Confederate Secretary of State Judah Benjamin Justifies Expulsion of British Consuls

Correspondence of the Department of State, in Relation to the British Consuls Resident in the Confederate States. Richmond: Sentinel Office, 1863. 56 pp. This pamphlet illustrates the difficulties that the Confederate States of America encountered by having British consuls among them that had been appointed to the United States of America, prior to the formation of the Confederacy. Initially, the Confederacy chose to allow the consuls to remain, but its officials were irritated by the neutral stance the British government took toward the American Civil War and its refusal to recognize the Confederacy as an independent nation. Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin had this correspondence published to explain the expulsion of British consuls from the Confederacy. ExcerptsJudah Benjamin to James M. Mason, Confederate Commissioner to Great Britain, June 6, 1863:"It appears that two persons named Malony and Farrell, who were enrolled as conscripts in our service, claimed exemptions on the ground that they were British subjects, and Consul Moore, in order to avoid the difficulty which prevented his corresponding with this department, as set forth in the paper B, addressed himself directly to the Secretary of War, who was ignorant of the request made by this department for the production of the Consul's commission. The Secretary of War ordered in investigation of the facts, when it became apparent that the two men had exercised the right of suffrage in this State, thus debarring themselves of all pretext for denying their citizenship; that both had resided here for eight years, and had settled on, and were cultivating farms owned by themselves." (p5-6)"The earnest desire of this government is to entertain amicable relations with all nations, and with none do its interests invite the formation of closer ties than with Great Britain. Although feeling aggrieved that the government of Her Majesty has pursued a policy, which, according to the confessions of Earl Russell himself, has increased the disparity of strength which he considers to exist between the belligerents, and has conferred signal advantages on our enemies in a war in which Great Britain announces herself to be really, and not nominally, neutral, the President has not deemed it necessary to interpose any obstacle to the continued residence of British Consuls within the Confederacy." (p6)"Great Britain has deemed it for her interest to refuse acknowledging the patent fact of the existence of this Confederacy as an independent nation. It can scarcely be expected that we should by our own conduct, imply assent to the justice or propriety of that refusal. Now, the British Minister accredited to the government of our enemies, assumes the power to issue instructions to, and exercise authority over the consuls of Great Britain residing within this country; nay, even to appoint agents to supervise British interests in the Confederate States. This course of conduct plainly ignores the existence of this government, and implies the continuance of the relations between that Minister and the Consuls of Her Majesty, resident within the Confederacy, which existed prior to the withdrawal of these States from the Union." (p7)Jefferson Davis to Whom It May Concern, June 5, 1863:"These, therefore, are to declare that I do no longer recognize the said George Moore as Her Britannic Majesty's Consul in any part of these Confederate States, nor permit him to exercise or enjoy any of the functions, powers, or privileges allowed to the Consuls of Great Britain." (p11)Judah P. Benjamin to James M. Mason, June 11, 1863:"If the British Government think proper to assume (although the contrary is deemed by this Government to be fully established by convincing reason and victorious arms,) that the State of Alabama is still one of the United States, then the Government of the United States is bound towards Great Britain, as well as to all other neutral nations, to r. (See website for full description).…