The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-08-07
The American War and British
Neutrality.
Interesting Debate in the
House of Commons.
,v>>~y,oo~~,>-~o~-~~~>~~
THE AkGL CONFEDERATE PIRATE SHIPS.
-o~~->~~>~-~~~~~~~~o~~~>~>
Mr.. Golden Condemns the Action
OF the English Government
and Predicts War with
America.
A Question of Veracity Between the
Member for Birkenhead and Our
Secretary Of the Navy.
LETTER FROM MIR. WELLES.
Lord Palmerston Defends tho Course
Of the Ministry,
LETTER FROM MIR. WELLES.
Lord Palmerston Defends tho Course
Of the Ministry,

From tho Debates in the House Of Commons July 23l
Mr. CoapEH in rising to call attention TO q memorial
signed BY thirty Of the respectable shpowners OF
Liverpool respecting the evasion OF Foreign Enlist.
ment Law, said that the proessed its nab
iy 70 detect and punish the breaches OF tho law commit
ted Sy Brush subjects in building and sending 70 sea
vessels war TO be employed against friendly Power
appeared to him, however in reading the correspon.
dence this subject, that the Foreign Office assumed
passive position and thought they could only be called
upon TO interfere when some foreign government com
planned that the provisions OF the law were impupued
But the Foreign enlistment act was passed not for the
bsneht Of foreign Powers, but for protection
was the duty OF the executive that the
law was obey and he could not that the Homo
Office and all its machinery OF magistrates police
men could be better employed than enforcing the OBJ
servance OF the act Of Parliament There were three
vessels specifically known which were now proving upon
the commerce of friendly Power-the Oreto alias the
Florida the Alabama, alias the $780," and the Japan,
alias the Virginia All these built in England were
armed and chiefly manned from England. One Of these
ships managed TO get into Mobile and TO get back again
but the others had never yet entered Confederate
He wished the House to consider how this state Of things
would affect our interests II and the Anne
ricans peace the as 1t now stood were not
sulc lent, the memoriasts suggested amendments
that would give greater power TO the
In British ports vessels that destined for the use OF
the beligerents He believed that the addition single
word would be sulcieut-he word "building 10 add.
ships This would prevent vessels eauing our
ports 10 a partially unfinished state, and after
informed that there at this moment two iron
cads being built in this country and that the govern
ment had received reclamation from the United
States Minister in this country that these vessels were
intended for the Confederate government From all ne
observed OF the state OF public opinion In America he was
convinced that these vessels went out and began to
prey upon the United states shipping II would lead to
war with that country. These ships building at
Liverpool were IRON rams They were match for any
solves possessed and'if they allowed 70 sail 1t
would probably lead TO rupture between this country
snA I'm fnttaA
the mercantile marine OF America practically value.
less The American shipownes found the rate OF insur
srce 50 raised TIA, they could no longer compete with
They had consequently been selling their ships TO English
shpowners and he asked the House consider the elect
OF such state of things on the minds OF the shpowners
Of New York ard Boston, VIII had always been favorable
70 with Great Britain. During the her Macs.
tys Government might take precautions against these
ships leaving the ports Of this country for service against
friendly Power. In the every vessel captured by
the Florida the Alabama and the Virginia. tho American
government took dispositions oath to the value
Of tho ship and cargo and claims for this
made upon the Euglsh government. Every vessel
seized and burnt was thus debted To tho account Of
England, aud a formal claim made for the amount
Her Macsy's Government had refused to acknowledge
these claims but some day, when the demand could
be made most nconven emily Tor the government the
result would probably either humiliation or war No
doubt many in this country would prefer war
desirable that the interests the whole community
should be affected by the conduct OF three firms
this country The honorable member for Brkcnhcad
former occasion SPOKE Of the greater export OF arms
and ammunition 20 the federal Satos. There how
ever great difference between tho export OF ships and
the export Of arms and ammunition. Gunpowder a
constant article OF commerce. and was extensively used
the operations OF mining blasting &C. To prohibit the
export OF ammunition would therefore, be Injurious
large and regular industry There was moreover no Law
the people this country from supplying shipsowar 10
be used against friendly Power. and the manning Of
such ships. Tho honorable gentleman (Mr. LAIRD had
told House that he had been applied 70 to build ships
for the federal government IL that 80, tue
able member quite right tho applications.
tttt ha ha ham rct In
statement q the honorable member for Birkenhead.
The STEAMER said tina. this was not proper occasion
for reply ing 10 sreech made some time ago and the
honorable member could not be permitted to read obser
vatons a speech made in former debate
Mr. CoppES said he held IN his band copy OF letter
which OF importance In the interest Of peace AZ well
the interest o. truth II was copy OF letter from
the Secretary Of the Navy at Washington to his mr.
Cobdens) friend, Mr.. Sumner, and began, 'You invite
my attention to statement made BY Mr.. Laird" cor
The spxAsKR again interposing said that the honora
Bile gentleman might make any statement that he thought
necessary but To read letter referring speech made
by q member Of that House out OF order. (Iicar
hsar.)
Mr. CoupKS would then content himself BY saying that
he was informed that order had been sent by the
building vessels OF Revcrting the memorial he
had presented. he would assert that bound BY
motives of scinteres to put down these proceedings
The English government had never made q complaint 20
America which was not immediately attended to, tho
grievance, any, redressed aud this case not
%ny during the disturbance. sn s IN Canada but also
pablo opinion In the United States was In favor
OF maintaining this neutrality code. The claim Of
tho Americans for Indemnity Tor the seizures by
the Confederate vessels built In England was under
international and not under municipai law; and Il
answer IN them TO that the Law under which
government acted a municipal The fact was
that the VINO but these ships were for their
own small gains, placing shis country situation Of
great danger and embarrassment He trusted that the
government would exercise the utmost vigilance pre-
venting these armed vessels from leaving shores e
thought that the arguments both Of the noble Earl us
sel) ard the solicitor General contained q faacy be
cause they conounded two thngs-the evidence neces
sary deain aud that when necessary 10 convict
these els custom house officer ought 10 have beer
placed board TO prevent the escape OF the Alabama
which got away under preencc Of taking aparty q ladies'
Gent II one ciause were added to the Customs
Consolidation act enactng that before vessel OF war
owner should prove for what foreign country she wa
iacoded To interfere with tho qarres OF great state
csud only lead 70 msch'c and we now in,erfcrcd II
Amerc,, either by means OF httug outsvessels o war
by premature recognuion,.We should only produce III
same results followed our intervention the affairs
france which led % the extension of the reign Of erro
Ali over Germany He did expect live 10 see tw
indspcndent nations within the United States grea
deal had been said IN that House on contrary assumf
ton but whatever the issue Il this dreadful war nigh
be let TINS country keen clear OF w. He desired nothu
more than that should be silent and sorrowful IN
this gfea war over. (fiesrl
Inc follow ins IS The letter which Mr. Golden desired
Navy DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON. May 40, Isc,
pr,s sp-yoa invite my attention TO the speech Of
9Th OF Marh in which h. represents that the Stcreta
OF the Navy made application 10 him, through agent
agents 20 build vessels for the government OF the Unit,
states.
Nf. Laird remarss Nov viii 30 step further abo
the Northern saeN In 1851 just after the broke
friend Of mine, whom have known for many years, vi
over be and came 70 zee with Of getting We
sells bui 10 this country for the American governmental
Northern government iis this country made u
qniry,' &c
II improbable that Mr. laird and his friend ms hay
inerbanged views on the subject " building vessels II
United saies as private notey making ansaction bnt
that any Application TO build Tor this co
vrup,ent made TO that gentleman directly ~ 4,
avrcy, ny myself Of tue Navy Deras,,,en
No person persons have been employed by me al AGENT
srents or been authorized bs the Navy Drnar,sn, ~ \
ihs American government 70 application u NJ "a,
~, ~ The lrm which he a member ur 10 am ~
so or firm abroad TO build vessel vessels Tor ~. ~
ernmen Of the United States or Tor the navy ne mite
states.
ins III the rebellion by persons protesting agent.
Eng foreign hrIns % procure vessels TO be 5ui Il
tb,s eovernment aud have lndsnct ance IN
this department psrtuned by more than pers,
az, behalf OF the Messrs Laird, and probably they hi
.she,s plans and solicited views: bnt tr
swed Uniform undertaking policy IN regard to
81 OF those applications declining in every instance
proposition build procure 10 be huilt vessels for