Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

INSTRUCTIONS TO COLONIAL GOVERNORS.

385

Confederate President only beheld a cringing | tive authority, and are not intended to interfere in to the power of the United States.*

In view of the resort, by the rebel privateers, to Nassau and other British colonial ports, for the purpose of making disposition of prize captures, Her Majesty's Government issued the following instructions to the Governors of colonies:

"DOWNING STREET, June 2, 1864. "Sir: I think it well to communicate to you the decisions at which Her Majesty's Government have arrived on certain questions which have arisen respecting the treatment of prizes captured by Fede

ral or Confederate cruisers if brought into British

waters.

"1. If any prize captured by a ship of war of either of the belligerent Powers shall be brought by the captors within Her Majesty's jurisdiction, notice shall be given by the Government to the captors immediately to depart and remove such prize.

2. A vessel which shall have been actually and bona fide converted into, and used as, a public vesselof-war, shall not be deemed to be a prize within the meaning of these rules.

any way with the process of any court of justice."

The advent of the Alabama at Cherbourg, June 10th, tested the long enjoyed right of asylum in French ports given to Confederate cruisers, and disappointed the hopes of the Confederates regarding French sympathy. Whatever may have been the French Government's secret desires to favor the rebel cause, it acted with extreme circumspection; and when our Minister protested against the reception given to Semmes' ship, the response, as we have seen, was an order for the cruiser to sail without repairs. This, in view of a comparatively recent--and, to the French, a very annoying-resolution of the United States House of Representatives, vindicating the Monroe Doctrine and declaring, in uncquivocal language, against French interference in the affairs of Mexico, was construed the Northern States, whose firm, almost as evincing a compliant disposition towards

“3. If any prize shall be brought within Her Majes-threatening attitude in the assertion of their ty's jurisdiction through mere stress of weather, or other extreme and unavoidable necessity, the Governor may allow for her removal such time as he may consider to be necessary.

4. If any prize shall not be removed at the time prescribed to the captors by the Governor, the Governor may detain such prize until Her Majesty's pleasure shall be made known.

“5. If any prize shall have been captured by any violation of the territory or territorial waters of Her Majesty, the Governor may detain such prize until Her Majesty's pleasure shall be made known.

"Her Majesty's Government have not thought it necessary to make any addition to the instructions already given with respect to cargoes-viz., that Her Majesty's orders apply as much to prize cargoes of every kind which may be brought by any armed ships or privateers of either belligerent into British waters as to the captured vessels themselves. They do not, however, apply to any articles which may have formed part of any such cargoes if brought within British jurisdiction, not by armed ships or privateers of either belligerent, but by other persons who may have acquired or may claim property in them by reason of any dealing with the captors.

[ocr errors]

rights, had compelled from both France and Britain a treatment of the Confederate cause which, in the first years of the struggle, they had been unwilling to concede.

The use of English Navy Yards-particularly that of Laird, at Birkenhead-for the construction of Confederate cruisers may be said to have offered one of the most delicate and difficult problems of the war. When the case of the Alabama's construction was under consideration, Earl Russell (Sept. 11th, 1863) thus defended the course pursued by her Majesty's Government in not suppressing the right of such construction:

[ocr errors]

"With regard to the general duties of a neutral, according to international law, the true doctrine has been laid down repeatedly by Presidents and judges of eminence in the United States, and that doctrine is, that a neutral may sell to either or both of two beiligerent parties any implements or munitions of war which such belligerent may wish to purchase from the subjects of the neutral; and it is difficult to find a reason why a ship that is to be used for warlike purposes is more an instrument or implement of war than cannon, muskets, swords, bayo

These rules are for the guidance of the execu- nets, gunpowder and projectiles to be fired from

*See quotations from Messages, pages 207-210. Also see Appendix, page 550, for Davis' scornful rejoinder to Earl Russell's dispatch.

cannon and muskets. A ship or a musket may be sold to one belligerent or the other, and only cease to be neutral when the ship is owned, manned and employed in war, and the musket is held by a sol

dier, and used for the purpose of killing his enemy. | ment that it should have been driven from a position In fact, the ship can never be expected to decide a war or a campaign, whereas the other things above mentioned may, by equipping a large army, enable the belligerent which requires them to obtain decisive advantages in the war."

This defense, technically strong was practically weak, since the results of this co-operation of the English Navy Yards were notoriously disastrous. National vessels found it necessary to cover their cargoes with British registers and the British flag in order to escape seizure and destruction by craft built in British ports. Hence, Mr. Adams' arguments against the right of such abuses of English subjects, obtained a force that no diplomatic juggling could parry.

The diplomatic correspondence of the years 1863 and '64 was voluminous, showing our Ministers abroad to be not only watchful but able to cope with all exigencies of the situation.

The British Ministry for a time tried to sustain the interpretation of neutral rights and responsibilities which is laid down above, but each month made their position more untenable, and each month witnessed a more deferential treatment of the National

[blocks in formation]

so well fortified by reason and justice, and should have subsequently allowed itself to be bullied by the Washington Government into the seizure of the ironclads (combining the ram and monitor principles), which were being built by the Messrs. Laird, at Birkenhead, as alleged, for the service of the Confederates. The seizure was made in 1863. The terms in which that outrage was demanded, and the mean and cowardly circuit by which the British Government ultimately conceded it, may be placed

here as an example of the timidity of that Government, and a striking evidence that nothing had been

further from its intentions during the war than the recognition' of the Confederate States."

[ocr errors]

Troposed Amendment to the Constitution.

The passage by the United States Senate, April 8th, 1864, of the amendment to the Constitution forever prohibiting slavery or involuntary servitude in the States and Territories of the Union, was the last step toward consummating the destruction of slavery. The vote was 38 to 6-the latter all being "democrats." Only two of the majority vote were of that party, viz.: Reverdy Johnson of Maryland and Nesmith of Oregon. Though the Senate's proposition failed in the House, June 15th, (vız.: 95 yeas to 66 nays— two-thirds majority being required,) the vote was reconsidered, and the subject passed over to the next session, when it was thought the re-election of Lincoln would throw such weight into the affirmative as to carry the

"It is a sad reflection upon the British Govern- | great measure.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed]

HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS-NO. 14,

FROM JULY 1ST, 1864, TO JANUARY 1st, 1865.

JULY.

1. Wm. Pitt Fessenden is named Secretary of the Treasury.-Expedition sails from Hilton Head, S. C., for James Island.

2. Jubal Early descends Shenandoah Valley.Martinsburg evacuated by Sigel.-Johnston abandons his positions around Marietta, Ga. - Foster lands on Seabrook Island, S. C. Is unsuccessful in attempt to take Fort Johnson, on James Island.

3. Early's advance reaches Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Sigel occupies Harper's Ferry.Sherman occupies Marietta, Ga.- Foster experiences another check on James Island. 4. Mosby's guerrillas cross Potomac at Point of Rocks. Sigel occupies Maryland Heights, and Mulligan and Stahl still hold Harper's Ferry; Ewell at Bolivar Heights. -Successful naval operations in Stono Inlet, S. C. 5. Slocum's expedition from Vicksburg encounters enemy east of Jackson, Miss.-Enemy assaulting Ellett's "marine brigade" near Port Hudson, La., are repulsed by the colored troops.-Writ of Habeas Corpus suspended in Kentucky and martial law declared. 6. Hagerstown, Md., evacuated by Sigel's troops. 7. Early's advance enter and plunder Hagerstown, Maryland. General Wallace's troops, reconnoitering. are driven back at Middletown.-Harper's Ferry evacuated and Maryland Heights occupied by all of Sigel's forces. -Johnston crosses the Chattahoochee river, Ga.

8. Platte City, Mo.. seized by Bushwackers.Wallace's troops evacuate and enemy occupy Frederick, Md.-Jacksonville, Mo., sacked by bushwackers.

9. Battle of Monocacy, Md.-Corsair Florida committing great depredations along the coast.General Couch, with Pennsylvania troops, reoccupies Hagerstown, Md., and Hunter's troops re-occupy Frederick.

10. Early's men enter and plunder Darnestown, Reisterstown, and Rockville, Md. and destroy railroad at Cockeysville, etc.-Rosseau, with 2700 cavalry, leaves Decatur, Ala., to raid on Johnston's rear.- Johuston retires to defenses around Atlanta, Ga.

11. Early's men seize passenger train at Magnolia, Md., and burn Gunpowder bridge. --Saltworks destroyed at Tampa Bay, Fla. 12. Early assails Fort Stevens, before Washington City, but is repulsed.-Governors of New Jersey and New York order militia to be ready for service.

JULY.

13. Early retreats over Potomac.-A. J. Smith, Mower and Grierson defeat Forrest, driving him from Pontotoc to Tupelo, Miss., and scatter his forces.--Rosseau defeats rebels under Clanton, at Coosaw river, Ala.

16. Sherman's columns complete passage of Chattahoochee river, Ga.

17. Sherman approaching the Atlantic defenses. -General Johnston superceded by Hood in command of Rebel army in Georgia.-Slocum defeats Wirt Adams' rebel command at Grand Gulf, Miss.-Rosseau again defeats Clanton, at Chewa Station, Ala.

18. President Lincoln orders draft for 500,000 one year's men.- Crook and Averill, pursuing Early's troops, have several encounters. 19. Assault by Hood on Sherman's lines, before Atlanta. Enemy repulsed.

20. Severe fighting before Atlanta; Sherman repulses Hood's assaults and steadily drives enemy. Averill attacks and defeats one of Early's divisions at Winchester, Va.

21. Henderson Ky., attacked by rebels. 22. Heavy battle before Atlanta.

Hood again assailing, is defeated with heavy loss. General McPherson killed in the conflict.

23. Early defeats Averill and Crook below Winchester.-Atlanta, Ga., shelled by Sherman. 24. Rosseau's cavalry, which left Decatur, Ala., on 10th, reach Marietta. Ga., having destroyed Montgomery and West Point Railway. 25. Early's men again advance to Potomac. 26. Fight near Helena, Ark. Enemy driven off. -Two cavalry columns, one under McCook, and one under Stoneman, at work on railways below Atlanta.- Gunboat expedition up Grand Lake, La.

27. General Howard assumes command of Army of Tennessee,

28. Continued sanguinary fighting before Atlanta. Hood's forces repeatedly repulsed.-Cavalry expedition into North Carolina, from Norfolk, Va.

29. Early again over Potomac, on raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania. · Federal cavalry seize Fayetteville, Ga., and destroy Atlanta and Macon Railway.-Fight at Morganzia, La.

30. Explosion of Burnside's mine under Petersburg defenses. Federal assault which followed is repulsed with heavy loss- -Chambersburg, Pa., burned by Early's advance, under McCausland and Bradley Johnson.

30. Stoneman's cavalry dispersed and much of it

« AnkstesnisTęsti »