The Portland daily press., 1863-03-31

Per order Hfpu0tfcdn tttH toHmfftee
Neutrality = The Alabama British Pr
rate important international Question
for Future Adjustment.
A pamphlet has inst been published in New
York, written by Mr.. G. =. Lowrey, in which
he has condensed the facts and arguments
furnished by diplomatic correspondence, going
to prove as clearly as sunlight, that the pirate
Alabama was not only built in England, but
that the English Government had full knowl-
edge of the purposes entertained by her own
ers; that she sailed from British port with
out let or h;ndrance; received her English ar
mament from another British vessel; that she
Is manned by British officers and men, flies the
British flag for decoy, Goals and victuals at
British ports. and in every essential respect is
SO far a British pirate vessel, according to
the accepted doctrines of international law,
and the uniform practical Interpretation OF
that law by the American Government, that
the British Government Is justly chargable
for her acts, and that the spoliations COM
mitted by her upon our commerce will afford
the grounds for just claim against that Gov
ment. AT the breaking out of the rebellion,
Mr.. ,Lowrey says, the British government
made haste to concede belligerent rights to the
rebels, while her shipbuilders began to con-
struct ships for the South with rapidity that
was surprising to those who had forgotten that
Manchester and Sheffield furnished supplies
to maintain the Sepoy rebellion" After this
hard hit the writer produces testimony to
prove that the real character of the Alabama
was officially made known TO Earl Russell by
My. Adams, and that the cuIpable delay Of the
British government gave the vessel time to es-
cape. Mr.. Lowrey adds:
at should be stated, in justice to Earl Rus
SELL that he declared his intention to send TO
Nassau to have the vessel intercepted; but in
that connection let it also be remembered that
he did not send or, at least, that he did not
send to the British squadron TO seize her else
where In that neighborhood. and that the Ala
bama has avoided that point with as much
shrewdAess as II her captain were possessed
in advance of the intention of the British Cab
met; that, although she has been cruising in
British West Indian waters for months, and
has been for six days ofthe latter portion of the
time lying in the British pot OF Kingston, to
or detain her, and that no prosecutions have
been instituted against one OF the many par
ties In England who inringed the Foreign En-
listment act aud the law of nations By conniy-
ing at her escape and periecting her armament
afterwards ia Tereera.'
Mr. Lowry shows by the state papers Of
WashiBgton's administration, that notwith-
standing the great obligations of our govern
ment to France for help during the then re-
cent revolutionary struggle, we preserved a
strict neutrality between that power and Eng
land; forbid the fitting out of French prva-
teers in our own ports, or any other acts vio-
lative of strict neutrality towards England,
and even went SO far as to indemnify the Brit
ish Government for spoliations committed up
on British commerce by vessels fitted out
within our territory, holding France to pay us
for SO doing. On the I'D of April 1893,
Washington issued proclamation containing
, these words:
Ihdre giren Instructions to those officers
to whom II belongs 10 cause prosecutions TO be
instituted against oil persons who shall. with
in the cognzance of the courts of the United
States, violate the lac Of nations we had no
statute at that time with respect TO the
powers at war or any OF them.
Mr. Hamilton, Sec. of the Treasury, instruc-
ted collectors to use "the greatest vigilance,
care, activity and impartiality'' in searching
for and discovering any attempt to fit out yes
sells and expeditions, or send men, to the aid
of either party, and SO strict were these re-
quirements that Thomas Jefferson, Secretary
of State, the great champion of neutrality
nj a..
up system of espionage destructive to the
peace of society" Works vol. o, p. $50.
Instances are givenin which, upon the mere
suggestion Of the British representative, yes
sells supposed to be fitting out for French pri-
vateers, were seized, and being found 70 con-
tain q suspicious armament, were prevented
from sailing. The Governors of the states
were called upon to aid the federal govern
ment in its work Of vigilance to prevent viola
lions OF its neutrality. We have not room to
mention the separate acts of the government
which go to prove its fidelity in this regard
The following paragraphs are in Mr.. Lowrey's
own words:
General Washington seems to have consid-
cred il "A shameful and humliating excuse for
government to plead that it ''is ignorant of
what is carried ON daily and repeatedly in its
own country" 1t was impossible, however.
with our limited navy, to prevent entirely
such expeditions, and at last, at the risk of
war with our friend, it was resolved in Cabinet
Council, on the 9th of August, 1893, THAT
the Minister of the French Republic be in
formed that the President considers the Uni
ted States as bound by positive assurances,
given in conformity to the laws of neutrality
to effectnate the restoration oil, or make com
pensation for, prizes which shall have been
made of any Of the parties at war with France,
subsequent to the 9th day OF June last, by
privateers fitted out in their ports. That it is
consequently expected that he will cause resti-
tuition to be made of all prizes taken and
brought into our ports subsequent to the