Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, on the 14th day of December, 1864, I offered in this body the following resolution, which was referred to the ComForRel: Whereas at the commencement of the present rebellion the U.S. were at peacewith all the Governments of the world and upon terins ofeomity annatdigoono, d Will with GreatBritain: and whereas that before the arrival on her soil of our minister Mr. accredited by the Administration of President Lincoln. preeipitately acknowledged the rebels as belligerents. t us recognisin their fl upon the ocean. without which reeognit on it won] have been regardedand treatedas piratical by all other Powers; and whereas she then proclaimed perfect neutrality between a Republic with which she had entertained friendly relations for upward of a half century and its treasonable subJects; and whereas numbers of her subjects. with the knowledgeof her Government, commencedfitting out British fastsailing ship s. loaded with munitions of war. for the puruse o running into our blockaded ports to the rehe s. thus furnish in them the meansof organizing and continuing the reellion, and without which it could not have sustained itself 6 months; and whereas, in addition to the above and with the knowledgeof the Government. British subjects and members of Parliament engagedin the manufacture of piratical English ships. ownedby British subjects, mannedbyBritish seamen, and sailin under British colors, for the purpose of burning. destroying, and utterly driying from the oceanall peaceful merchant vessels sailing under the U.S. flag: and whereas many private and unarmed American ships have been burned and destroyed by these irates from British ports. thus causing great lossan damageto the citizens of the U.S.: Therefore Resolved That the SecyState bheip introduced goesthus destroyed, with a fair and separate valuation thereon and interest thereon at the rate of 6% perannum, from the date of capture or destruction to the date of presentation and that he be directed to demand from the British Government payment in full for all ships and cargoes destroyed as aforesaid. That resolution I offered as a peace measure. I desired that GreatBritain should have an opportunity to repudiate the action of her pirat ical subjects, and to do justice to this nation. I hoped that she would do it; butnt any rate I desired that she should fix the future status of neutrals for herself and all other nations when acting as neutrals. The Canadian provincial government took the hint and paid for the pi ratical depredations committed by Canadian subjects, t icy paid for the St.Albans robberies; but GreatBritain has declined to pay such bills. She has decided that from henceforth the rule of war shall be the torchthat the torch is to he the evidence of her neutrality. She having decided that point, I am content. If she desires that in a1future time, whenever she shall be at. war, American citizens shall send forth fastsailing steamers with the torch to illuminate the ocean from the north to the south pole with British commerce, so be it. She has settled the point; I accept her settlement; so be it. I say, sir, that I offered that resolution as a peace measure. It was referred to the ComForRel, and that committee made no report; but from the fact that the SecyState did precisely what that resolution called upon him to do, to wit, made a demand for payment for the depredations committed by British pirates upon our commerce, I inferred that the chairman of the ComForRel had received assurances from the SecyState which satisfied him that no further action was required on the part. of Congress at that time. I inferred that that was the case, and the honorable chairman in forms me that such was the case. Yell, sir, the bill has been presented and payment refused. Not only has payment been refused, but further negotiation has been declined. She has refused, at our suggestion, even to arbitrate our claims, and has insultingly informed this Government that further negotiation is offensive to her. I will read the words offier Foreign minister of the date of December 2: “Foamos Orricz, December 2, ” 1865. Sm: I have toacknowledgethe receipt of ourletter of the 18thultiine , having reference tot o letter which my predecessoraddressedto you on the 8d ul “EMThereare many statementsin your letter which I should be prepared to controicrt if it were not that her Majestys Government consider that no advan tage canresult from prolonging the eoutroversy.” kc. Her Majestys Government consider that no advantage can result from prolonging the controversy l I agree with her Majestys Govern,ment; I think that no advantage can accrue From a further prolongation of this controversy. It is well known to her Majestys Government and to the people of the U.S. that for more than 3 months after the last rebel army had laid down its arms the Shenandoah, a British ship, sailing under British colors, manned by British seamen, and firing British guns. was burning our whale ships in the Northern ocean. What was done with this o 1866. 227 English irate when she made her appearance in ritish waters? She was quietly taken os session of by the British Government. These pirates, acknowledged by herself to be pirates, were turned loose without even a reprimand. These British subjects were called upon the deck 6f the Shenandoah and asked this question: “Michael OFlunigan, are you a British subject?” “ No, byjahers. I am a Dutchman.” Lau hter. Theiutouation was stronglyIrish.] Mc onald, arcyou nBritishsubjectl” “ Nan, Iama Spaniard. [RenewedLaughter and so every one of these men was tume loose without even a reprimand to go again and prey upon American commerce; and now we are informed that further negotiation would be deemed by her Majestys Government as of no advantage; no good result can follow the prolongation of the controversy. I agree with the British minister that no good result can follow the further continuation of that controversy. Now, sir, we are informed in that language that no further negotiation is open; the nego tiation is closed, and today there seems to be just one course for this nation to pursue in accordance with her didity and her honor, and that is, from this time henceforth and forever morc, until these bills are paid, absolute nonintercourse with GreatBritain. True, there are other remedies. We might declare war against GreatBritain, and all the world would say we had just cause. We might seize Canada, and say that we would take land in payment if we can get no other redress, and hold it until payment was made, and the world would justify our action. Again. we might declare an embargo, or we might seize her ships wherever found. But, sir, there is a peaceful remedy, and that remed I propose. I propose that we say to Great ritain, ” We agree with you that no further negotiation is desirable in this casc; we do not wish any further negotiation; we accept your definition of neutrality.” That is the determination of the American people today; and I believeI do not know, at I believe that Mr. Seward understands that that will be the action of the people of the U.S. whenever GreatBritain gets into a war with other Powers. I believe that he distinctly understands that our people will send fastsailing steamers to the ends of the earth and make war upon British commerce with the torch until her flag is, as ours has been, swept from the ocean. But, sir, is it manly, is it dignified in this great nation, that has been able to keep a milion soldiers in the field for the last 4 years, to copy after that old man in the Bible, who, offering one hand, said, ” Are you at peace, my brother?” while with the other he stabbed him under the 5th rib? No, sir, it is not dignified, nor is it honorable. I propose to say to GreatBritain that we accept her definition of neu trality, and that from this time f orth until she pays this bill of damages we shall declare nonintercourse with her. I offer the following resolution, and ask for its present consideration: Whereas by the recent publication of the diplo matic correspondence betweenthis Government and the Government of GreatBritain. we are full advised that the last named Government has rofus to repair the daniages inflicted upon our commerce by the agency of her subjects during the late rebellion: has do o mod to arbitrate the same. and, final. further to treat upon the subject. Thus oxbausting a diplomatic resources. leaving to this nation but one alternative consistent with its honor: Therefore. Be 34 resolvedbythe Snuik and HoREp in Congress assembled, That the POTUS is herebyrequested to withdraw our minister from the court of StJames and make proclamation of nutionul non-intercourse: which is hereb declared to take effectafter such proclamation child have been issued.