New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-23
ESCI,ssM NEUTRALITY.

ENGLISH NEUTRALITY.
The latest information in the case OF the
Alexandra supplies further evidence of the
purpose of the British Mini,try "not 10 estab-
lish dangerous precedent in the matter OF
Anglo.Rebel ship-building. 1t seems not to
have occurred TO the parties concerned IN the
Alexandra that the interference of Earl Russell
could be meant to be serious, and they went
on with their work as if nothing had hap
pened. An order, however, was subsequently
telegraphed to the Customs authorities at Liv-
erpool to stop all labor on board, take pos
session of the vessel, and proceed with the in
quiry as to her character at once, and this
order WAS Obeyed. The case of the Japan, or
Virginia, the pirate which escaped from Green
ock about tho same time under circumstances
which we refer to more at length in another
article. tends to show, on the other hand that
the British Government does not mean TO go
any further than it must in order to establish
ito precedent, and in order TO avert the I'M
mnently threatened collision with this country.
If the British Government had wished, in
the beginning, to stop the business of building
vessels for the Rebels iD British ship.yardS, it
would have found no more difficulty than in
this case of the Alexandra. All the sophistres
of the Solicitor. General cannot cover up the
conclusive fact that the evidence in the case
OF the Alabama was in the hands of the Min
istry eight days before that pirate sailed from
Liverpool. Then they did not want to stop
her; now they have bethOught themselves OF
the danger Of the precedent, and their sympa-
thies with the Slayeholding Coniederscy are
not for a moment allowed to stand in the way
Of the future interests of English commerce.
Doubtless, the Foreign Enlistment act is OF
that order Of parliamentary enactments through
which distinguished jurist once proposed to
drive his coach and six. 1t does not obstruct
the most open violatioys of neutrality 40 long
as the Government SECRETLY fayors them, but 1t
will be- found tolerably effectual, nevertheless,
when Earl Russell desires it to be put in force.
1t has supplied an excuse for arresting the
building OF the Alexandra, aud will be broad
enough to support the exercise OF authority in
other similar cases. The Liverpool Chamber
of Commerce has been advised by It's Committee
that the statute feeds smendment-which it
certainly does--and having discovered the beam
in their own eye suggest the existence Of q
mote in ours also-whieh is an improvement
on Scripture, and need be no cause of ofenss
10 us.
The regulation of the rights and duties of
neutials will probably become o subject Of ne
getiation at d proper times but this Govern
ment, We trust, viii never admit that the un.
friendly acts Of Great Britain toward friendly
nation engaged in suppressing Rebellion
within its own territory are TO be considered
as ordinary cases Of transgression of neutral
obligations. The rights which We claim, and
the course which we have right 10 demand
Great Britain shall pursue in this purely do
nestle struggle, are not to be perverted into
precedents to govern our conduct in case Of a
war between England and European power
friendly ~ US. Great Britain has accorded
the rights OF belligerenis to the Rebels, aud is
bound by her record as neutral power for
all time 10 come. Our Government does not
recognize the existence of war as between
itself and a foreign enemy. IN respect
10 which it was possible for Great
Britain to sustain the character Of a
neutral What we claim in this case, there
fore, it by no means follows we can be asked
to concede when we are neutral aud Great
Britain belligerent. In other words: we have
a right to require that Great Britain shall pre-.
vent the building of Rebel ships in her ship
yards, but we are not bound BY that precedent
If We choose hereafter to build ships for ma
ton friendly to us and at war with Great
Britain. 1t may or not be polite or ju,t that
we should; on that we need not express al
opinion. The present point is that these qaes-
tons are to be settled on their merits when
they arise, and not by reference to any record
yyhich il now making