, 1863-04-30

Mr. Laird, who built the Alabama. has
defended his right to do so, in the British
House Of Commons, and maintained that
the whole transaction was conducted OPEN
" and above board, and that no ATTEMPT
Was made 10 cheat the government as to
the character Of the vessel. On the con-
trary he said that every facility was afford
ed to the proper officials for inspecting the
ship during the entire process of its con-
structlon. The Custom House officers
were On board every day, as they were also
on the day when she finally left, and these
gentlemen declared there was nothing
wrong about her; nothing at all events
which they were sharp enough to discover.
They only left her when the tug left, and
were subsequently obliged to testify, hy the
obligations Of their Office, that she quilted
Liverpool without flaw upon her charter.
Mr.. Laird thinks that the whole I,usi-
ness was very cleyerly managed, and al
though he does not care to hide the fact
that she was really built for the Confeder-
ates, he piques himself upon the adroitncss
wherewith the contraband proofs were
Kept from the weasel eyes OF Her Majesty's
Inspectors
Nor In any case can he see that muc],
harm las been done, or that any law. in
the letter thereof, has been yiolatetl. There
1le was, at all events, to try the issue, and
abide by his own share Of tie deed that lie
had done. 1t WAS no fault of his that his
customers were rebels, and all that he, FOR
lis part, had to see to. was that the secu-
rites were right, and that the money
would be forthcoming in due season, On
the delivery Of the goods. He took quite
tradesman's view of it, and didn't trouble
himself about the law pro, or con. That
belonged to the functions OF the Govern
nlcnt, and if the Government were satisfied.
it was no business of his to tell them shat
they had been humbusrcd.
He swung himself about the House like
sledgc hammer, as impulently as you
please, and hit right and left with the say
agcness Of bully who has old scores to
settle with mob. Now it is the members
for Rochdale and Bradford who come in
for tile licks, now it is Barring. the million
airc, and now lie tlings out his bravnv
arms, and tries to hit Uncle Sam between
the eyes, right across the Atlantic.
have good reason to know, he said
that vessel OF 1900 tons was chartered
six weeks ago for the express purpose Of
taking out cargo Of hardware" to the
United States; and the expectation has
not yet ceased From the 1st Of January
TO the 18th Of March, 1863 the custom bilIs
Of entry show that % $40 gun barrels, 80
s02 rifles, and 3,105,8oo percussion cans
were shipped TO the United States. From
the 1st Of May, 1861 to the 31st of Dccem-
her, 1sGe, there were Il 500 muskets.
81 GOO r;fcs, 2o,5co gun fints; 40 ,9s2 600
percussion caps, and 2 2,e250 swords, sent to
thcs same place Of destination.
Mr: Laird thought that this wholesale
smuggling OF arms into the United States
was FULLY equivalent to building Alabamas
tor the rebels. He could sec in fact no diff.
terence between them, except that the
Legitimate Government Of the United
states had done a larger trade with the
English shopkceper5 than the bastard eov-
eminent had. II, says he, the Southern
statcs have got two ships unarmcd, un6: 70,
onv Tu71tse If rrr}are Especially the Ala
oama' which las proved its impotcncy bv
cestfoy'ng well nigh a hundred Of our
merchant shils, engaged in peaceful com
mcrce,' the Northern States have bern vrc11
supplied from this country through the
agency Of some most influential persons
Nay more than this: the United states |
Government itself had applied to Mr.,
Laird TO build gunboats for United Statcs
service! And, III the estimation of tbc
pirate builder, this was rs bad as any,
thing which the Confcdcratcs had done in
England, or tho English had done for the !;
Confcderatcs.
The ministerial and aristocratic cheers
which accompanied the delivery of this
curious specimen Of English law and logic
are evidence that the views put forth by
the champion Sbipbuilder were largely ap-
proved by the legislators present, and the |
near hear" and Laughter aud cheers"
"nicn interrupted the speaker while be was |
1eihng tue eock-and-bun tale about the en-
deasofs OF the Federal Government tn pet
him to build gnnboats for ;ts serrioa asa
the Giant killers story Of the mna.e,s , aaa ana
rifles, are further proofs Of the ] w;lt;a.sao. ~uu
of the British rulers to be ticlled hv stsass cs'
and to catch at any thing which thcy ran
by Infinite twistings, and distortions If a.,
reason and justice, turn to our disadvan.
fage.
There is oil the difference in the wor,,,
between lawful government making
oycrtures 10 the subjects of friendly
Power for gunboats, and munitions Of war
to put down an internal rebellion-and tho
rebels Of this same Government maxine
similar ovezturcs and meeting with ready
and ample response. In the former case
nothing is asked inconsistent with law
and the friendly relations existing between
the two countries; In he1atter everything
That is asked is violation Of law, |