New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-14


AMERICAN RESPECT FOR NEUTRAL
OBLIGATIONS.
That was an ungraciOus charge of Lord
Palmerston's in the House Of Commons in bis
recent discussion with Mr.. Golden, that tho
Americans did not observe an honest neu-
trality in the Crmean war in the matter OF
building ships for the Russians. Says the
Prime Minister in backing up MIR. Lairds at
tack upon us, 1.-The hon. member for Birhen-
head has alluded to the case OF ship buIlt Id
the United States when We were at war win
Russia. We complained, and the ship was
examined and declared by the local authorities
TO be free from auy ground for moles!atioD
Nevertheless there was the best reason for be-
leying that the ship was destined for the
Russian Government and for naval operations
in the Eastern seas, where the Russian Gov
eminent most wanted such assistance. We
had reason to believe that other ships were
then building in America for the same purpose,
and would have been used if the war had con.
tuued."
We printed Mr.. Laird's indictment against
us ABOUT the ship America, in connection with
the debate in Parliament, and the sem-ollicial
answer to it yesterday on behalf of the author
tiles at Washington. Mr.. Laird, as reported
in The London Timss (Which showed It's nen-
naihy by not printing more than third OF
Mr.. Cobden's specify, after charging that the
nd
in the United States" goes on to say: $50
far from the American Government. keeping
faith with that OF Great Britain during the
war with Russia, they allowed the America TO
get away, and gave orders to the American
Admiral To protect her against the search OF
the English and French officers
Now, according 10 the expose coming from
the state Department at Washington, 1t
appears that no word Of official complaint,
either consular or ministerial, had ever been
breathed against the America, that can be
found on record. She went her way from
New-York, not only unarmed, but. 90 Tar a.
ia known, unchecked aud unchalenged.
When she arrived out at Rio Janeiro on her
there projected from search by the American
Admiral. acting under orders, it appears that
Mt the iustigation Of discharged sailor, the
English aud French authorities insisted upon
search, which, at the suggestion Of Commodore
Salier, who probably then heard Of the thing
for tho first time, was dispensed with BY
agreement. on Capt. ludson's making affidavit
that all his armament consisted of one Mimic
rife, one fowllng piece. and two pairs OF
pistols.
Was il then in reference to this tug-boat,
intended for the Amour River in Tartary.
with an armament of two muskets and four
pistols, that the Prime Minister INDUCES III the
significant nnuendo [" that there was tho best
reason for believing that the ship was destined
for the Russian Government, and for naval
operations in the Eastern Sea, and that other
ships we're then building in America for the
same purpose"
1t is noticeable that Mr.. Laird did not pre-
tend that any official interference had ever
been made about the vessel TIL she reached
Rio. But Lord Palmersion had got 1t into
his bead that she WAS complained OF, stopped,
and ultimately released at New-fork. Proba-
bly, tho Prime Minister was thinking OF the
Maury," or the Grand Admiral" about
which Americans have already made out such
a case for good faith instead of bad faith, that
even Mr.. Laird did not think it judcious to
stir it. Ii was ia reference TO the first OF
these, as our readers may remember, that the
British Consul made an apology in the public
prints of Oct. -. 1865, for his conduct IN
causing her detention. And even that did not
content her patriotic owners, Messrs. A. a.
Low g. Brothers, for they procured an inyes-
tigation of the matter from the Newly York
Chamber of Commerce, which not only exon
Grated them, but the country at large. from
any such lmpntaton. As the Committee them
selves stated it, "They have it from the high
EFT authority that the Government has no
knowledge, Jeii.G or suspicion that any prl-
yateer or other armed vessel is fitting out, or
has been fitted out in this country for or
against any Of the European belligerents."
This was in October or November, 1850.
A TO the Grand Admiral it will be enough
TO remind our readers that she was ordered of
her builder w. II. Webb, esq, before the
outbreak Of hostilities her construction was
suspended during the whole of the war, and
on account Of Il, and she did not leave New
York till 1859, three years after peace was de-
clared.
Was it Of this latter vessel that the head Of
the English Ministry meant to assert that
" ale would have been used for the same pur.