Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-16

he trusted that they would be convinced that the Govern
ment had acted honestly and mpartiay although they
had not always respected neutrality when their own
interests were concerned
Mr. Barring expressed his regret at the speech of the
Solicitor General which must be offensive to the Amer
cans
Mr. BRIGHT was afraid the speech of one of the highest
legal officers. Of the Crown would add to the irritation
already prevailing in America Whatever mistakes Mr.
Seward might have made the chief was in expecting
that as we had ambassador at Washington and the
United States, being the only Government in America
which We acknowledged, having had one ia London they
would De treated our Government with greater fobear
ance and consideration in purely domestic quarrel He
complained OF the abuse OF the Engsh flag by the Confede
rate cruisers and declared that the builders OF the Oreto
were now building other gunboats, and that Laird of Brk
enhead and Thompson and Frase of Glasgow were also
constructing most formidable for the Conederates
He reserred to the American Foreign Enlistment Act
showing that 10 cases OF grave supcon the proJand
was laid on the delinquent The Foreign Enlistment Ac,
ought not to be parI of international law but its object
was 10 preserve neutrality The neutrality of the
Government was cold and untrIeudy and consider
ing the enormous interests at stake the Government must
exert its influence TO prevent acts calculated to ebro
us with nation with which Of all nations it was our in
teTest to DO at peace
Mr. LAIRD, The rebel shipbuider said that the whole
transaction with regard TO the Alabama was most open
and legitimate. Rifles deadly as vessels without
guns and he had seen manests at the custom house Of
rifles shipped to the Northern States by the celebrated
hrms OF the Barings, and Brown IL CO., of Live erpoo
Cheers He found also that more than Eve hundred thou
sand muskes three hundred and oryone thousand rifles
twentysx Thousand five hundred gunns and fortynine
million OF caps had been shipped the Northern States
besides fourth more hardware. He had also been
asked to build ships, complete with guns for tho Federal
Government ltse and he read letters to prove this amidst
loud cheers He was therefore, asonshed at the outcry
in America aud complained of the espionage of the Fede-
raj and Its agents here aud said that he would
rather be handed down To posterty the builder of a
dozen Aabanas, than who set class against class
and cried up the institutions of another country which
to be found of value when tested aud has reduced
liberty itself to mockery [Cheers.
SPEECH OF LORD PALMERSTON.
Lord PALMkKsToN said: Now, sir, turning to an i'm
poFtant aud practical question raised by my honorable
friend the member for Bradford cannot but express my
regret at the tone OF bis remarks AID still the
tone OF the honorable member for Brm ngham There no
conceang the fact and there is Disgusting it, that
Whenever any political party whether ia or out of Office in
the United States, ind itself in difficulties it raises cry
against England as of creating what in American
language called political capital" That practice of
course, which we must deplore As long is confued
to their internal affairs only hope that being rather
dangerous game, will not be carried further than is
intended When Government q large party excite
The passions OF one nation against another especially if
there 10 Just cause, it is manifest that such course has
great tendency to eDdaneer friendly relations between
the two countries We understand however the object
of these proceedings the present instance and therefore
we do not feel that irritation which might otherwise be
excited. But II this cry is raised for the purpose of
driving her Maesys Government do something which
be contrary to the laws of the country or which NAV
be derogatory to the dignity of the country in the way Of
altering our laws for the purpose of peasug another Gov
ernmeut then all can say is that such course ia not
likely to accomplish its purpose / very much regret
therefore that the speech of my honorable friend the
member for Bradford and particularly that of the
honorable member for Birmingham are calculated to en-
courage those complaints which think are totally uu
founded on the part of the American Government |
should have hoped that gentlemen bringing this question
before the House would rather have tried 10 alay the
irritation instead of making out as they endeayor TO do
that the Americans have reason to blame England and
the English Government
My honorable and learned friend the Solicitor General
in that admirable speech which all listened TO with the
greatest delight has demonstrated ndsputaby that the
Americans have no cause Of complaint us He has
shown that the British Government have dons on the re
port OF the American Minister here every thing which the
laws OF tho country eH4bed them to do can easily un-
derstaud that in the United States where the civil war has
produced much agitation and where the course Of pac
ce has been to set aside the law, have been led to
forget, in great degree the obligations of the law aud
not disposed 10 give that weight which s due to our
argument-that cannot 90 beyond what the law pre-
scribes aud authorizes Yet think that the House at
least will sec that the statement of my honorable aud
learned friend proves that have in enforcing the for
egn enlistment act done all that the law enabled or per
milted us to do.
Honorable members have argued as IL the seizure oS
vessel were equivalent TO its condemnation. They ask,
why did you not seize the Alabama when you were told
that was known aud belle led that intended for war
like purposes on the part of the Confederates Now in
the first place. you cannot vessel under the foreign
enlistment act unless you have evidence oath confirming
your suspicion That evidence wanting this case.
The American Minister TO my uobe friend the For.
egn Secretary, and said tell You this aod tell Won
that am OF this and OF that !" but when
he asked 10 produce evidence oath which was the
only thing which could ground any proceedings he
said that the information furnished to him condep-
italy that he could not give testimony on oath but that
ought nevertheless to act his suspicious What
would happen II we were To act in that way When
vessel is seized unusty aud without good grounds there
progress uf law to afterwards and the Government
my be condemned in heavy costs aud damages Why are
we to undertake. Illegal which may lead to
those consequences simply 10 please the agent iorelRp
Government cay II there any fault il on the
part OF those who called 10 do certain act and vet
withheld the groundwork which that could alone be
based have myself great doubts whether if we had
sezsd the Alabama, should not have been liable IT, con-
siderable damages Ii generally known that she sailed
from this country unarmed AID properly fitted out for
war; aud that she received her armament equipment and
crew in foreign port Therefore, whatever tusp cons we
may have bad-aad they well founded as it after
wards turned outas 60 the intended destination Of the
vessel her condition al that time would not have Justified
seizure. can assure tue House that her MaSstys Go.
have disposition 10 enforce the provisions of
the foreign enlistment act
The honorable member for Birmingham reproaches us
with exhibiting cold aud unfeudly neutrality. do not
know hat the meaning OF ose terms may be- but they
appear 10 mo to be CONTRADICTION n themselves II
traty than friendly towards party it is some
thing very different towards the other and to be
what in common psrance is meant by neutrality between
contendng paItes, But whether our neutrality is warm
cold, fr endy Unfriendy, II is sincere and honest
can my honorable friends and the House that when
ever it 10 power 10 enforce the enlistment act legally
and Justly We shall be found wanting In the perform.
of duty IL is great mistake suppose that We