, 1863-10-13
G5ifagu Gribu1re.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1868.


TUESDAY. OCTOBER IS, 1868.
FLAGRANT CASE.
We print in another part Of this paper,
an account Of the cruise Of the rebel steam
er Alabama, and her great destruction Of
the property Of the citizens Of the North;
but as outrageous as the tale Of her piracy
and inccndiaryism is, there is part Of the
story, which, to all American minds, nay.
to the minds Of all men not blinded by
cupidity and hate, will furnish proof that
the rebels arc but the instruments employ
eddy the British subjects, by the conniv-
ance Of the English Government, to prey
upon our commerce; that the greatest
criminals are the conscienceless capitalists,
and tae perjured officials o. Her Majesty,
and that to them this Government and this
people must look for quick and ample re:
dressfor the unbcarab1e wrongs that the
Republic has suffered.
There seems to be no doubt that the
Sea Bird, the last known capture
Of the Alabama, was boarded
within Table Bay, and unquestionably
within water the neutrality Of which the
Governor was clearly bound to protect.
With the American flag at the mizzen-
peak, and almost under the muzzles Of
British guns, she was compelled to surren-
der; and vessel, cargo and crew became
the prize Of the captors. With the stain
Of piracy upon every thread Of her can
vass, the Alabama entered the port, and
here the unconccaled joy Of the English
colonists and the disgracefn1 recreancy of
the officials were manifest in such way
that the blood Of every American will boil
as he reads the record. No sooner had
the pirate craft touched wharf, than her
officers and crew were overwhelmed with
the courtcsies and offic;ous kindness Of the
citizens Of all ranks and degree. The
American Consul, almost the only man
Of Cape Town who did not rush to the
wate1's edge to give the pirates q welcome,
busted himself in addressing note to the
Governor Of the colony, demanding the
seizure Of the vessel, on the ground that
as the British Government had exacted
bonds when the Alabama escaped from
Liverpool, the Government was bound to
rcpossess her when she came again within
British waters. But Sir Phillip Wode-
house WIS so busy and so gleeful over this |
YanIec discomfeiture," that he found
only time to send curt and decisive refu- |
sal TO do what was 50 obviously his duty. |
The Consul then renewed lis demand for !
detention, on the ground that the capture !
was made within neutral waters;
but to this Sir Phillip was also
iuscnsib1e, hence the great rejoicing
went on, and the pirate Captain and
pirate crew, secure in this impunity with
which they could perpetrate outrages
upon our commerce, even under the very
shadow Of the British flag, became the
teted and petted lions Of the place. Mr..
Graham, who there worthily represents
this country, had no course left but to pro-
test against this hateful combination Of in
suit and injury; and to send home to his
Government at Washington narrative Of
what had happened.
Thus the case stands. While the laughs
and jecrs Of the colonlsts and the Governor
will rankle deeply, they are no cause Of
national offence. But behind their jibes
and taunts Is question Of fact which Pal
mcrston, Russell & Co. will be compelled
to meet; and out Of TINT may grow
complication thet shall make
every ocean thunder with the echo Of hos
tile guns We hope every man will insist
upon it, that this affair, SO outrageous, shall
not be suffered BY our Government to be
put into bundle Of minor grievances, and
then mildly presented to the Court Of St.
James. We want, and believe the coun-
Try wants, to sec the issue made now; and
here is the ground upon which to make it.
The people want to know il these things
are to continue; and here is chance to
ask the question. Il the answer is in the
affirmative, the opinion is unanimous, not
alone among men whose property is on
the sea, but among the fortherest dwellers
IN the West, that the war between Great
Britain and the United States shall not be
wholly On one side.
For a while past, there has been
I'm attempt on both sides of the |
Atlantic 10 convince all well-wishers of |
our country that the British flag would |
be no longer prostituted to rebel uses, and |
that the many wrongs Of which our peo-
pie complain would cease, and that repa-