Page images
PDF
EPUB

Gross

16. Mai

1862.

as have become public seem to show that at New Orleans and elsewhere the No. 620. threats of destroying the cotton have been already to a great extent executed. britannien, The article from the ,,National Intelligencer" to which I have already drawn your Lordship's attention quotes a proclamation from General Beauregard, calling on all patriotic planters to apply the torch without delay to all cotton,,in the possible reach of the enemy." So far as the scanty and somewhat uncertain information attainable here at this moment warrants an opinion, this Proclamation is in accordance with the general feeling of the South; an accurate and impartial account of what has really occurred at New Orleans since the capture would give an insight into the probable conduct of the Southern people in other places. The general impression appears to be, that the aversion of the South to the North is so great that disasters in arms produce only sullen anger; that, for the present at least, the Federal authority can be maintained in the recovered districts only by military force and martial law. ¶ Opinion is, however, held in suspension by the expectation of two great battles, one in Virginia and the other in Tennessee. It is taken for granted in the North that both these battles will be lost by the Confederates. Their conduct afterwards, will, it is supposed, decide the question whether a restoration of the old Union is possible, or whether the war must be waged for the conquest and subjugation of the South. On the other hand, Southern partisans are confident that in one at least of the battles the Confederates will have the advantage. They think that thus the advance of the Northern troops will be checked. They look to the unhealthiness of the Southern summer climate as a powerful auxiliary; they trust that taxation and financial difficulties will disgust a large party in the North and North-West with the war. They think that if the Confederates can hold out this summer, they will not have to apprehend another campaign conducted by the North on the same scale and with the same spirit as that which this spring proved so disadvantageous to the South. &c.

[blocks in formation]

Gross

britannien,

31. Mai 1862.

My Lord, Mr. Seward in his conversation with your Lordship, No. 621. reported in your despatch of the 16th instant, appeared to attribute blame to the Confederates for destroying cotton and tobacco in places which they evacuate on the approach of the Federal forces. But it appears to be unreasonable to make this a matter of blame to them, for they could not be expected to leave such articles in warehouses to become prize of war, and to be sold for the profit of the Federal Government, which would apply the proceeds to the purchase of arms to be used against the South. If the Federal Government wish to make

Gross

No. 621. it possible for Europe to purchase cotton, they will ensure to each Southern britannien, planter who wishes to sell his crop, the money which the buyer pays for it.

31. Mai

1862. But in that case no distinction must be made between Federalist and Confederate.

No. 622.
Gross-

25. Juni

1862.

The transaction must be independent of political allegiance, or it will not take place at all. You may speak to Mr. Seward in this sense if you have an opportunity of doing so.

I am, &c.

To Lord Lyons, etc., Washington.

No. 622.

Russell.

GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Geschäftsträger in Washington a. d. kön. Min. d. Ausw.
Massregeln der amerik. Regierung zur Erleichterung der Baumwollen-

Ausfuhr betr.

Washington, June 25, (received July 11) 1862.

(Extract.) With reference to the steps which I had taken to make britannien, Mr. Seward acquainted with your suggestion that the export of cotton might be facilitated by securing to the Southern planters, without reference to their political allegiance, the prices which purchasers chose to pay for their crops, I have the honour to state that Mr. Seward reverted to that subject during my visit to him yesterday at the State Department. He said that, with every desire to interpose as few obstacles as possible to the carriage of cotton to European markets, the United States' Government could not take any decision in the matter without further information as to the quantity of cotton ready for market, the quantity at present planted, the disposition of the planters, and other correlative points; but that he had already appointed an agent, who was well versed in all matters relating to cotton, to proceed to New Orleans, with a view to procure, and to furnish to the State Department, the information required. ¶ Mr. Seward then proceeded to read to me the instructions which he had prepared for Mr. Bullitt, the gentleman in question, and he had the kindness to place in my hands a copy of them, as herewith inclosed. They are conceived in a liberal spirit, and the reports of Mr. Bullitt will be of great interest; but some delay will necessarily ensue before any practical advantages can result from his mission.

I have since learnt from Mr. Seward that Mr. Bullitt has already started for New Orleans, and that orders were at the same time sent to General Butler to proclaim an amnesty for the past to all, as I understood him, who would take the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government. Mr. Seward wished me to believe that this would at once produce the effect desired by your Lordship, and ensure an abundant supply of cotton; and, on my appearing to doubt it, he assured me that the Southern planters were, for the most part, men of Union sympathies, who would gladly avail themselves of such an opportunity to dispose of their crops. It is sarcely necessary for me to add that I am not yet prepared to share Mr. Seward's expectations on this matter. &c. To Earl Russell, London.

W. Stuart.

No. 623.

GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Min. d. Ausw. an die kön. Geschäftsträger in Washing-
Die Baumwollen-Noth betr.

ton.

Foreign Office, July 16, 1862.

No. 623.
Gross-

16. Juli 1862.

Sir, The conduct of Mr. Seward, in regard to the export of cotton, as reported in your despatch of the 25th ultimo, is far from being satisfactory, britannien, ¶It was not necessary to send an Agent to New Orleans to ascertain the quantity of cotton ready for market, the quantity planted for the next crop, the disposition of the planters generally in regard to its sale and exportation, and other correlative points. The question is one of fair conduct towards neutrals, to enable their people to carry on the industry by which they live. Mr. Seward always held out the expectation that when the Southern ports were taken by the Federals, and the authority of the United States restored in those ports, cotton would be forthcoming to be purchased for the use of Europe. ¶ New Orleans and other Southern ports have been taken, and the United States' authority restored therein, but the cotton is not forthcoming. The remedy should not have been delayed, nor the interests of neutrals treated with so little regard. ¶ I am, &c.

To Mr. Stuart, Washington.

Russell.

No. 624.

GROSSBRITANNIEN.-Geschäftsträger in Washington a. d. kön. Min. d. Ausw. - Bericht über einige wichtige Beschlüsse des Congresses.

(Extract.) Congress

Gross

21. Juli

1862.

Washington, July 21, (received August 4) 1862. adjourned on the 17th instant until the first No. 624. Monday of December next. The last few days of the session were marked britannien, by proceedings of the highest importance on the part of the President of the United States, who, in the first instance, on the 12th instant, sent for the Representatives and Senators of the Border Slave-holding States, and earnestly urged upon them the adoption of his gradual emancipation policy, and reproached them with their neglect of his previous proposal to that effect. Your Lordship will find in the,,National Intelligencer" of the 18th instant, the written paper which the President read upon the occasion, in explanation of his sentiments, as well as the written replies which were subsequently made to him by the majority of those present, by the minority, and by Mr. Maynard, one of their number.

The President next, on the 14th instant, sent a Message to Congress, applying for authority to compensate such of the Border States as may take practical steps towards the gradual abolition of slavery. The draft of the Bill which accompanied the Message has been laid over until the ensuing session. ¶ The next act of the President was in regard to the Confiscation Bill, which had

lately passed both branches of the Legislature by large majorities. It was intimated by a Senator on the penultimate day of the session that the President would interpose his veto upon the Bill in question unless it received certain modifications in a liberal sense. ¶ A Resolution was accordingly proposed and adopted by both Houses-not, it is true, without a certain amount of dissatisfaction-providing that the Bill was not to have a retroactive application, and limiting forfeitures of real estate to the lifetime of the offender. ¶ Your Lordships will understand how materially such a Resolution neutralizes some of the stipulations of the Bill which had occupied so much of the labours of the session. On the day following the President sent a Message informing Congress that he had signed both the Bill and the Resolution as being substantially one Act, together with the draft of another Message which he had prepared, stating the constitutional objections which would have made him feel it his duty to veto the Bill in the event of the accompanying Resolution not having been passed. ¶These proceedings created considerable discontent amongst the more advanced members of the Republican party, just as they were separating to return to their respective States. &c.

To Earl Russell, London.

W. Stuart.

No. 625.

No. 625.

Gross

GROSSBRITANNIEN.

d. Ausw.

[ocr errors]

Geschäftsträger in Washington an den königl. Min. Hoffnungen Sewards, die Union wieder herzustellen.

Washington, July 21, (received August 4) 1862.

[ocr errors]

(Extract.) With regard to the feeling of the Southern States, Mr. britannien, Seward still professes to believe that there is a large Union party there, and he 1862. assured me that the Border Slaveholding States are now irrevocably attached to

21. Juli

the Union, referring me to the reply of the Representatives of those States to the President's appeal to them to at once initiate gradual emancipation. The President's compensation scheme had done much to conciliate them.

Upon

my asking whether it was intended to govern the Southern States, supposing them to be regained, as conquered provinces, and what would be the numbers of the standing army required for such a purpose, Mr. Seward answered that there was no desire to govern the Southern States at all; that it was absolutely necessary for this Government to possess the Border States, including Virginia; that then it would be sufficient to have captured the ports and to collect customs, to hold the Mississippi and the other navigable rivers, and to occupy certain strategic points, and that this done the Southern States might well be left to themselves. Some six or nine months would probably be sufficient to bring them to reason. Amongst the means relied upon for weakening the South is included a ser

vile war.

To Earl Russell, London.

W. Stuart.

No. 626.

GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Geschäftsträger in Washington a. d. königl. Min. des - Die Baumwollen-Noth betr.

Ausw.

Washington, July 25, (received August 7) 1862.

Gross

25. Juli

1862.

My Lord, When I called upon Mr. Seward this morning, he had No. 626. just received a Report upon Cotton from Mr. Bullitt at New Orleans; and Ge- britannien, neral Shepley, the new Military Governor of Louisiana, who has come to Washington for instructions, had just left him. ¶ He told me that Mr. Bullitt estimated the cotton-crop of last year at 4,000,000 bales, and the amount which had been exported, chiefly through Mexican ports, at 200,000 or 300,000 bales (Mr. Seward was not quite certain of the exact quantity). This, with the quantity destroyed, amounted to 500,000 bales, leaving an aggregate balance of 3,500,000 bales. Mr. Bullitt had only heard of one instance in which a planter had spontaneously destroyed his own cotton, and he believed a large proportion of the crop to belong to persons who are well disposed to the Union. Owing to the repressive measures of the military authorities on both sides, there had hitherto been no opportunity for cotton to be brought forward, and one of the measures alluded to was the requirement of the oath of allegiance. Should these measures be relaxed, the sale of cotton would commence. ¶ General Shepley on his part stated to Mr. Seward that, had the military authorities been aware that it was the desire of the United States' Government to encourage the export of cotton, they would have taken measures accordingly; that now he knew the policy of his Government in this respect, he would do all in his power, upon his return to New Orleans to carry that policy into effect, and that he did not doubt that his efforts with that object would be attended with a satisfactory. The General is to return to New Orleans immediately. Upon my expres

sing doubts as to whether any measures would be effectual so long as the oath of allegiance was required, and so long as your Lordship's plan was not adopted for securing to the planter the price of his crop, Mr. Seward informed me that that plan was still under the consideration of the Cabinet; and from information derived from other sources, I have reason to think that it has been the cause of discussions in Cabinet Councils. Mr. Seward, in the course of our conversation, called my attention to the fact mentioned in the newspapers of yesterday, that 850 bales of cotton had been exported from New Orleans in two days. He was unable to tell me the amount of cotton supposed to be in store at New Orleans. He asked me to bear in mind that cotton would for the most part have to run the gauntlet of all the Confederate obstacles placed in its way before it could reach the Federal lines. ¶ I have, &c.

To Earl Russell, London.

W. Stuart.

« PreviousContinue »