LETTERS PATENT REVOKING EXEQUATUR OF GEORGE MOORE HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONSUL AT RICHMOND
To whom it may concern:
Whereas, George Moore, Esquire, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul for the port of Richmond and the State of Virginia (duly recognized as such by a former Government, which was, at the time of the issue, the duly authorized agent for that purpose of the State of Virginia,) did recently assume to act as consul for a place other than the city of Richmond, and a State other than the State of Virginia, and was, thereupon, requested by the Secretary of State to submit to the Department of State, his consular commission, as well as any other authority he may have received to act in behalf of the Government of her Britannic Majesty before further correspondence could be held with him as her Majesty's consul at the port of Richmond; and whereas the said George Moore has lately, without according to said request, entered into correspondence as(?) her Majesty's consul with the Secretary of War of these Confederate States, thereby disregarding the legitimate authority of this Government.
These, therefore, are to declare that I do no longer recognize the said George Moore as her 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. And I do wholly revoke and annul any exequatur heretofore given to the said George Moore by the Government which was formerly authorized to grant such exequatur, as agent of the State of Virginia, and do declare the said exequatur to be absolutely null and void from this day forward.
In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the Confederate States of America to be herewith affixed.
Given under my hand this fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
(Signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS
By the President:
(Signed) J. P. Benjamin
Secretary of State
I guess the Federal Government of the US, as the authorized agent of the State of Virginia, had issued an exequatur to Mr. Moore before the war. The Confederate Government let him operate under it until he exceeded his authority.
It would be interesting to know what the state other than Richmond was and what the state other than Virginia was. But this is another instance where former consular officials refused to accept the authority of the regime in Richmond and therefore can hardly be held up as an example of foreign recognition of confederate sovereignty. I think it actually shows the opposite.