The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-02
English Aid to the Rebellion.

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IDLE, collision with the United States The re-
cent letter of Earl Russell, affirming the right of
federal cruisers to overhaul and seize English
vessels on reasonable suspicion of their convey
ing contraband of war, although they might be
sailing to the neutral port of Matamoras, and the
case of the Alexandra privateer unquestionably
building in an English dock yard to which tina;
Government has, at last, with tardy justice
applied the provisions Of its own law against
building vessels of war for begerents who were
making war with country with which England
was at peace, have provoked the ire of the party
IN that country who are working for the over
throw of Republican Government. While Ala.
bamas and Virgnias were permitted to be open
ly fitted out IN their ports and their Government
took precautions that its interference in no case
should occur until the suspected vessel had got
away, these English Confederates were enthus
tic 10 tnelr admiration of the policy of their Gov
ernment. 1t was then wise, and just, and strictly
and coldIy neutral. But as soon as that Govern
ment takes to enforcing its own laws against
Confederate agents, and announces its purpose
to stand by the law of nations in its treatment OF
those adventures who are investing their money
and their good wishes in every enterprise to aid
Southern rebels, the London Times, and every
lordly sympathizer with Confederate treason. at
once denounce Earl Russes exposition of law.
and seize upon every possible pretext and occa-
sion to infame public opinion against this count
ry, IN the endeayor, through popular pressure to
compel their Government to back down from the
honest and straightforward position it has at last
assumed. Just now the Times seizes unon
letter which Minister Adams recently wrote, for
some English shippers, directed to Admiral Du-
Pont, and expressing the opinion that the cargo
which they carried was not intended for the reb |
eIs--n short sort of protection to the ship
from our cruisers The cargo, which this letter
was intended to protect, consisted largely Of guns
and ammunition intended for the Mexicans The
parties receiving the letter showed it at Llovd's
In order to obtain better rates of insurance and
in some way, it got into the public print There
upon the Times utterS its indignation in this
style:
Mr.. Adams has transferred the police of the
Mexican land frontier to the English ports of
shipment, by system Of passes for Euglsh goods
and merchandise, without which they are not to
reach the Mexican coast. The one safeguard he (
has granted evidently mad money value, since it
Was produced at Loyds in order to obtain in.
surance AS it was likely to reduce the premium it
gave the shippers an unfair advantages over all the
Trims to which Mr.. Adams, from caprice or misin-
formation, might refuse his pass but the COM
merce OF England will not accept an exemption
that gives it freedom Of action on an American
ticket Of leave. All the coast Of Mexico is neutral
territory, and by no right Of its ports be
blockaded. In continuing our commercial inter- .
est with Mexico we deny even the liability to any
detention or interruption. The traffic is legiti- d
mate and cannot be carried on in letters of per- e
mits and certificates from the U. S. legation
Englsh merchants cannot go as suppiants to :
foreign ministers for licenses 20 transact business
The whole proceeding is monstrous whether as
calculation Or blunder." |
There is evidently no reason for this clamor {
but, as it appeals to the national pride of English
men, it Will not be without its effect. Mr.. Adams
was, OF course, asked for the letter, and gave it,
an there could be no possible harm 10 his giving
it. 1t might have been better, as matter of pol
icy, for him TO have withheld it, but there is Do
real foundation for any bitterness of speech
against him, or against this country for his thus
expressing opinion that certain enterprise was
1t intended to injure US. But the seces sionists
are cunningly mixing this up with the case of the
Peterhotf and the Alexandra, in en- effort to drive
the English Government into an abandonment of
its position respecting carrying conraband of war,
Aalf e. L. IL. L.