Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-18
MORNING LEADER.
TUESDAY 5I0RNTNG,: NOV. IS, 1882.
TIM Kneiish Confraband Trade with the
RebeIs.

EOESDAA 4tOAAzAANGs. NOV ISJ ISo2'
Ths Kneiish COntraband Trade with the
RebeIs.
The New York Tribune says that pri-
vate letters Of ssmi-Ofioial nature, rela-
tive to the eontrabsnd trade carried on by
English merchants with the Rebels, and
containing some information as to the
views of the English Cabinet upon that
subject, have been received in Washing
ten. It appears from these letters that our
Minister in London, in a recent converse
ton with Lord John Russell, energetieally
complained of the injuries to the National
cause, by the continual shipping Of arms
and munitions of war to the Confeder-
ates, in English bottoms, and BY English
merchants; intimating at the same time,
that while these practices continue to be
eountenanced by the English people and
Government there could be no hope for
prompt restoration Of peace in America.
He mentioned also the case of the Alaba-
ma, obviously ship Of war fitted out by
English money for the purpose Of de-
stroying the vessels Of friendly Power,
and declared that such an odious system
Of aggression upon the Union cause, with
out prOyOcation, constituted in the eyes Of
the Americans, and Of all civilized nations,
an infringement Of the rights Of neutrals,
the responsibility Of which would sooner
or later be felt by the British Cabinet,
both at home and abroad In word, Mr..
Adams represented that such acts as those
were not calculated to assure the United
States Government of the sincerity of the
prOtestations Of neutrality and goodwill
made by Lord Russell, and that they re-
Hected no credit upon the impartiality and
honor Of the English nation.
To this Lord Russell said in reply that it
was with the utmost regret that he had
learned the facts Of which Mr.. Adams com
plained, and that he had done everything
in his power to prevent the continuance Of
the Illicit trade between English subjects
and the COnfederates BE desired, howev-
er, to remind Mr.. Adams that English laws
granted such immunities to private indus
try that it was impossible to hinder an
English citizen from dealing in contraband
Of war, if he chose that the responsibility
Of such unlawful traffic rested with the
guilty party, and that it could only in a
very limited way be controlled by the Gov
ernment.
Lord Russell assured Mr.. Adams that the |
policy of the English Government con-
cerning cOntraband trade, was that of ali
other nations, as well as of the United
States, whose precedents on this very ques-
ton, were as clear and precise as could be
desired. As an illustration Of this, he re-
minded him that during the war between
the Allied Powers and Russia, citizens of
the United States had openly carried con-
traband goods into Russian ports and built |
ships for the Car, notwithstanding the
protest Of France and England. he did |
not wish to believe, as had been asserted,
that either the then President Of the Unit
ed States, Mr.. Pierce, or his Secretary of |
State, MIR. Marcy, oOuntenanoed such IN
lawful acts. He preferred to think that
they had done what they could to prevent /
them; but the fact that they did not sue
oeed ought to convince Mr.. Adams how
difficult it is for the British Government to
step the eontrsbsnd trade between British |
subjects and the Confederates. In conolu-
sion, the British Minister promised Mr..
Adams that he would transmit an account
of his complaints TO the Admiralty, with
Recommendation to exercise the utmost
watehfulness upon all eargoes in clearance
for the United States.