, 1863-04-07

Of s'r:;.slrs ii iye-;onl, Nna'd u3aouh'-
cdly incur heavy responsibility, il he a.
lowed tile vessel to leave the port, as he
might legally do, 1t not otherwise INSTRUCT
ed By his government.
At thus point, the government took the
responsibility out Of the Collectors hands,
by commanding him no: to ezsrcise the 1'ow-
ers conferred upon him by the Aet;; thus
clearing the way for. the departure Of the
privateer, and, in. measure, sanctioning |
it, the plea being a1l along that no absolute
proof existed, that sue was being fitted out
for the rebels, by their order.
In this manner the thing was shufhed
over and wfnked at, by the British Govern
ment, who wanted to show that they were
uncommonly conscientious on the occasion,
until the 22d Of July, when Mr.. Adams
placed in Lord Russells hands, the af1-
dayit Of William Passmore, an English
seaman, who swore that he had been en-
gagged by Captain Butcher Of the Alabama
10 fight for the Southern Confederacy.
There was no mistake now, at all events,
about the character and ownership Of the
vessel; and William Passmore furnished
the absolute proofs" which the Govern
ment had so stubbornly demanded all
through the controversy.
But 50 10th were they to act against the
Confederates, and deprive them Of this
powerful ann Of service, that they talked
and slept over it until the 29th, the very
day that the Alabama took her leave Of
Liverpool without ships papers. So bare
faced an act Of deceit and completely was
too much to attempt palming of on the
English people and the world, without an
apology of some sort, and Lord Russell
pleaded as an excuse for lis delay, that the
Queens Counsel was sick, and that he did
not choose to act without the legal advice
Of that high ft1nctionary.
That the whole transaction was public
fraud, and violation Of the law Of nations
we have no doubt whatever; and the sub
scqueut action Of the Government, for.
bidding the Alabama to take shelter In
English ports, was miserable plaster
for the t1eacheTy which had been perpe
trated
We could point to the history Of on
own country and show with triumph, ani
to the shame and confounding Of thes'
British boosters Of their honor and love 0
fair play-that the Government Of til
Republic was too great, and respected il
, self too highly to do deed Of this sort, 0
suffer it to be done without rebuke an
: condemnation. When Citizen Genet mad
use Of the American ports, as the Confed
t crates did Of the English, Mr. Jefferson
s then Secretary Of State, (17o3) denounce
c him in the strongest language. ST woul
: have been proper respect to the authorit
3 Of this country hc said, had that bee
+ consulted before these armaments were III
a dcrtaken."
f jeff. Davis did not ask British leave
|. build his pirate, and Britain did not fe
Q insulted thereby-which. would be curio,
; enough, and altogether unprecedented,
# she were not quite friendly to JEFF, and di
II not heartily wish him and his miserab
d rebels a hearty God speed!
s. The time Will come when England vi
~ have to foot little bill on account Of Il
J. Alabama, which she will not altogeth
" like to pay. Nor is it the ravages Of til
pirate alone, which will be brought again
her for liquidation, if not in pounds, shj
- lings and pence, thcn in the coinage
- - that dreadful Nemesis which is the judi
~ ~ and the avenger Of nations.
y Not mail arrives from Europe whit
- does not bring intelligence OF gunboats b
= ing built in English dock-yards for the re
- els. And to-day we have news til
- whole feet Of such is preparing
= their service in the same country. It
- monstrous for England to talk about h
~ ~ neutrality in this war, whilst she allo,
- our enemy to arm himself on her shor'
=. and supplies him with all the munitions
~ war which he can smugglc into his por
~ Ayowcd and open hostility would be II
~, nitcly better than this sneaking, cantil
- hypocritical pretencc Of friendly relate
- - towards us-infinitely bravcr, also,
,as M England to adopt, and more in consona1
with her old traditions and history.