Message of the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Congress

Mr. Dallas to Mr. Seward.

No. 333.]

Legation of the United States,
London, May 2, 1861.

Sir: In my No. 329 I mentioned having received your Nos. 306 and 307, and “a circular of the 9th of March, 1861.” As I have got no despatch from you, numbered 308, it is probable that this “circular” was considered at the department as representing that number in the series. I have now to acknowledge your several despatches, numbered, respectively, 309, 310, 311, and 312, whose contents have had my careful and prompt attention.

You have doubtless noticed that the motion of Mr. Gregory, in the House of Commons, on the recognition of the southern confederation—which motion I mentioned at the conclusion of my No. 330—underwent postponement from the 16th to the 30th ultimo, and has again been deferred a fortnight, for the reasons stated in the extract from the “Times” newspaper of the 30th April, hereto annexed.

The solicitude felt by Lord John Russell as to the effect of certain measures represented as likely to be adopted by the President induced him to request me to call at his private residence yesterday. I did so. He told me that the three representatives of the southern confederacy were here; that he had not seen them, but was not unwilling to do so, unofficially; that there existed an understanding between this government and that of France which would lead both to take the same course as to recognition, whatever that course might be; and he then referred to the rumor of a meditated blockade of southern ports and their discontinuance as ports of entry—topics on which I had heard nothing, and could therefore say nothing. But as I informed him that Mr. Adams had apprised me of his intention to be on his way hither, in the steamship “Niagara,” which left Boston on the 1st May, and that he would probably arrive in less than two weeks, by the 12th or 15th instant, his lordship acquiesced in the expediency of disregarding mere rumor, and waiting the full knowledge to be brought by my successor.

The motion, therefore, of Mr. Gregory may be further postponed, at his lordship’s suggestion.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,

G. M. DALLAS.

Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.

[From the London Times, April 30, 1861.]

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America.—In reply to a question from Mr. W. E. Foster, Mr. Gregory stated that in deference to the expressed opinion of the foreign secretary, who had informed him that a discussion at the present moment upon the expediency of a prompt recognition of the southern confederation of America would be embarrassing to the public service, and in deference; also, to the wishes of several honorable friends of his, he should postpone for a fortnight the motion which stood in his name for to-morrow night. The noble lord at the head of the foreign office believed that the motion might then be brought forward without inconvenience.

[From the London Times, May 3, 1861.]

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America.—Southern Letters of Marque.—Mr. J. Ewart asked the secretary of state for foreign affairs whether, seeing the possibility of privateering being permitted and encouraged by the southern confederation of the States of America, her Majesty’s government had placed a sufficient naval force, or intended to increase it, in the Gulf of Mexico, with a view to protect British shipping and British property on board of American ships; and if privateers, sailing under the flag of an unrecognized power, would be dealt with as pirates.

Lord J. Russell said: In answer to the first part of the question of the honorable gentleman, I beg to say that her Majesty’s government has directed that a naval force, for the protection of British shipping, should be sent to the coast of America. As to the latter part of the question, I will state to the house that the government has, from day to day, received the most lamentable accounts of the progress of the war in the States of America. Her Majesty’s government heard the other day that the Confederated States have issued letters of marque; and to-day we have heard that it is intended there shall be a blockade of all the ports of the southern States. As to the general provisions of the law of nations on these questions, some of the points are so new as well as so important that they have been referred to the law officers of the crown for their opinion in order to guide the government in its instructions both to the English minister in America and the commander of the naval squadron. Her Majesty’s government has felt that it was its duty to use every possible means to avoid taking any part in the lamentable contest now raging in the American States. (Hear, hear.) And nothing but the imperative duty of protecting British interests, in case they should be attacked, justifies the government in at all interfering. We have not been involved in any way in that contest by any act or giving any advice in the matter, and, for God’s sake, let us if possible keep out of it! (Cheers.)