The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-29 00:00:00

The Story of the Alabama.

According to the Galveston (Texas) Bulletin,
Capt. Semmes has been lecturing in Galveston on
the subject of the Alabama's career during the late
civil war. Mr. Semmes, who had been introduced
by the chairman as " that distinguished hero and pa-
triot," said —Lecturing is not my art. lam not ac-
customed to the lecture-room. Othello's occupation
is gone. I do not propose to touch any political sub-
ject —I propose to speak of the history of the Ala-
bama as viewed in the light of history and American
precedents. I propose to show to you that she was
not a pirate, a privateer, or a buccaneer, but the re-
cognised ship, wearing the colours of a State, by
the laws of nations. On the land an enemy might
overrun a country without destroying private pro-
perty. Destroying private property on land is for-
bidden. Not so on the sea. The destruction of
commerce in ancient times was a slow process. The
war between the Confederate and the United States
was the first between maritime Powers since the inr
troduction of steam. The Alabama had warrant for
what she did both in the laws of nations and of the
United States. She was built abroad. The United
States has made the British origin of the Alabama
a constant source of complaint. She was built by
the Lairds. The United States Government en-
deavoured to contract with this same firm to build
ships for them. (Mr. Semmes here read extracts
from Mr. Laird's speech in the House of Commons,
already published and well known.) From this
speech it appears that before they undertook to build
the Alabama, the United States Government had
been in treaty with the Messrs. Laird to build gun-
boats andmonitors. We offered better terms—hence
the Alabama became a Confederate ship instead of
a Federal vessel. She left England as a merchant
vessel. Her Confederate commission was read,
and her proper flag unfurled on the high seas, where
the Confederate had as much authority as the
Federal Government. It is the commission a
Sovereign puts on board a vessel that makes her a
personification of the Sovereign. Even if a ship
be built in a neutral territory she is purged of that
wrong as soon as she is commissioned. If the Ala-
bama was built in violation of the neutrality laws,
that was a question between the United States and
England. From the moment the Confederates were
recognised as belligerents they had a full right to
make war in every particular. The United States
acknowledged this in the first months of the war.
In support of this proposition the speaker quoted
" Vattel, third book," and argued that if the
United States could buy ships the Confederate
States could do the same. The speaker then quoted
Justice Grier's decision in the prize cases, reported
in " Second Black Reports," laying great stress on
the passage, "it is not necessary that the State
should be recognised." Mr. Semmes entered largely
into the history of the South American States,
claiming that their cruisers captured prizes and car-
ried them into American ports. In illustration of
the fact that the Confederate States were recognised
and entitled to all the sovereign rights of war,
Generals Grant and Sherman treated Generals Lee
and Johnson as generals of an army. The speaker
concluded thus :—The Alabama was not a new
construction, save that she was a steam-vessel.
Dr. Franklin and his compesrs constructed a good
many Alabamas in their day. What our sires did
their sons may do. In other generations the his-
tory of the North will be the history of the South.
By the philosophy of history I am willing to be
judged. If the philosophy of history embalms the
struggles of the colonial States, so will it embalm
the struggles of the Confederate States. ilf it re-
cords approvingly the exploits of the Surprise and
the Revenge, so will it record the exploits of the
Alabama.

AN INTERNATIONAL ROWING MATCH.--There
was a numerous attendance at the Shanghae Regatta on
the 26th, and among the spectators were a large number of
ladies. There was very great excitement with regard to
the eight-oared race for one mile and a half between the
English and American crews. The English boat got the
lead, but the A mericans soon collared them, and kept
ahead. About a quarter of a mile from the goal the Eng-
lish crow entirely gave in, leaving the race to their com-
petitors. While we have much pleasure in congratulating
our American friends on their success, we trust an early
opportunity will be taken by the English to challenge their
transatlantic friends to another trial. It is only just to
say that two of the English crew were somewhat indis-
posed. The other races were well rowed ; the Pelorus gig
winning the Man of Wars' race ; Reding taking the Junior
Sculls with ease, Dunn unfortunately coming to grief, but
pluckily recovering himself ; and Low's boat winning
the Club Fours in gallant style.—Occrland China Mail,
Nov. 15.