The daily dispatch. [volume], February 24, 1865, Image 2

About The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884

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- '■•■«-- -■• ~»' •*--•- ■ as
tfR-DAY MORNING.. FEBRUARY 24, 1»W.
.% Tas CVirnerr of the. Dispatch trill or required
to pay Thirty Dollars per One llun.lrot Copies for
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CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
SENATE.
ftvßtsw jr. .* e t*r, o f the
Prayer by the Rev. Mr.
Bantist Church. . __**)
Mr Johnson, of Georgia presenter
resolutions passed by Sorrel I brigade.
Ordered to be pri ited.
Mr Watson, of Mississippi, presented
resolutions passed by Harris's brigade.
Ordered to be printed.
Mr..Wigfall, of Texas, introduced a
bill to provide payment for cotton taken
and used by the military authorities m
the Trans Mississippi Department. Kc
ferred to the Committee on Finance.
On the recommendation of the Mili
tary Committee, tho Senate refused to
concur in House amendments to the bill
to establish a general staff for armies m
the field, and asked a committee oi con
ference, v . , ______»I
House bin f Quiring non-com missioned
officers and privates held as pnsoners of
war to be paid upon their :i>d»viduhl cer
tificates, supported by oath, wa£ -consi
dered and passed.
Senate bill authorizing the Chief of
Ordnance to contract for the manufac
ture and distillation of whiskey, brandy,
alcohol, etc.. was considered and passed.
Hcuse bill to increase the compensa
tion of marshals, criers, jurors and wit
nesses, in the Confederate courts, was
considered and passed. •
House bill to establish the Fourth
Auditor, for the auditing and settlement
of the claims of deceased soldiers, was
considered and voted down.
Senate bill fixing the day of the next
regular meeting of Congress was post
poned till next Monday. I
On motion, the Senate resolved Ittfco
secret session. *
The doors being opened, the Senate
passed the Senate bill amending the law
in relation to impressments. -The im
portant feature of the bill is that market
ptice shall be paid for all supplies im
pressed for the use of the Government.
On motion, by Mr. demmos, the Se
nate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at the usual hour.—
Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Pcterkin.
A message Was received from the Pre
sident, in response to a resolution, in
closing a report of the number of men
put into the service since the passage of
the conscript act, and the number of
exempts, detailed men, etc., in each State.
The following is a summary:
Number of conscripts assigned to tho 8n_y...»1,98*
Unmoor of daaartore returned to the army....21.056
Number estimntedito have joined the army
without passing through camps of in
struction .• <(> > 20C
Aaaaned to various duties, not in active ar- _
vice • v '>' 33
Exempts of all ages, between seventeen nm.
flfty 66,586
Agricultural details • ■ ■••• 2.- 1 '
Details on grounds of public on rail- r
roads, telegraph lines, etc % 5,803
Detailed in departments and bureaus M*
Detailed contractors ;''
Dotailei mechanic-*, etc «V°"
On motion of Mr. Colyar, of Tennes
see, Governor Ishara G. Harris, of Ten
nessee, was invited to a privileged scat on
the floor during his stay it* the city.
Senate bill to authorize the appoint
ment of seven majors, five captains, five
first and five second lieutenants as ad
ditional officers in the engineer corps
was passed. . ' . c ?
Senate bill continuing in force, for one
year, the act to graduate the pay of ge
neral officers was reported back without
amendment from the Committee on Mili
tary Affairs.
Pending the consideration of the bill,
the morning hour expired, and the House
took up the tax bill.
After considerable discussion, tho
House finally adopted the following bill
as a substitute to the bill reported by
the special committee of thirteen—yeas,
44; nays, 80:
I *«A BILL TO BR EMTITLKD AX ACT TO ÜBTff AUM
TIONAI. TASKS FOB THK THAR 1865 101 l IHIMJI
-•fOBT OF THK OOVKRNMHST.
" The Congress of ihe Confederate State* of Amc
ricn do enact. That upon all subjects of taxation
under existing tax laws levying taxes for the pre
sent year, except as hereinafter otherwise provided,
there shall be assessed and levied an additional tax
o» one hundred per centum upon the pres nt tax on
the oame subject* of and for the year 18 '5, inclu
ding the specific taxes and all taxes on salea during
the year 1865, whether mad" before or after the
passage of this act. and not expressly excepted or
otherwise provided by thin act; which tax shall he
payable in Confederate treasury notes of the new
issue at par, or in the certificates of indebtedness
authorised by * an act to reduce the currency and
authorise a new issue of notes and bond'," approved
February 17, 1H64, at the rate of one hundred and
five dollars for every one hundred dollars of said
certificate*; but without any allowance for interest;
and the same shall be collected at the same times
with the other taxes on the same subjects under ex
isting, laws. And where any tax for 186.*> has been
collected prior to the passage of this act, the one
"hundred par cent, additional tax thereon shall be
collected as soon as practicable after its passage.
"Sbctiom 2. In the year 1863, and in each sue
osodinr year thereafter during the continuance of
the existing war between the United States and the
Confsderate Btatee, thore shall be levied and col
lected the tax in kind on the products of property
_aalgji* in agriculture, aa now provided by law,
*•*■*—t deduction or abatement from the ass >ssed
w P««ty«> employed: Provided, That
"fj*pu_a of soldiers in the army, and those sol-
S__T-_i^____? 1 w **t»red froni active service in the
P**" l -! disability, whose fann
-sS^___7__ l€n^ i » of whiu ' tnnuben, and
bartofl£?___i? a l T «clusivMv by themem
t rf
tun*, or any other aaaSKLoTof ZZ!?*?**' conwra
t**e» levieS by ttdHS. at!mch SE™* £P* ***
the collector __y vtZZ&Tj 2
petmw, copartnerships, jointet£o__i___J__ mth
potations or aasociatious or person! •l__i I R_J i S*» im :
mm -fid aa defaulters, aitd l a_idlp^ D t*_*?_l
es per cent, upon tip amount of tax dHaTtnlbsl
*
tubject to all the provbuonsf f existing laws autho
rising the neiiure and nale of property for non-pay
ment of tasoa.
*• 8m Tin;* 4- If "ny State shall elect to pay the
taxes imposed by thin art upon its citisens, notice
thereof mu*t be given to the Secretary of the Trea
sury on or before the Ist of April next, whereupon
ho shall estimate the probable sum of the tax for
the Btate so applying, *nd notify tho Oovemer there
of, and upon the payment of not less than threc
fotiith* oi th* sum t— estimated Inking made on or
btfore the Ist of June, |R«*."», it shall be the duty of
the Secretary of the Treat—TV to instruct thctix
collectors in tho Stat*' ho making payment to sun
pond tho collection of tixe* imposed by this act.—-
And when Uio fall returns nhall have keen rived,
and the true sura at tho tax ascertained, then tho
final nUlm nawt with tha State shall be mad* and
tho sum of the remainder be OO&eot—3 ; und.when
paid, tno Secretary of the Treasury fhall give natioe
that tho _ttd taxes have been tully paid and tli*
ch.irgci to the tax eaD mtmst of tho mm State.
**fcetida*s. T_at amen ptaaaity (real or perxo
nallhaabaan injuied or aaataayad ay the icmy,
or Iho owner thereof has been temporarily deprived
af the u*e thereof, ot mi the bbm af real BBtatß or
the means of cliltivatiftp the same, by reason ot tho
presence ot proximity as the enemy, tho assessment
on fcuch property shall be rsdwwd in proportion to
the damage sustained by ma owner, or tluv tax
thereon may be icduced in tint SBBBO rutu by the
district collector upon Htisfe-etOBT tlmmm sul'iuit-
«&" iho oW—et of assessor."
The HCtaH then adjourned.
■ ■_§___■ m
VIRGINIA LEGY&A'TURjZ
iEXTRA SESSION.]
SENATE.
Tm ksday, February 20, 1865.
The Senate was called to order at 11
o'clock. ,
Jfr. Christian, from the Committee on
Banks, reported a bill increasing .the
capital stock of the Dank of Howards-'
ville.
A report of the Joint Committee on
Salt, relative to the difficulties about for
eign salt trains, was read by its title and
laid on the table.
The bill to amend and re-enact an act
entitled M an act to provide for the par
chase tod 1 distribution among the people
of the B**te of cotton, cotton cloth and
hand cards," passed March 9, 1864.—
Read twice and referred to Committee
for Courts of Justice.
A bill was reported from the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections, provi
ding for voting by pel sons in the military
service, and persons absent from their
respective counties and corporations
on account of the presence of the public
enemy, in elections for members of Con
o-ressand for Governor, Lieutcnant-Go
jvernor and Attorney-General, and for
members of the General Assembly.
Mr. Nash, from Chesterfield, presented
a series of resolutions from the Eigh
teenth Virginia infantry, Pickett's divi
sion, expressing their wish for arming
certain of the colored population and put
ting them in the military service of the
country; which were referred to the
Committee on Confederate Relations.
A preamble and resolutions on the
.state of the country, adopted by the
Third regiment oi Virginia cavalry, were
also read and referred to the Committee !
on Confederate Relations.
The following resolutions were offered
by Mr. Collier, of Petersburg, and agreed
to: L
" Mesotced, That a joint committee of throe of j
(he Senate and five of the House be appointed, in
their respective Houses, to Inquire and report whal
can best be done to biing into the army all white 1
men who are liat.le to the Confederate conscription, ,
but yet are not la the military Bervice at the front
or in the trenches, l>o they former*, merchants, I
lawyers, legislators, editors, preachers, darks, or of ]
whatever other associations ; and whether they bo
at heme or elsewhere. »_________
•• lies: iir.'', That tho foregoing resolution be first
refei red t»lthe Committee on Confederate Relations, ,
who are hereby instructed to inquire and report
promptly whether legislation has been exhausted in ;
.ill or any, and which, ol the directions indicated in j
that resolution."
Mr. Tayloc oifercd the following rcso- j
lution, which was adopted: i
"Eoolml, That the Senate of Virginia hails
I with great a'Uiafoction the return of Admiral
Buchanan to the Confederate States, and tenders it
thanks to him for his heroic services; and that a '
committee be appointed to invite him to a pi hi- ]
leged seat in this chamber at such time as may suit
his convenience." i
On motion of Mr. Douglas, of Ivng
William, the bill extending the bounds '
of the Nineteenth Virginia militia to one
mile beyond the corporate limits was
taken up, explained, and ordered to its
engrossment.
The following bills were read the third
time and passed:
A bill to punish with death persons
who commit robbery and other felonies
when armed with dangerous weapons.
A bill to amend the amended section
of an act passe 1 March 3, 1864, entitled
***■ an act to amend and re-enact the se
cond section of an act passed October ft,
180:5, entitled an act amending and re
enacting the first and second sections of
an act entitled an act to repeal the fence
law of Virginia for certain counties, and
to authorize the county courts to dispense
with inclosur es in other counties, passed
October S, 1803, and to legalize the ac
tion of county courts held under said
laws."
-A bill to amend the first section and
repeal the second section of chapter
nincty-ciglit of the Code, in relation to
patrols.
On motion, the Senate went into secret
session.
HOUSE'OF DELEGATES.
The House met at 11 A.M.
Senate bill to incorporate tho Martin
dale Mining and Manufacturing Com
pany, in the county of Montgomery,
was taken up and passed.
Also, a bill allowing county officers to
send their resignations to the Governor
of the State, in cases where the county
courts are, in consequence of the pre
sence of the pubiic enemy, not allowed
to hold their regular sessions, was passed.
The House bill, reported from special
committee, to provide fuel and other
supplies for the use of Virginia soldiers
in Chimborazo Hospital, was passed.
The House took up House bill appro
priating sit hundred thousand dollars to
the Roanoke Valley Railroad Company;
and the objocts to he attained by the bill
were advocated by Messrs. Baskcrville,
Haymond of Marion, Anderson and Hur
"ell. The bill, being put upon its pass
*g«, was paised: Ayes, 105 j noes, 0. j
The bill is designed to aid the Boanoke
Valley Railroad Company in ihe con
struction of branches, so as to make a
double track from Richmond to Greens
boro', in the State of North Carolfna, by
a branch to the Richmond and Danville
railroad and another branch to the Ra
leigh and Gaston railroad, as a military
and local necessity.
Mr. Dycrle presented the proceedings
and resolutions of a rrVeetitig of citi
zens, held in the county of Roanoke, for
the consideration of the policy awl an
expression o( opinion concerning tho
proposition to arm two hundred thou
sand negroes as soldiers, and as an Aux
iliary to the armies of tho Confederate
States. The proceedings and resolutiona
were read and laid on the table.
The Senate relief bill, which appro
priates one million of dollars for the*
succor of the indigent families of soldiers
and sailors living within the lines or ju
risdiction of the public enemy, was taken
up as the order of the day, discussed
and still further amended. The report
of the commissioners, appointed under
the act of 1801, to superintend the dis
tribution of the fund was read in eluci
dation of the bill. The report showed
that seventy-one counties, including the
cites of Norfolk and Williamsburg,
were; included in the provisions of the
bill. The commissioners had appointed
forty-three* agents, and the names of the
agents, the amount of their bond, and
the amounts paid out to and by them,
were all given in detail and read to the
House. The con3?*Jeration of the bill
was then resumed.
The order of the House requiring that
the vote on the passage of the bill should
be taken at thirty-two minutes past!
o'clock, the expiration of one hour after
the commencement of its consideration
of the bill this day, was The
Senate substitute for the House bill was
then adopted,, and the vote being taken
on its passage, the vote stood—ayes, 89;
noes, 26. So the bill passed.
The report of the Joint Committee in
favor of the enlistment of Virginia slaves
as soldiers, under certain restrictions, by
the Confederate Government, Virginia
consenting, was taken up as the second
special order. Pending its discussion,
Mr. Jones, of Gloucester, moved that
the House go into secret session upon
the report, and the House closed its doors.
I, .-
LATER FROM THE NORTH.
We have received a copy of the Washi
ngton Chronicle of Tuesday, the 21st
aslant. Gold, IDS 1-2.'
TIIK FALL OF CHARLESTON.
The Chronicle has just such an inso
ent editorial as might have been ex
pected about the fall of Charleston.—
The article is headed "The Nation
Avenged." We give a paragraph :
Charleston has fallen! That proud,
insolent and wicked little city, the cradle
of the rebellion, protected by its posi
tion, and by fortresses built by the Go
vernment of the United States, has re
sisted the most terrible cannonading on
record for nearly two years ; but it could
not iv'ih.-stitiul one of Sherman's " flank
movements! " Ho turned away off to
the west, as if to avoid the pestilent
place, and the country began to fear that
it had received a new lease of life, when
suddenly the news flashes over the wires
from Fortress Monroe that the place had
been abandoned!
The article continues in a similar
strain about the M gay and dashing inso
lencc of the South Carolina chivalry,"
THE YANKEE CONGRESS— GOVERNMENT 0_
_HB REBEL STATES.
Tn the Yankee Senate, on Monday, in
debate, Mr. Saulsbury, *of Delaware,
said —
It was a delusion to suppose that
peace was near at hand—a delusion oft
repeated about sixty days and ninety
days. Charlcj-tm, and Savjmah, and
Columbia might fall, and Richmond
might fall, but still the war would not
end. There were years of war before i
this country under the policy of the
present Administration. It appeared
from the President's message that the
obstacles to peace were the terms which
he offered—refusing to. treat with rebels.
It should be remembered that the British
lost their American colonies because
George HI. refused to treat with rebels
in arms against him.
In the House of Representatives, the
bill providing governments for States
"subverted or overthrown by the rebel
lion" being up,—
Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, opposed
the bill at length. It was not founded
on any principle commonly called the
war power of the Government. The very
first section provides for the appoint
ment of officers, who will be multiplied
to thousands, to lord it over the misera i
ble, poverty-stricken,wretched.citizens of
the rebellious States. It would afford
an asylum for broken-down politicians,
whose presence would darken the hea
yens like the locusts of Egypt. In ad
dition to these people being the objects of
free plunder, he said the bill proposed to
levy taxes to the precise amount to
which they were liable the last year be
fore they went into rebellion. The pro
visions of the bill, if carried out, in
stead of winning back the people to loy
alty, would have the effect of alienating
them. He expressed his desire that go
vernment should be re-established by
loyal citizens, and not placed at the
mercy of the aggravated people in the
disloyal States.
The bill, he said, was based upon the
erroneous policy that there could be no
Cvernment unless formed by tho ma«.
•
jority* The loyal people should be left
to work out their organic law in their
own way. He hoped that the bill pre
scribing an iron, unbending rule, would
fail to become a law.
Mr. Schenck sent up to be read a dis
patch, inclosed to him by tho Secretary
of War, from Lieutenant-General Grant,
•saying tho Richmond Examiner of to* ;
day states that Charleston was cvacua
tod on Tuesday.
The reading was succeeded by ap- i
plause in all parts of the Housa.
Mr. Fernando Wood congratulated the
House and the country that at last was
heard the language of conciliation from
the Republican side of the House.
Mr. Garfield wished to know whether
the gentleman referred to the dispatch
just read of the news about Charleston.
Mr. Fernando Wood repeated tic con
gratulated the country that a gentleman
from Massachusetts had uttered words
*of conciliation, and had spoken of the
South as a great people, and used lan
guago of kindness and respect toward
them. Heretofore we have heard threats
of subjugation, devastation and annihila
tion, but not before now had they heard
that those people arc entitled to any
rights, respect, or regard whatever. This
<'avc him more hope for his country than
anything which had yet transpired. He
.considered the pending bill as infamous,
unconstitutional, and as emanating from
, the worst species of fanaticism which
ruled the majority of the House. Be
cause certain States had done wrong in
passing their ordinances of secession, it
did not justify us in violating the Consti
tution. Congress has no power to make
conditions on which a State may resume
its position in the Union. Whenever
the people of a State should lay down
their arms, and recognize the Federal
Constitution and laws, and send repre
sentatives to Congress, he should like to
I see the power which would prevent the
return of
I The recent peace conference, though
it failed in its' purpose, was calculated to
give the country hope. Since then the
military position has changed. And
should they heap coals of tire on those
now borne down into the dust, and
already weakened, and almost humbled,
imposing conditions that will render it
impossible for them to submit, having
regard to manhood and proper self-re
spect V He was for extending the friendly
hand to the South, and condemned the
bill as of an oppressive and tyrannical
£*I_ftr«_.C _GT*
Mr. Leßlond expressed his views about
the confiscation law as subversive of the
Constitution, and also condemned the
proposed anti-slavery amendment and
the bill now under consideration. The
latter, he argued, was based on the false
assumption that the States in rebellion
arc out of the Union.
Mr. Blow, of Missouri, spoke in favor
of emancipation, and of its beneficial
effects upon the country ; but as to the
question of suffrage, his State must be
left to settle it in her own way, and he
was content that Louisiana and Arkansas
should have the same privilege.
Mr. Edgcrton, of Indiana, said that
John Brown received more respect in |
this House than the patriotic men who
made our system of Government, and
' bequeathed it to us as a priceless heri-
I tage. He remarked he had always been
I atfanti-slavery man, but the bill before
the House failed to commend itself to his
approbation, on the ground of constitu
tionality, policy and expediency.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Thirteen regiments of cavalry aro to
be raised in Missouri, and the drat
thereby averted.
t The Confederates are reported to be
purchasing small schooners to run the
blockade on the coast of Florida.
The Yankees estimate "that there is
over one hundred and sixty million dol
lars' worth of cotton stored from Wil
1 mington along the line of railroad reach
ing into South Carolina and the southern
part of North Carolina, which the enemy
will order to be burnt as soon as our
forces approach."
DEBATE IN THE BRITISH PAR
LIAMENT ON AMERICAN AF
FAIRS.
After the Queen's address had been
moved in tho House of Lords, the Earl
of Derby, after speaking on home and
foreign topics generally, said: It is im-
I possible that every one must not ear
nestly desire any step to be taken that
may lead to a possibility of reconcilia
tion, or to a termination of the war. At
the same time, T am not one in the least
disposed to move from the position of
neutrality professed, and, I hope, main
tained, by Her Majesty's Government;
but I confess 1 look with great anxiety,
and nb little apprehension, to some
symptoms which appear to me to show
that that neutrality has not been re
ceived by the party to whom, unques-
I tionably, it has been most favorable with
that gcoi will and gratitude to which I
think it was fairly entitled. [Hear,
hear.] 1 do not now refer to ex
pressions published in Federal news
papers, or made use of by* individuals,
or to language in dispatches of an ofii
cial character addressed to authorities in
America with respect to this country,
which, under ordinary circumstances,
could hardly be regarded as otherwise
than provocation of hostility; but to
two measures which have received the
sanction of the Senate of the. United
States—-one for giving notice of the ter
mination of the Treaty of Reciprocity
with Canada, and the other forgiving
the still more important notice for the
termination of that treaty, by which the
force on the lakes is restrained and limit
ed. Of these two measures it is impossi
ble not to say that they are adopted in
a spirit of hostility to this country.—
[Hear, hear.] One of them throws out
open questions of the most delicate and
'difficult character.
The American people have derived, as
they do not deny, great commercial ad
vantages from the Reciprocity treaty,
and its termination is advocated only* on
the avowed ground that Canada derives
still greater advantages. One effect of
the termination of that treaty would be,
if I am not mistaken, that the whole of
the complicated question of the fishe
ries, from the settlement of which the
United States have derived incalculable
advantage, would at once be thrown
open. [Hear, hear.] 1 am oM enough
to remember what serious complications
and difficulties questions connected with
the fisheries occasioned, and how near
to the point of war they led this country
and the United States; and now all
these questions are gratuitously, and,
apparently, without the slightest reason,
thrown open, at the risk and danger of
war—than which nothing could be m< re
deplorable—between this country and
the United States. [Hear, hear.j
It is not a little significant, too, that
at the same time when the *-tooga<
tion of this commercial treaty lays open
all these points of danger and difficulty,
there is another step taken to abrogate
another treaty. For a long period, the
lakes have served as the means of peace
ful and profitable commerce between the
two countries lying alongside each other;
but I can recollect a period in the late
American war when.there was a race of
ship building on the two sides of the lake?,
and when the party obtaining the suprc
macy in that matter gained the control
of the lakes. | Hear, hear, j That state
of things was put an end to by the
treaty; but now America is the party
who, without the slightest provocation
or ground, breaks through the treaty and
declares an intention of increasing its
force on the lakes, thus rendering it ne
cessary on the part of this country to
take corresponeling measures. | Hear,
hear.]* I do not a.-k the Government
what steps they have taken, but I do say
this: that they will be deeply responsi
ble if they are not awake to the peril in
which the country is placed by these
two acts of the American Government,
followed up by an intention to cm
ploy a preponderating force on the
lakes. That force can only he for ag
gression ; for to speak of an attack by
Canada upon thfc I'nitcd States is to
speak of a physical impossibility.—
Canada has a long frontier, peculiarly
open to being accessible by
water as by land ; and ualess you have a
preponderating power on the lakes —but,
above all, if you allow the neighboring
Power to have a preponderating force
there —you place Canada at the disposal
of the United States. [ Hear? hear.]—-
Under these circumstances, I see, with
additional satisfaction, the announce
ment of a contemplated impel tant step.
I mean the proposed federation of the
British American provinces. [ Hear,
hear.j I hope I may regard that f»dera
tion as a measure tending to constitute a j
Power strong enough, with tho aid of
this country.—which 1 tm~t «»ay never
bo withdrawn from those provinces,—to
acquire an importance which separately
they could not obtain, j Hear, hear.] —
If 1 saw in this federation a desire to
separate from this country I should
think it a matter of much more doubtful
policy and advantage ; but I perceive,
with satisfaction, that no such wish is
entertained.
Lord Granville, on behalf of the Go-
said:
With J[ regard to our relations with
the United States, 1 think it is desirable
that, now or at some future time, your
Lordships should hear sonic statement
from my noble friend (Earl Russell). —
Meanwhile, it should be remembered
that if, in the instances alluded to by
the noble Karl, the people of the United
States have shown some irritation, there
is no doubt they have had some cause
for irritation arising out of the Confede
rate raids across the frontier. Ample
time, however, remains for friendly ne
gotiation between the two Govern
meats.
Lord Russell said, in reference to Lord
Daley's allusion to American affairs :
The next question is a very ditlicult
one, which is the subject of constant and
almost daily disputes and controversies,
and it is one which I would be indis
posed to enlarge upon were it not that
the noble Karl had hardly done justice
to the parties in this contest. Me had
not sulliciently allowed for the irritation
which prevails in the United States. Now,
what I think is the injustice of the Gov
ernment of the United States with regard
to this country is, that they seem to ex
pect not only that we should do all that
the law of nations demand, and that the
municipal laws of this country allow as
to do, but that we. should altogether
prevent all aid from being given to their
enemies, the Confederate States. Now,
Her Majesty's Government have used,
from time to time, every means in their
power to prevent any one from using
this country as a basis of operations
against the United States of America,
with which we are in peaceful relation ;
but, at the same time, it has been impos
sible to present acts which cause—and
I think raturally cause—great irritation
in America. We have hail ships fitted
out here which have been afterward sent
to a great distance, and have there re
ceived their arms and ammunition, and
have been used for the purpose of war
against the United States.
We had in our hands correspondence
showing that Confederate agents were
constantly employed in purchasing ships
in this country, which, were afterward
sent to Prance, and thence to other sta
tions, to be fitted out and employed as
| cruisers against tho commerce of the
United SUtes. 7 And I do say, irTfair"
ness, that when the authorities of the
United States see a number of shiM
coming, some way or other, from English
ports and English rivers, and afterward
used as ships of war to injure their com
merce, which has very grievously suffers]
from that cause, it is natural that they
should feel that they have considerably
matter of irritation. But they ought al
the same time, to ask Ihsnieul■ yf wluU_,
the British Government has done all
that the law of nations authorizes, and
that the municipal law of this eeontrv
permits, to prevent this country from
being made the basis of warlike opera
tions, so as to involve w*u\ war with that
Government. With regard to Canada
the noble Karl seems to imagine that the
United States, from mere hostility t„
us, had denounced that useful conven
tion with regard to Ihe lakes. Bat the cast
was that the Confederate < Government
apparently seeking, if possible, to involve
• his country in war, and finding then
own resources insuf.icient to carry on a
successful war, sent persons into the
lakes (which arc no part of their o<*i\
territory, but which belong either to the
United States or Great Britain), to lake
possession by force of certain vessel
and to set free certain persons who were
prisoners of war of the United States
1 say again that it was not wonderful
that the Government of the United
States, considering that the lakes men
in the possession of a Sovereign friendly
to them, should be indignant when they
found that operations of war were car
ried on in those lakes. They adopted a
mode which I think again was not on
natural. They say that if they remain
in those lake's with unarmed ships the
Confederates would come into those
lakes and take possession of those ship.
It is a very painful thing, and a matter
dangerous to the peace of the two court
tries, that the United States should be
obliged to suspend that convention which
was"so useful to the interests of both. [
cannot expect that the United States
should ever permit that war should be
made against them on the lakes, and that
they should be without the means of
defence. For my own part, I think that,
though it may be natural on the part of
the Confederate States, their attempt to
make Canadian sod a basis for opera
tions —some, no doubt, of a belligerent
character, bat others more resembling
the robberies and murders that take
place in social life—are doing that which
is most unjust. And 1 trust that Her
Majesty's Government will he enabled,
as they proposed to the Canadian Par
liament, to preserve the neutrality of
this country.
At the same time, in the irritation
that has been aroused, there has bees i
disposition with respect to two question;
to make most unfounded accusation:
against the < Government of England.—
They have complained that we hareal
lowed a belligerent character tt> th* be!
ligercnt States. Well, looking at tl
bbarsK*-* •* the contest, at the extento
the territory which they occupy, and at
the great operations pf war which they
have carried on, what could we do bat
allow them the character of belligerents!
[Cheers.] I know of no instance in
which there has been so-mighty an en
terprise of war carried on, and in which
a belligerent character has not been al
lowed. There is another question with
regard to which there has been a great deal
of popular agitation, and even nowaad
then there has been a sort of threat that
the day will comewhen the United Stall •
Government will make demands uponllcr
Majesty's Government. Your bord hi]
heard last year, and the year before,that
demands would be made fur the eaptui
and destruction of merchant ship, by ti.
Alabama and other vessels having sea
of their original build in England, whi
were afterwards conveyed to disuei
parts, and there received armamenti
which enabled them to cruise against U
commerce of the United States.
I must pay, my Lords, looking at w
the precedents, looking at the interW
tional law, linking at the de-linn
that were made by the I'nitcd States**
remanent themselves in the case i
S| anish and Portuguese war. when tL< «
were ships of war directly fitted '•
from the United States pori forth
South American continent, where taj ■
preyed on the commerce of Spain aj
Portugal, that such a claim opoo the**
vernment of this country would •* '"'
terly unjust. Well, 1 say that wlii!--'/**
make every allowance for irriudioa t f
may arise in the United States !
course of the war which has a bm
them unexpectedly, and has cause
both sides a great'loss, we think -
cessarily, and are most strict and
pulous in performing all the duties *
neutrality, we must not allow anj
founded claims to be pressed as »«■« *;
In justice. There is one thing I CSW"
help saying before I sit down, on ■ J
ject affecting the welfare of ■* m * , |t"
When 1 see in this American contest
attempt to put an end to the- *»«" ■
and abominable crime of keeping
in slavery, and patting - ,l c,,,! l!MiU .'
involuntary servitude in the * , * , -* >l, ;|'".
of the United Stales, I do rejoice in
great blot is about to be leaeo?**" '
the character of a civih/.cd [****•*
rejoice that mankind may hope
crime of slavery may be Wetted 0»
ever and freedom be aha role i
world.
U NtcroHhU\ a new l*y*J\
started in Paris, offers »*£j**lo
give its subscribers a fine C*W
in case of their decease __^
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