The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-03-07
Hon. T. n. DudIey's Pauer,

HON He h Du01eyo E&poTs
/ Under the auspices of the Burlington
County Lyceum of History and Natural
Sciences, Hon. Thomas H. Dudley, OF
Camden. read paper in the Court House
on Friday evening. It's title was "The
three critical periods in our diplomatic
relations with England during the war"
Charles Evan Merritt, ESQ.,, introduced
Mr.. Dudley. saying that the next best
thing to seeing country is to hear it de-
scribed by somebody who has seen it.
Perhaps there was nothing during the
late war that required more diplomatic
treatment than our foreign relations.
There was one here, who, as Consul to
England, during the rebellion, was in a
position to gain many important and in
teresting facts, and it was with pleasure
he introduced Hon. Thomas H. Dudley.
Mr.. Dudley said it is well sometimes to
look back and take notes of what has
TRANSFERRED. His theme would therefore
deal with the past, and if any dimness
were noticed it would be of the setting
sun, and not of the morning horizon.
Diplomacy has often performed an i'm
portant part in the affairs of a nation. The
war of the rebellion was no exception.
Outside of her trade with US. England had
no particular liking for our people and she
looked with jealous eye upon our
growth. She soon had lesson to learn
that the United States was disposed to
manufacture some things rather than buy
of her. 1t was distasteful to her to see us
building ships, and our Republican form
of government did not suit her. These
were some of the reasons that nodded
feeling against us, and her citizens were
perfectly willing to see us disrupted, their
only feai being that the war might cut
off her supply of cotton, and thus cripple
some of her industries.
Ambassadors were sent from the South
to see what England would do in the
event of secession. What took place at
these interviews is unknown, but unofi
cial reports said that assurances were given
that England would, under certain con-
tingencies, recognize the southern confed
eracy. These promises gave the South
great encouragement and had much to do
with the Inauguration of the rebellion
The war began, and it was evident from
the start that the English people were
ready to assist the South. The prevalent
opinion that the great mass of the people
the worklng-classes especially-sympa-
thized with the North, was without foun-
dalton.
The speaker then told of the building
at Liverpool of war vessel, for the Con-
federacy, and that prior to this many
blockade runners had been carrying sup
plies to the rebels. This was the state of
affairs when Mason and Slidell were ar
rested. This occurrence gave England
an opportunity which was quickly seized,
to carry out its promise to recognize the
South. Public opinion ran high. The
great masses did not seem to care what
the United States did or said, they wanted
to fight us at once. The right of our
country to seize these men was referred
to court officers, who decided against us,
Notwithstanding England had been doing
the same thing for years, going so far as
to take men from our vessels and press
them into her service.
A dispatch was written by Lord Russell
demanding the immediate surrender of
Mason and Slidell. 1t was couched in
such language that, had it been sent
as 1t was written, war between England
and America could not have been averted
and this was just what the writer of the
dispatch desired. as, in fact. did major
ity of the people, for preparations had
been made, such as orders to fit out all
merchantmen as war ships.
1t was an English custom, however,
that all dispatches to foreign governments
should be submitted to the Queen before
being sent. In this instance the missive
was placed in her hands while she sat by
the bedside of her husband, who was sick
with what proved to be his final illness
Seeing her emotion the Prince Consort
asked the cause, and was shown the tel.
egram. He said it must not be sent, and
propped up in bed he made many changes
and greatly modified the dispatch. In re.
Spouse to this message, the United States
surrendered Mason and Slidell, and, al
once and for all time, settled the question
of right to search foreign vessels for sus
pected persons.
The manner in which the details con.
corning this dispatch were made public
Dayton, Minister to England. was request
ed to call upon Lady Cowley. The latter
was q personal friend of the Queen, ant
told Mr.. Dayton she had just returned
from visit to the latter, who had giver
her the particulars and had expressed (
desire that they be repeated TO the United
States minister.
Mr.. Dudley then referred to the actor
taken by John Bright, who had very
friendly feeling for our government HI
was greatly opposed to slavery, and h'
knew that the success of the South meant
the more firmly welding of the shacklel
that bound thousands Of human beings
He stood almost alone AT q banque
given him in 1851. Mr.. Bright made hil
memorable speech that created such a sen
sation. At its beginning he stood almos
alone, when he concluded there wer
, hundreds to stand by him.
As result of this speech, marble
bust of Mr.. Bright was made, to be pre-
scented to President Lincoln. The day j
was ready for delivery was the date 0
} Mr. Lincoln's ASSASSINATION. The brs
was forwarded to the United States, an,
, now occupies a position in the. White
House.
: England had little regard for our sol
I diers. and believed that, in war with III
: we would have but little show with he
! standing army. The fight between til
Monitor and Merrimac did more to pre-
d serve peace between England and til
! United States than anything that hap
pened, the English government sudden,
!. becoming convinced that our "Monl;o
navy" was Of some importance.
i The second critical period was whe
. Napoleon III proposed to recognize u.
Confedsracy prQY|dnd Fng|and NoH15 i1|