No. 627. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Geschäftsträger in Washington a. d. königl. Min. des Washington, July 28, (received August 9) 1862. No. 627. (Extract.) Mr. Seward sent to me to-day a summary of Mr. Bullitt's britannien, Report upon cotton, to which I alluded in my despatch of the 25th instant, and 1862. a copy of a despatch which he had received from General Shepley upon the 28. Juli same subject. ¶ I have the honour to inclose copies of both these documents herewith. Upon my inquiring of Mr. Seward whether he would give me any specific assurance that cotton purchased by neutrals would not be seized or confiscated by the Federal authorities, he answered that he could not consent to do so. I had hoped that the United States' Government would have done more towards encouraging the export of cotton, but in consequence of the Confiscation Act the question has become one of increased difficulty; and within the last few days the Cabinet seems rather to have receded from the disposition which was evinced at one time of acting upon your Lordship's proposal to permit business transactions in cotton without reference to the political opinions or allegiance of the seller. A fear lest the proceeds should contribute towards the resources of the so-called Confederate Government has also had its weight. ¶On the other hand, in the absence of an assurance from Mr. Seward, it is unlikely that the Confederate Government will put a stop to the destruction of cotton when exposed to fall into the possession of the Federal forces. The most hopeful feature in the matter is General Shepley's despatch, which is indicative of an intention to remove such obstructions in the way of the export of cotton as he may think himself able to dispense with. He moreover expresses confidence in his power to bring forward increased quantities of cotton for shipment. It has been decided to confide in his efforts in the first instance, and to postpone any further measure until the present experiment proves a failure. ¶ I much wish that I could announce to your Lordship the adoption of a more liberal policy in regard to cotton. Public opinion, however, would now be adverse to concessions granted either exclusively to foreigners or to cotton proprietors; and Mr. Seward took occasion to remind me that the former are now dispensed from the oath imposed upon American citizens. I have duly informed him of your Lordship's views upon the question as laid down in your despatch of the 24th instant. To Earl Russell, London. W. Stuart. Anlage 1. Memorandum on Supply of Cotton. Mr. Bullitt, the agent appointed by the State Department to visit New Orleans, and ascertain the condition of affairs in regard to the probable supply of cotton, reports in substance: That the cotton in that region has been heretofore prevented from coming to market, under the instructions of the Gross 28. Juli 1862. insurgents and by military authority; that it has chiefly been bought by foreig- No. 627. ners, and that this fact is known to the insurgents, but has not modified their britannien, policy of preventing the cotton from coming to market; that there is not, and has not been, any reason to apprehend that the United States' authorities would confiscat or seize such cotton, nor could there have been any such apprehensions among the holders of the cotton. Mr. Bullitt says, that the owners of the cotton have hitherto been without the facilities of navigation for bringing it from its depositories on or near the plantations to New Orleans, and that they have been hindered also by some military regulations of the army, established for its own safety and for the security of the Government. Colonel Shepley, recently appointed Military Governor of Louisiana, is now here, and he will immediately return to New Orleans. He says, these military regulations may be so modified in practice as to favour the export of cotton, and so considerably increase it. He has been instructed to do so, so far as he can with a due regard to the safety of the military position. Mr. Bullitt, upon information, estimates the entire crop of 1861 at 4,000,000 of bales of 500 lbs. each, of which 500,000 bales may perhaps have found its way out, lawfully and unlawfully or been destroyed by the insurgents. Practically none has been destroyed by its producers or lawful owners. According to this estimate there remains 3,500,000 bales. Two-thirds of this quantity is not in a marketable condition, owing to the impossibility hitherto of procuring bagging and rope. A considerable quantity has not yet been ginned, and a very large quantity is said to have been baled in only the rudest manner, and so it is in no proper condition to bear transportation. These troubles, however, will soon be remedied under the new administration of General Shepley. Mr. Bullitt estimates the crop now growing, with the advantage of a favourable season, at half the quantity of last year. Anlage 2. General Shepley to Mr. Seward. -- Washington, July 26, 1862. Sir, After reflecting upon the suggestions made yesterday by you in relation to the exportation of cotton from the port of New Orleans, I have the honour to state that I feel confident that the line of policy indicated by you would very greatly increase the quantity of cotton for shipment from that port. ¶ Immediately upon my return to Louisiana I shall afford every possible facility to citizens and foreign residents and commercial agents to enable them to collect and forward the large amounts of cotton now remaining on the plantations, and I confidently expect a large increase in the supply of cotton from the Lower Mississippi. I have, &c. . G. F. Shepley, To Mr. Seward, etc. No. 628. No. 628. GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Geschäftsträger in Washington a. d. königl. Min. des Ausw. Washington, August 3, (received August 17) 1862. (Extract.) I inquired of Mr. Seward yesterday whether the inclosed britannien, correspondence between General Butler and Mr. Reverdy Johnson relative to 3. August 1862. trade in cotton and sugar at New Orleans was authentic, and whether he approved the declaration therein made by the General, which appeared to me to be of a most satisfactory nature. Mr. Seward replied to both questions in the affirmative, and stated that he believed it to be owing to the spirit of the instructions which he had furnished to Mr. Johnson that this liberal policy had been adopted. I then informed him of the disappointment experienced by your Lordship on finding that, instead of acting on the plan which you had proposed through me for the sale and export of cotton, he had sent Mr. Bullitt to New Orleans to report upon the cotton crop; and, in order to make him better acquainted with the exact grounds of your Lordship's dissatisfaction, I showed to him your despatch of the 16th ultimo *). ¶ Upon reading it, he said that there had been no intention on his part to evade the question by sending Mr. Bullitt to New Orleans. He begged me to explain that he had appointed Mr. Bullitt to that mission before I had spoken to him on the subject of cotton, and that it had been his earnest desire to treat the whole question in the most liberal spirit; and he now thought that cotton would be forthcoming, as the certainty. of receiving payment for their crops would prove a temptation which the present owners could not afford to resist. I should not be acting fairly towards Mr. Seward did I not express to your Lordship my belief that he has been most anxious to do all in his power to facilitate the export of cotton to Europe, and that he is now glad that General Butler has made such a timely declaration as that which is here with inclosed. ¶ General Butler has cut the knot, and, as far as New Orleans is concerned, his declaration, if literally acted upon, as Mr. Seward believes it will be by General Shepley, appears to be as liberal as any which your Lordship could have suggested. It remains to be seen whether public opinion in the south-west, whatever may be the wants and desires of the planters, will permit cotton to be transported in any quantity to the Federal lines. &c. To Earl Russell, London. W. Stuart. Anlage. - Extract from the,, New York Tribune" of August 1, 1862. Seizure and Confiscation. The following correspondence between Major-General Butler and the Honourable Reverdy Johnson we copy from ,The Delta:" *) No. 623. ,,Head-Quarters, Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, July 21, 1862. ,,To the Hon. Reverdy Johnson. ,,My dear Sir, Permit me to iterate and reiterate again and again what you knew so well before, but which these deluded people seem determined never to believe, that no merchandise, whether cotton or sugar, will in any event be seized or confiscated by the United States' authorities here. I will assure safe conduct, open market, and prompt shipment of all such property sent to New Orleans, and the owner, were he Slidell himself, should have the pay for his cotton, if sent here under this assurance. ¶ I am, &c. Benj. F. Butler.“ No. 628. Grossbritannien, 3. August 1862. United States' Commissioner's Office, Custom-House, New Orleans, July 21, 1862. My dear General, — I needed not your note of this morning to satisfy me on the subject to which it relates. The public mind should have been put right upon it by your proclamation of the 7th of May. In these times, however, opinion is so sensitive, and misrepresentations so frequent on all matters touching the unfortunate condition of the country, that I am glad to have your note with the privilege to make it public. The restoration of commerce in and from this port is a result so important to the interest of this State, the United States, and the Governments of Europe, that it seems strange that an intelligent man should have doubted your wish, as the Representative of our Government, to do all that you could to bring it about. If there be any really existing fear upon the point, your note (for which I thank you) cannot fail to remove it. The Confederate Government, as it calls itself, may burn and destroy the cotton and sugar of the people whom they claim to represent, and whose rights they pretend to be anxious to protect. They may, too, for a time, succeed in keeping alive the delusion of their followers, but an intelligent Southern public and an intelligent European opinion will soon, if it has not already, discover the shallowness of the pretence, and see, unless soon arrested by the fostering power of the Government, the certain ruin to which it must lead. With great respect, &c. Reverdy Johnson. No. 629. GROSSBRITANNIEN. — Geschäftsträger in Washington a. d. königl. Min. des Washington, August 8, (received August 21) 1862. Gross 8. August (Extract.) The newspapers of the 5th instant published the inclosed No. 629. copy of an order from the War Department, calling into immediate service a britannien, draft of 300,000 men, to serve for nine months, unless sooner discharged. 1862. ¶ This call is in addition to the previous one which was made by the President for 300,000 volunteers in the beginning of last month, and it is further ordered that drafting shall be resorted in any State which shall not have furnished its Staatsarchiv IV. 1863. 18 Gross No. 629. quota to those volunteers by the 18th instant, in order to make up the deficiency. britannien, The appearance of energy thus evinced by the Government has once more 8. August 1862. encouraged the hope that the war will be brought to a speedy conclusion, and the measure has been generally supported by the press. To disapprove would be attributed to a lack of patriotism. The present calls will raise the drain of men taken for the army during the last eighteen months to about 6 per cent. of the entire population, and this does not include thousands of others who are withdrawn from their ordinary productive avocations to minister to the requirements of the armies in the field. When I tell your Lordship that the ordinary rate of wages has lately been estimated to me as being at from one dollar to one and a half per day, you will be enabled to appreciate to a certain extent the immense burdens which the nation is being called upon by its rulers to bear. ་ Whether it will be found possible to raise the numbers required may well be considered doubtful. Another question is, how are such vast additional masses to be officered? Recruits have been volunteering in greater numbers since the new call, in order that they may receive the bounties, which will cease as soon as drafting commences. To Earl Russell, London. W. Stuart. Anlage. Vereinigte War Department, Washington, August 4, 1862. Ordered, 1. That a draft of 300,000 men be immediately called into Staaten, the service of the United States, to serve for nine months, unless sooner dis4. August 1862. charged. The Secretary of War will assign the quotas to the States, and establish regulations for the draft. No. 630. Gross britannien, 2. That if any State shall not, by the 18th of August, furnish its quota of the 300,000 Volunteers authorized by law, the deficiency of Volunteers in the State will also be made up by special draft from the Militia. The Secretary of War will establish regulations for that purpose. 3. Regulations will be prepared by the War Department and presented to the President with the object of securing the promotion of officers of the army and Volunteers for meritorious and distinguished services, and of preventing the nomination or appointment in the military service of incompetent or unworthy officers. The regulations will also provide for ridding the service of such incompetent persons as now hold commissions. By order of the President. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Ausw. - Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. No. 630. Geschäftsträgerin Washington a. d. königl. Min. des Die Ordre des Gen. Sherman wegen der Baumwollen-Ausfuhr Washington, August 8, (received August 21) 1862. My Lord, I regret to observe that whilst General Butler, at New 8. August Orleans, had published the satisfactory declaration respecting the sale and 1862. |