The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-04-22

vessels from British ports to prey upon our
commerce. Ii was we'll known that something
Ike dozen Of these vessels were in course Of
construction in various ports Of EnglAnd,-the
names of the builders and all the facts con
corning them were adduced. and the British
Government were asked by those in that legis-
lative body. Who have some regard for the
obligations of international law, whether it in
tended u put stop to this piracy.
This called out member OF the British Min
istry. who defended the privilege Of private
parties to fit out such. attempting to show that
some Of our statesmen had approved Of the
doctrine Lord Palmerston closed the debate.
applauding the speech that had been made in
behalf Of the Government. and setting down the
complaint made in this country against Great
Britain as mere electio'sering capital Ia the
course Of the debate, Mr.. Laird. Member Of
Parliament, and bu der Of the Alabama. de
Tended the act OF building that vessel aud as
be received no reproof from the Ministry, il j.
/ fair to presume that the British Government
approve it.
But portion of the British press seem to
have some conception Of The abyss which that
Government is e1cavating for itself and ar
endravoring to make John Bull SEE it. Thcs
beaded as bulls proverbialy are. they only at
tempt TO bring the question under the nose Of
his own selfish interest. know ~ that to he the
only way in which he can be Influenced. W
make the following quotations from English
journals upon the subj ct:
From The Daily News March 30
There is one important point connected with
the huiiding and Httiug out in tbs country G.
such vessels a. the Alauana, VIII ch though re-
/ f-fred TO by Nj FOr-ter and Others IN the
debate on Friday evening has not yet been
sufficiently col drred. aud that Is the Uerv
-er aus ext ut t. Uhich u must tell aqanrsf on,
setges hersatt-r II, through aus detect OF the
! law. o. any want o. vigOr IN ~ admni,tr4t o..
! tn hu ld.ug at war SHIPS tor brliigereais l.
allowed 10 20 o. here with comparative inn
4 pnnity. We nay De quite certain that tn
precedent thus unhapp ly established Will not
ne forgotten Dy other nations. and least ~ the
nation that has such good cause 10 rctnem ,,T
t. We are nos happily at peace with all ia
world Dat a lew years ago ae w,re engaged 30
a prOiracted struggle with gr at mlhtar,
power stru gglt which for three years severe
" taxed the resources OF our Emp re- Thou.h
Russia Wa a maritime a. wei as military
power. sull as We were able TO blockade lie
Two great ocean outlets, the Battle and the
/ Black sea, our rOmp eTce suffered cOmparativel,
little dur NJ that period Had Ra ssa has
ger, e.. able {, SECURE me building ~ Doverfa.
nessels UtTGt JOrt~. the results 90 olsr-
sstces e.atd hue Oeea U,dstt dsfe ct TIE
most mpD>iug 1eeL II tie Baltic aud Black Sea
~Olid nave been pOwerless To protect our com
mcrce il tue httng cut oil Alabamas within tn
.erutory OF distant and nOmiualiy neutral
| Powers nad beea allowed 10 proceed with cOM-
p,rattve Impuaity. The hostile feet thu
or ated would have preyed on our Commerce l..
every sea, would have destroyed our unprotrct
cd trading vessels by scores. and INFLICTED en-
OrmOus damage Oh our widely extended mer-
camille marines. Tnls disaster was averted
durlAg the Crmean War, not Ouiy by the
/ prompt action Of the American Government In
slrius eutiy carrying o1t the provisions OF their
enlistment aei, LuG by the unanimous dec sion
OF the most Influential American merchants
tnat any attempt 10 evade lis provisions would
be national dlshOnor, as we'll as iagrani
offence against the county OF nations.
1t Is the direct interest OF every nation to
preserve It's neutrality strictly inviOlate Aud
our own inter, SIS. in our present. position a.
neutrals requir that we should thoroughly
reciprocate the conduct Of the American Gov.
eminent and pope toward ourselves during
Crimean war. he precedent We now create
Will inevitably be adopted as a rule of action
toward ourselves hereafter, aud it is essential
for our own sake that the laws Of neutrality
should be enforced in manner to defer ID,
interruptions from attempting To infringe them
No one will pretend to cay that this Was done
Ia the Case OF the Alabama. From whatever
cause, there was most manifest aud sastrous
f,f lr., of fhfn ~.
Ii the existing law were really insufhc ent 10
prevent such open AID fragrant violation OF
the first duties of neurai.tv. II would be abso-
lutely essential for our protection to have II
| altered without delay. Ii Is lmpOss ble not IL
see. however, that IN the case OF the A Alabama
tue failure was due 10 want OF prOmptitude ana
more vigorous precautions, rather than to the
Inherent detects OF the law itself This vrssrl
vas openly built under the superntendence O.
a Confederate agen., aud The sailors were hired
aVOwedly 10 hight for the south. and tempted
With large promises OF prize money. Evidence
OF all these facts could cas- ly have been OBJ
taned 10y the Government ageuts on tue rpoi
weeks before she lett the port. We are enntiea
10 hope and telievs, hopspsr, that there uiH b.
such hegl gence a.. failure. The Government
i nOw thoroughly aroused 10 the magnitude OF
the evil. and The danger involved IN such open
defiance OF the law. aud it will incur q very
serious responsibility II it does not Itself pui
the Jaw actively IN motion against offender
bat even with the most prompt aud efficient
action on tie part OF the Government. IL is no
doubt true, a. The Solicitor General iutimafed
that perfect neutrality cannot lie maintained
without tue cordial CO Operation Of the people
At such a tine il is the first duty OF patriotism
aud honor 10 protest against those who. IL
open defiance OF the law. seek to b tray the in
terest OF the country Tor their own selfish ends
Prem the sunday Revew Gsrch 2s
The whole history Of TIE Alabama Is nov
before the public. and We are ale to under
stand precisely how il is that the English Gov
eminent S charged with neg gence in permit
ting hsr 70 get 20 sea and what Is the a. s,xei
20 this charge which Earl Russell sets up Il
case which ou-ht u BE- discussed with he
most jealous impart ality. The general con
vction Of tue u>ele~suess Of the prosecution ot|
! he war " The North. aud admiration OF ID.
xiii and galaniry shown los the command
Of the vrs-el nc she l-ft EAglsnd have. il :
% BE- iea-ed, engeneerrd a hight wish that ID
,ernatiO a law should somehow te made Z
~how tnat IL ~as quite legal 10 build n
Alabama here aid 10 let Der go out AID II,
aer luck. lnleruati oaal law il not TO be treat
I'd IN this way. I'D II there Was duty imp.,,
d under tue circum-taaces. on the Enslis
Government 10 cetsin The ship il would bs
most amentaoe thing if We we're TO refuse T.
acknOwls dgs That We rad done wrong aud ~er,
n d ~itI the primo pies OF law simply be
cause there . something exc ting n The sdven