The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-27
THE pR1vATEER GENERAL ARMSTRONG

The claim connected with the above named priva-
teer, and growing out of one of the most gallant
naval actions of the of 1872, has so long been
before the public under one phnse or another, and
always with interest, that we are induced to copy
from a contemporary the following succinct history
of its character and present condition:
The PRIvATEER GEN. ARMsTRoNG-This extraor-
dnary and remarkable case has lately been referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen
ate on an adverse report from the Court of Claims
There is no record within the history OF this
country that is so full of romantic glory and chiva
ry, filled with interest and incident. 1t has
been pending before the Government of the United
States for nearly half century. The gallant
defence which this little brig made against the gun
boats of large British feet in the neutral port of
Faya in 1914, is familiar to every schoolboy. The
British lost over 300 men in killed and wounded.
while the American loss was only two killed and
seven wounded.
Immediately after the destruction of the vessel,
the Portuguese Government called on England for
apology for having violated the neutrality of her
port and made reclamation for the damages occa-
stoned by the English vessels Lord Castlereagh at
once apologized to her old ally, and made partial
indemniticaton.
The claim was periodically prosecuted against
Portugal by this Government for a long series of
years, and was finally abandoned. In 1916 report
| from the Committee on Foreign Affairs recommend
ed its further prosecution. In 1850 a peremptorv
demand was made against Portugal on her own adj
missicn as well that of England, and an American
trigate sent to Lisbon to receive Minister, Mr..
James B. Clay, in case OF refusal. England male
common cause with Portugal in resisting this claim,
and Mr.. Clay demanded his passports and left. Por-
tngal then proposed to pay lot of old claims
insisted on, provided we would agree to arbitrate
the Armstrong claim. This proposition ac-
cepted by succeeding Administration, although
| Gen. Taylor had peremptoriy refused it. Louis
| Napoleon was chosen arbter.
! The evidence containing the admissions and con-
cessions of Portugal and England was excluded from
fhpA
! Napoleon. after having made himself Emperor and
! formed alliance with England, decided the case
! against the Americans, (Which virtually in
favor of his new aly,( having found by his ec-arte
! decree that the Americans, and not the English,
had violated the neutrality of the Portuguese port
! The claimants protested against this atrocious
| award, but Government thought proper to
ratify it.
In 1854 they again went to Congress for relief.
| The Committee on Foreign Affairs of both Houses
unanimously reported in their favor After the bill
| had passed in the Senate to third reading it was
reconsdered and lost by one vote. The House re
ferred it to the Court of Claims Here it thor
oughly argued and investigated, by distinguished
counsel, and decided in favor of the claimants. The
decision rendered by Chief Justice Gilchrist is
of the ablest opinions on international law de
! livered by Court
Judge Scarburgh, who concurred in the opinion
after the lapse of year asked for re-hearng. The
| case re-argued, and he decided the law agains
the claimants admitting that sit might be true tina
the claimants entitled to reliefon other grounds
and that Congress will doubtless do justice to tn,
claimants" Judge Blacdord having dissented en-
trely in the first instance, the opinion of the chic
justice stands alone in favor of the claimants thu
law, with the equity of the case admitted by Judg'
Searburgh
Under these circumstances this claim appeals di
rectly to the patriotism, justice and equity of th
American people, and through them to their repre-
sentatves in Congress- for it will not be goiug to
far to say that if an appeal were made to ever.
State Legislature and to the people of every con
gressiona district, the voice of our citizens wout
render unanimous verdict in favor of Capt. Rec,
and the gallent men who so nobly sacrificed .hei
blood and treasure in sustainsng the honor of thei
country cause.-the Estates"