item Of history, l will
recount an incident with which ]
was connected in London, just at
the time of the battle Of Gettysburg.
On Saturday proceeding the Sun
day that news Of the result Of that
battle was received in London, l had
an interview with Mr.. Roebuck,
then member of Parliament, and
the leading friend of the Confeder-
ate recognition in the House Of
Commons.
This interview was upon his invi-
ltation. He expressed a desire to
Ispeak with me concerning the state
of affairs in the South, preparatory
to making his speech on a resolu-
ton introduced by himself looking
Ito our recognition. My recollec-
Ition is that his speech was to have
Ibeen made a few nights previous
but had been deferred, or that he
contemplated making it on that
night, but had that day deferred it.
lIremember | well the following state
Iment of his (which 1 suppose is no
longer confidential, if it ever was.
HE said to ne: "The government
lis pressed hard to recognition by
the Emperor of the French, and ]
would like to have urged my resolu
ton, aided by this pressure. But
we expect to hear daily of the defn
lite battle in Pennsylvania. Every
thing depends on that. I have con
versed with Palmerston, who re
Iquested me to postpone my resolu
ton and speech, and he has assured
line that if the Confederates gain the
victory in the battle now about tc
be fought the government will be
forced to recognition"
1 was elated with the information
for none of US who knew Genera
Lice and the army of northern Vir
lginia, doubted the result. ! men
toned the conversation freely among
1.-The Confederates that evening.
On the next day, about noon, s
number of confederates were at my
room, in eager expectation of the
arrival of the steamer of Queens
town, when a person who prOfessed
ISouthern sympathies, but was dis
trusted, appeared at the door and
lsummond me. did not invite hin
lin but answered his summons. Ht
Informed me that news had been re.
ceived of disastrous defeat Of Gen
Lice. l replied it was impossible
for l had news from the confederate
Legation, and the steamers had no
been sighted from Queenstown
He, said that is true, but nevertheless:
the fact is true; the news has beer
received. I communicated the in
formation as 1 had received it, which
produced a general gloom, although
Ino one thought it possible that il
could be authenticated.
About two hours after, the steam
er was sighted and the telegraph
brought the intelligence Of the un
toward and disastrous event. Inev
er 9fterward saw the person 1 have
alluded to, and the matter remains
yet mystery how the news obtain
ed circulation in London before thu
Isteamer could communicate witt
Queenstown.
| Whatever Lord Granville may
think oft Mr.. Roebuck was sangu
line in the assurance which bt
fought he has from Lord Palmer
ston.
1 give you the above merely as al
item of history. Mr.. Roebuck saiC
vet more to met. He said Lord Pal
merston (Falmerston, as he styled
lhim), sympathized wholly with the
South, and but for other restraint:
would have already expressed them
and 1 remember, he gave me the en-
ergetic language of Lord Palmer
ston as to what they would do in the
event of our success in Pennsylva
mia.
England ought not to try to es-
cape from the only part of her pol
Iicy toward the Confederacy which is
creditable to her, 1 mean the incli-
nation to recognize US if she hac
dared. When l say if she haC
dared, do not mean to imply tha-
she was afraid of the ''universa
Yankee nation" But inasmuch as
she had fought against the Declare
ton of Independence and the right o
self government in 1776, she was
timid about consistency. But she
need not have been, for Massachu
sets makes no point on that scor'
from the base of Bunker HilL.-
Memphis Appeal, April Sth.
Very respectfully, your