nation in such a case has been or can well be pronounced against the American people. Under these circumstances the President could not fail to appreciate the evidence which is now so spontaneously furnished to him by the men of Birmingham, so well known to all the world by their genius, their arts, their industry, their political sagacity, and their indomitable devotion to freedom, in support of his judgment upon a question that affects so deeply the interests of our country, and the prospect of civilization throughout the world. I am, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: Your despatch of February 26 (No. 334) has been received, together with the papers therein described. The address of the inhabitants of Birmingham is made the subject of a special reply of this date, and numbered 512. You are authorized to assure the workingmen of Edinburgh and the inhabitants of Paisley that their just and generous resolutions are accepted by the President of the United States as an earnest of the ultimate and final judgment concerning the present important crisis in our national progress of a portion of the British nation, which is unsurpassed in intelligence and virtue by any community that is now existing, or that ever has existed, among men. In behalf of the President, and in answer to the operatives and others of Luddenden Foot and Halifax, you will say that, even though the people of the British Islands, forgetful of their history, their fame, and their destiny, should unanimously consent and lend their moral influence and material support to the insurrection that is now in arms against this government, yet the government and the people of the United States would, nevertheless, even in that case, take abundant care that no nation should be built and established on this continent upon the basis of enduring and expanding African slavery. You will convey to the people of Aberdane the President's thanks for the earnestness and vigor with which they have vindicated the cause of the United States in the resolutions which they unanimously passed at a second meeting, larger and more enthusiastic than the one the proceedings of which I have heretofore had the honor to acknowledge. Welshmen and their descendants form no inconsiderable part of the population of the United States. So far as my knowledge extends, not one of them has ever taken up arms in favor of the insurgents, or sympathized with them in the cause which is so justly revolting to the people of their native principality. You are authorized to say to the people of Oldham, in Lancashire, that the United States confidently expect that their cause will command the good-will and sympathy of all mankind, just so fast as the hindrances of information concerning its true character and nature shall be overcome. That the people of Lancashire, which of all places in Great Britain was the first and the most severely to suffer by the conspiracy of slavery in this country, should nevertheless be the first to truly understand and pronounce themselves upon the crisis, is a distinction which entitles them to the especial and most hearty thanks of the United States. To the people of Merthyr Tydfil you will please express the profound and grateful satisfaction with which the President has learned, from the proceedings of their meeting held at Tarbernacle chapel on the 2d of February last, that they harmonize and sympathize in the sentiment concerning our domestic troubles with the enlightened citizens of other parts of South Wales. Their address will be preserved among the most precious memorials of the crisis through which our country is passing with so much constancy and perseverance. You will say to the citizens of Carlisle that they do not more heartily protest against British intervention in our civil war than this government deprecates and repels foreign intervention from any quarter on any pretext whatsoever. The United States having had slavery planted among them two hundred years ago, and been obliged by the force of circumstances and the influences and agencies of other countries to tolerate its growth and expansion, have at last reached the time when either the Union must stand and remain in its constitutional form, covering all its lawful domain, or it must give place to a new nation that shall proscribe freedom and spread slavery over the whole continent. In such a crisis the United States simply ask that the people of England make good the neutrality they have proclaimed by withholding arms, men, and material of war from both sides, and, so far as their sympathies are concerned, express them in behalf of the cause that commends itself most to the favor of God and to the concurrence of mankind. The President is glad to learn from their resolutions that the inhabitants of Carlisle so heartily concur with him in these sentiments. Finally, you are authorized to say, in behalf of the President, to the inhabitants of Rawtenstall, in Lancashire, that he holds in the highest respect that simple and natural, yet unerring, sagacity which has enabled them to discern, amid all the clouds of passion and prejudice which have gathered from the first upon the American question, its true and noble character, while at the same time they have entitled themselves, with the other citizens of Lancashire, to the thanks equally of Great Britain and the United States by their refusal to be made agents in a cruel attempt to alienate two nations which are not less required by the highest obligations of duty than impelled by the force of a common nature to be inseparable friends. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to add, that in each of these cases, adhering to our accustomed course of proceeding, you will, in your own discretion, modify, and even withhold, the communication which is directed to be made, and that no intercourse whatever will be held with subjects of her Britannic Majesty concerning the questions involved that shall not have been first freely consented to by her Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Supposed list of the persons to whom the replies on behalf of the President ought to be addressed. Elinburgh-John Beaton, secretary of the United Trades Council, chairman. Parsley, Scotland.-David Campbell, esq., chairman. Luddenden Foot, Halifax.-Joseph Bottomly, chairman. Aberdane, South Wales. -Rev. W. Edwards, chairman. Oltham, Lancashire.-Thomas Emmott, esq., chairman, Belmont Terrace, Middleton Road, Oldham. Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales -Charles H. James, chairman. Carlisle, Cumberland county.—James Ross, chairman. Rawtenstall, Lancashire county --Peter Ormerod Whitehead, esq., chairman. No. 514.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, "Washington, March 16, 1863. Your despatch of February 26 (No. 337) has been received, and the hopeful view of European opinion concerning our affairs is happily coincident with a returning calmness and firmness of public confidence at home. Nothing was ever more preposterous than the idea engendered here, and sent abroad to perplex Europe, that an American Secretary of State would employ a plenipotentiary of the Emperor of France to negotiate with American insurgents, and that a plenipotentiary of such a power would accept such a mission. Happily, European credulity is becoming unable to bear the tests enforced upon it. I am, sir, your obedient servant, HARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 515.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 16, 1863. SIR: Your despatch (No. 338) of the 27th ultimo, relative to the surreptitious exportation of specie from Mobile in the British war vessel Vesuvius, has been received. Although information of disapprobation of the course of Mr. ViceConsul Magee in the matter had previously been communicated by Lord Lyons, it is gratifying to have the confirmation thereof which your despatch affords, for which you will make proper acknowledgments to Earl Russell. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. [Extracts ] No. 351.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have to acknowledge the reception of despatches from the department, numbered from 486 to 502, both inclusive. Almost all the despatches have reference to the addresses and resolutions which have been heretofore forwarded through this legation, and supply the materials for a reply in each particular instance. At the same time a general discretion is given me to act upon them, always provided that her Majesty's government should be consulted in regard to the course ultimately adopted. * I shall postpone any action in these cases until I shall have heard of the decision of the President on the whole question as presented in my despatch (No. 339) of the 5th of March. I now transmit the resolutions adopted at public meetings held at Southampton on the 12th and Newark-upon-Trent on the 11th instant. I am informed that the Emancipation Society is actively engaged in extending and strengthening its affiliations through the country, but I take no part whatever in their proceedings. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. RESOLUTIONS AT SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND. Copy of resolutions passed by a public meeting on negro emancipation, held at the Carlton Hall, Southampton, on Thursday, March 12, 1863. Alderman Palk, J P., in the chair. Moved by Alderman Clark, J. P., and seconded by Rev. E. Kell, M. A.: 1st. That the revolt of the southern States against the federal government of America having originated in a desire, not only to maintain negro slavery, but to extend it, with all its concomitant evils, this meeting can have no sympathy with a rebellion which is in defiance of every principle of political justice, and for the establishment of institutions framed in opposition to the moral sense of civilized humanity, and which are contrary to, and an outrage upon, the religion whose sanction has been claimed in their support. Moved by the Rev. Thomas James, and seconded by Edwin Hame, esq., M. B. : 2d. That this meeting rejoices in the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, the prohibition of slavery in the Territories, the scheme of compensated emancipation, and the proclamation which inaugurated the present year, as the principal acts of President Lincoln, and that this meeting offers to the government and the people of the loyal States the assurance of fraternal sympathy in their noble struggle. Moved by William Randall, esq., J. P., seconded by Mr. Richard Smith: 3d. That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the Hon Charles Francis Adams. American minister, with a request that he will transmit them to the President of the United States. EDWARD PALK, Chairman. RESOLUTIONS AT NEWARK, ENGLAND. Resolutions adopted at a public meeting of the inhabitants of Newark-upon-Trent, held in the Can Exchange, March 11, 1863. The Reverend T. B. Attenborough in the chair. It was proposed by Mr. John Brooks, and seconded by Mr. Joseph Harris, and carried unanimously: "That, in the opinion of this meeting, slavery is a curse, a blight, and a stain upon our common humanity, and that the war now raging in America, having been originated by the leaders of the southern States for the purpose of extending and perpetuating slavery, according to their own avowed intentions, deserves the condemnation of all civilized communities." It was also proposed by Mr. Thomas Earp, and seconded by Mr. John Gilbert, and carried unanimously: “That this meeting highly approves of the emancipation policy pursued by the United States government under President Lincoln, and declares that any intervention, physical or moral, in behalf of the slave power, would be disgraceful, and urges her Majesty's government to observe and support a continuance of the policy of non-intervention." It was also proposed by Mr. Pinder, and seconded by Mr. Joseph Smith, and carried unanimously: "That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to Mr. Adams, with a request that they be sent to President Lincoln, and that copies be also addressed to the members for the borough." T. B. ATTENBOROUGH, Chairman. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. [Extracts.] No. 352.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, London, March 19, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to transmit copies of two notes which I had addressed to Lord Russell, in reply to two of his, dated on the 9th, copies of which were sent to you last week. * * * I shall proceed hereafter only upon the instructions which shall be forwarded to me from your department. The position which his lordship has taken in regard to the invitation of a loan for the rebels appears to be directly in contravention of the law heretofore laid down in the British courts. Encouraged by the tone of the press, this loan has been announced in the markets of France and this country. Of its success there appears to be much doubt. But if successful, so far as I see, it liberates the government of the United States from all further obligations to facilitate the exportation of cotton. And if the statement be true that the rebel authorities have prohibited the transfer of cotton to any parties but themselves, it appears to justify the seizure and condemnation of it wherever it may be found. For virtually this makes all the cotton remaining under the rebel control security for money furnished to them in order to carry on the war. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. Wм. H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [Enclosures.] 1. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, March 14, 1863, on failure of his remonstrance to prevent the Sumter remaining at Liverpool. 2. Same to same, March 14, on rebel loan, and war-ship building in Great Britain. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of your note of the 9th instant, in reply to mine of the 6th ultimo, respecting the case of the steamer Sumter. Your lordship apprises me that "her Majesty's government, in the present state of their information on the subject, are unable to assume" that the ship lately "called the Sumter has not been legally and bona fide sold to a British owner for commercial purposes," thereby leading me to infer that a sale, if so effected, would be regarded as valid by them, to change the property of a belligerent in a neutral port. But I must ask pardon for calling your lordship's attention to the fact that such has not been the construction heretofore put upon the law by the courts of Great Britain when applied to belligerent vessels of their own enemies in neutral ports. In the learned work on international law, published not long since, by Mr. Robert Phillimore, the same eminent individual who has since been elevated to the position of a legal adviser of the crown, I find it expressly affirmed that the purchase of ships-of-war belonging to enemies is held in the British |