The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-07
illustrations OF British NeutraIity-The

We publish to-day report of debate which
took place in the English House of Commons
on the 23d of July, on the subject of England's
responsibility to the United States for having
built, furnished, equipped, manned and shelter
cd the Meet OF pirate vessels which, under the
pretence of being rebel privateers, are practi-
cally depredating in the interests of Great
Britain, by destroying American commerce.
The attention of Parliament was called to the
subject by Mr.. Golden, in presenting a memo
rial signed by thirty of the most respectable
shipowners of Liverpool against this unfriendly
course of the Ministry; and he reminded the
House that every American vessel seized and
burned by these corsairs was debited to the
account of England, and that these claims
would be pressed at some day, when the result
would have to be either humiliation or war.
| In response, Mr.. Laird, the member for
Birkenhead, who is largely interested in the
pirate shipbuilding enterprise, made the as
| sertion to the effect that Americans had
been equally guilty of violating neutrali-
| ty. first by building ships-ofwar for Russia
during the Crimean war, and, secondly,
by raising recruits in Ireland since the outbreak
of the present rebellion. The same balderdash
story of American emissaries having been sent
to Ireland to procure recruits has already been
refuted by English government officials them
selves. There is not particle of truth in it;
and if Mr. Laird or any other man can sub
stantiate the charge we will agree to with
draw all reclamations on the score of the
Florida, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama.
There could be no difficulty in proving the
fact, if it were one, as Mr.. Laird will recog-
nize if he happens to recollect an Incl
dent during the Crimean war, when tie
English authorities undertook to raise recruits
| in the United States, and had their Minister,
| Sir John Champion, unceremoniously kicked
| out of the country for it. There is precedent
| for him, according to which our polite Minister
to London, Mr.. Adams, may properly be sent
back to the quiet and luxury of his rural home
in Massachusetts,, il he can only be shown to
| have encouraged or connived at such breach
| of international courtesy.
Lord Palmerston also, in the course of a
very disingenuous, Jesuitcai speech, repeated
the statement that Americans had built ships
ofwar for Russia during the Crimean war.
Now we happen to be we'll acquainted with all
the facts, and we will ask Lord Palmerston to
reconcile them, if he can, with England's going
into the pirate business in partnership with a
| piratical Power. During the memorable siege
| of Sebastepol Mr.. Barclay, the British Consul
at this port, lodged information before our au-
thor!ies that clipper ship belonging to Mr.. Low
had been, or was about to be, purchased, fitted
| up aud sent off for the use OF the Russian gov
| eminent. With faith and loyalty which we
| commend to imitation on the other side of the
Atlantic, the vessel was Immediately seized.
| But there was another case. One OF our emf
nent shipbuitders had had an order from Rus
sia previously to the breaking out of hostili-
ties, for the building OF a man.of-war, the
General Admiral. The contract was carried out
and the vessel completed during the war. But
not until after peace was restored was that yes.
sci permitted to leave this port, and then she
was sent to Cronstadt by way of England. Does
/ Lord Palmerston find In these two instances OF
our neutrality in favor Of England, and in the
other instance Of our neutrality in favor of
Russia, anything to justify his government in
allowing oorsairs to be built, armed aud man.
American commerce! II he can find any
analogy between the cases we beg him to make
1t known at his earliest convenience.
And, apropos of this subject, it may not be
out Of place here to refer to the triumphal re-
ception recently given at Bermuda by her Ma
jesty's civil and military officials and liege sub
jects to the officers and crew of the privateer Flo
ri Of xyks S;p, 10
| ment Of her captain--Mafit-ha destroyed
some ten million dollars worth of American
commerce, was permitted to enter the harbor
of st. Georges, where she saluted the British
flag, and received salute in return. The Royal
Gazette, from which we gather these facts, states,
in addition, that the Florida was granted an ex-
tension Of the regulation period of stay in or
der that she might obtain a supply of fuel, which
was rather scarce just then, and remarks, in
refreshing style Of ndipete--"Indeed, this port
is at present almost exclusively in possession
of vessels connected with the South, the feet
of fine steamers, exclusive of The Florida,
which now occupy 1t being all either regular
blockade runners or preparing for that trade"
These are illustrations OF the beauties of
British neutrality. How does Mr.. Laird like
them as compared with the neutrality which we
practsed, not as between q friendly govern
ment and its revolted subjects, but as between
two friendly Powerss We prohibited, on the
one hand the furnishing Of war vessels to Rus
STA, and, on the other, the enlistment Of Ameri
can recruits for England. That was true nea-
trality. What is the English specimen Of il!
Permitting all her great dockyards to drive an
active business in the building, not sim
ply Of war vessels, but Of privateers to prey
upon American commerce, permitting them
to be armed and equipped by her subjects, to
be oficered and manned by her subjects, and
to receive protection, shelter, aid and encour-