Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I
Mr. Mason to Earl Russell.–(Received July 24.)
My Lord: I have the honor to transmit to your lordship herewith a copy of the despatch of the secretary of state of the Confederate States of America to me, dated the 11th June ultimo, with copies of the documents accompanying it.
The instructions of the secretary to me being confined to the duty of furnishing this copy to your lordship, I refrain from any further act than to say, should it be the desire of the government of her Majesty to express any views on the matter contained therein, I will be happy in being the medium of communicating them to the secretary of state at Richmond.
I have, &c.,
[For enclosure in No. 12, Mr. Benjamin to Mr. Mason, June 11, 1863, see “North America, No. 13, (1864,)” page 25.]
Annexes.
Foreign Consuls.—Mr. Cridland, for some years past her Britannic Majesty’s vice-consul at Richmond, is about to leave this city for Mobile, having in his pocket the commission of full consul. So runs a common report, which has not yet been denied.
Mr. C.’s promotion will give great pleasure to his numerous friends in this city, where he is sincerely respected and warmly esteemed. But he is accredited to Mr. Lincoln, not to Mr. Davis, and his credentials bear recent date. This intelligence, so long as it remains uncontradicted, will not give pleasure to any one in the south. To be sure, we know that we have no national existence outside of our own fond imaginations, and that in the eyes of Great Britain we are still part and parcel of the United States, and destined, for all she cares, so to remain forever. We know, further, that sundry private citizens of the south, nicknamed ministers, are cooling their heels to no earthly purpose in the antechambers of St. James and the Tuilleries, and this useless refrigeration of the ossa calcis of Messrs. Mason and Slidell has been going on for above a year. Nor are we ignorant that some remote intimations of these things have reached the “so-called confederate government” without exciting the least stir or movement on the part of the “so-called.”
Knowing all this, our duty as good citizens and believers in that sound political dogma, “the government is in the possession of facts,” is to imitate the “so-called,” and make no stir. Accordingly we make none.
Nevertheless, the creation at this late day of a Lincoln consul at Mobile by the English secretary of foreign affairs, and the acceptance of such a commission by that consul, may well excuse, if it does not excite, a tendency on the part of the southern people to take the liberty of making a remark. There is a certain newness about the thing, which might, under other circumstances, occasion surprise; and, so to speak, a rawness in the matter that might, in ordinary times, produce a sensation bordering on the disagreeable. But these contingencies are remote. We are quite sure that there is not a man in the confederacy who feels the slightest inclination to make any remark until the war is over, and the public, as well as the “so-called confederate government,” is in possession of those awful facts on which the unofficial mind would be justified in basing an opinion, and in the absence of which the private citizen is dutifully and reverently dumb.
So far as Mr. Cridland is concerned, the statements made above may be unfounded. We shall be glad to hear it, if gladness be compatible with good citizenship and the facts possessed by the “so-called.”
It is possible, though not probable, that there are no British consuls accredited to the United States in this confederacy or elsewhere. If such be the fact, we may venture to be agreeably surprised so soon as the war terminates and the mysterious possessions of the “so-called” are generally distributed. Pending the war, however, we shall esteem it a great privilege to be permitted by the “so-called” to be as indifferent to the dignity and honor of the country as we are ignorant of the appalling facts in possession of the aforesaid “so-called.”
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Mr. Cridland.—We desire to correct the report mentioned by us yesterday in connexion with this gentleman, so far as to state that he goes to Mobile without [Page 803] commission from the Queen or exequatur from Washington, but simply at the request or order of Lord Lyons, to look after British interests in that quarter in an unofficial way. Of this we are assured by Mr. C. himself, who leaves the city this morning. In the capacity in which he goes he will, we are sure, receive from the hospitable and polished people of Mobile the consideration and courtesy to which he is entitled.
(Telegraphic.)
(C.)—Admiral Buchanan to Mr. Mallory.
The French consul, M. Portz, has, in his official capacity as acting English consul, introduced me to Mr. Cridland, who has shown me an official document, signed by Lyons, appointing him the acting English consul at Mobile. Am I to recognize him as such?
(D.)—Mr. Walsh to Mr. Magee.
Dear Sir: The State of Alabama is very anxious to insure to its creditors their dues to the utmost fraction, notwithstanding the obstacles now thrown in the way of the United States government to prevent creditors in the Confederate States from meeting their obligations.
This State will owe, the coming year, in payment of its interest coupons, in bonds due British subjects, some £40,000 sterling, which coupons are payable at the Union Bank and at the counting-house of the Messrs. Rothschild, in London. The State is not only anxious, but determined, if possible, to continue to protect its credit, and promptly meet its obligations as heretofore; also to fulfil strictly its promises to its foreign creditors, both in regard to the payment of its dues as well as its promised places of payment. With this view, will you allow me to invoke your kind aid in behalf of the State, and this bank, which has acted as the fiscal agent of the State for many years past in the payment of its foreign interests, to fulfil its obligations, which is of the utmost importance, in every point of view, both to the State of Alabama and its foreign creditors. I have now to ask the favor of your ascertaining from the British minister at Washington (or through any other channel) if this bank can be allowed to place in your hands the sum necessary, in coin, for transmission to England by the first favorable opportunity, at the expense of the State, for the purpose mentioned. I must ask you, kindly, to give me as early a reply to this communication as your convenience will permit.
I am, &c.,
(E.)—Mr. Magee to Mr. Walsh.
Sir: Your favor of the 11th current duly received, and referring to its contents I beg leave to inform you that I sent yesterday by an opportunity to New Orleans a despatch to her Britannic Majesty’s consul there, stating the [Page 804] gist of your desire, and asked if her Majesty’s ship Rinaldo, Captain Hewett, now at New Orleans, could not be sent to this place in order to receive from you the specie, take it hence to Havana, and allow the consul general of Great Britain to forward it per steamer to London.
If I fail here, I will invoke the aid of Lord Lyons at Washington.
I am, &c.,
(F.)—Mr. Walsh to Mr. Magee.
I do hereby certify that the thirty-one kegs of specie, marked B.M., containing each $5,000, together $155,000, handed over to you by this institution for the purpose of having the same delivered to H. Bell, consul general at Havana, and to be transmitted thence to England to the consignment of the Union Bank of London by the British mail steamer, is for the purpose of paying dues to British subjects from the State of Alabama, and is the property and belongs to the subjects of her Britannic Majesty.
Very respectfully, &c.,
(G.)—Mr. Walsh to Mr. Scrimgeour.
Dear Sir: This institution deposited in the French consul’s hands, for safekeeping, in May last, thirty-one kegs of specie, containing each 5,000 Mexican dollars, together $155,000, appropriated by the State of Alabama to pay the British and other foreign holders of State bonds the interest due on sums as follows:
| £ | s. | d. | ||||
| 1863— | June 1 | 7,380 | 17 | 7. | Payable at | the Union bank. |
| July 1 | 3,215 | 11 | 9. | Do. | do. | |
| July 1 | 465 | 17 | 3. | Payable at | Messrs. Rothschilds’. | |
| 1864— | January 1 | 3,215 | 11 | 9. | Payable at | the Union bank. |
| January 1 | 465 | 17 | 3. | Payable at | Messrs. Rothschilds’. | |
| June 1 | 9,380 | 17 | 7. | Payable at | the Union bank. | |
| July 1 | 3,215 | 11 | 9. | Do. | do. | |
| July 1 | 465 | 17 | 3. | Payable at | Messrs. Rothschilds’. | |
| 29,806 | 2 | 2. |
The arrival of her Britannic Majesty’s ship Vesuvius, Lieutenant Crooke, affords the opportunity of sending this forward; and the said specie has been turned over to her Britannic Majesty’s acting consul here, James Magee, esq., who has shipped it by the said vessel to James G. Crawford, esq., her Britannic Majesty’s consul general at Havana, and who is requested to ship the same, by the British mail steamer, to your consignment, for the purpose of paying it over to the parties holding the said interest coupons under such arrangements as have heretofore existed with you by this bank.
The charges for freight from this port, and all expenses belonging thereto, you will please pay to the debit of this bank.
I remain, &c.,
B. M., thirty-one kegs specie, 5,000 dollars each, together 155,000 dollars.
(H.)—Commander Hitchcock to Mr. Magee.
Sir: Your communication of the 4th instant has this moment been received by flag of truce. In relation to your connexion with the transaction of shipping specie from Mobile I know very little. The commander of the Vesuvius told me he came to transact government business with the British consul, and that he believed he (the consul) had some money to send by him. To which I replied, “We cannot examine an English man-of-war; we trust all you do will be right and proper. You could go up to the city, if you wished, where we do not go.” Further than this I have no knowledge.
Very respectfully,
[(I.)—Circular to consuls and consular agents.
Sir: It becomes my duty to inform you that the president has determined to permit no direct communication between consuls or consular agents of foreign countries residing within the confederacy, and the functionaries of such foreign governments residing in the enemy’s lines. The passage, in future, of consular couriers, messengers, or of consuls or consular agents themselves, through the confederate lines to the enemy, is accordingly prohibited, and foreign officials will be allowed to communicate with their governments only directly, or through neutral countries.
With great respect, &c.,