, 1863-04-16
Ql)lragq Uribune.
FROM ENGLAND.
Debate in the English Parliament
On the Alabama. -,
OFFENSIVE SPEECH OF TIE BRITISH
SOLICITOR GENERAL,
Response of 1Te~~r*. Earring
aud Bright.

Response of 1fe~@r*. Earring
and Bright.
In the British House Of Commons, on the
eth Of March, a long debate took place in
relation 10 the Alabama. The principal
speakers were r. E. Foster, the Solicitor
General Of the Grown, Lord Paln,cr=ton, Mr.
Barring, Mr.. Bright, and Mr. Laird, the rebel
ship builder.
MIR. FoRsTER|s sPEECu.
On the 23d Of June last year, the
American Minister having already had com
ulunica' ion with Earl Russell with regard to
the urrto, which was engaged in the dcstruc-
tjon Of American vessels IN the West Indies,
Informed his LordsAip that a more powerful
dock, ard If al honorable gentleman who had
nov seat il that House, which vessel was
Guilt for the same purpose as the Ore 0, and
was to he commanded by Confederate cap
tain. The next letter was from the American
Consul ut Liverpool. It stated that the eyi:
.dcncc was conclusive that this vessel was in
tended for the Confederate Government; that
1t WAS building in the yard Of A1r. Laird; that
the strictest watch vas kept over the vessel;
that no one was admitted into the yard except
those who we're employed Oh the vcsscl, anil
that when completed she would prove 4 for
tilted by the event This information was Tor
w1rded to the Custom House authorities,
and their reply WAS that they could take
no steps to prevent the departure Of
tue vessel. Now, he should ike to know
from tho noble lord, Whit steps had been IT,
ken by the Custom. house authorities to lind
out the truth Or faisehool Of the statements
Of the American Consul, which we're after
ward justified By the event. On JULY 22d, the
American Minister inclu2ed six sworn deposit
tions showing tlmt the vessel was on the
point Ct sail1 ing, and was lifted for the reccp-
tiou OF guns. These dcposf ions proved that
Capt. Bullock, agent Of the Confederate Gov
crnment, Euprrin:epded the building Of the
vessel in A1r. Laird's yard. One Of the Wit
nesses stated that lie was an old man. of.war's-
man; that he joined the vessel in dr, Laird's
yard; that she WIS built and fitted in all res
poets, and that it was we'll known among them
that size was TO act against the United States.
4 copy Of thesc dispositions Was forwarded,
at The same time, to the CustnR House author
itics. The next paper 10 which he would re-
ter, was the opinion Of the member for Ply
mouth CIR. Collicr.) His opinion was to the
effect that he had read the evidence, and was
ofopnion that the Custom House authorities
would be justified in detaining the vessel;
that, in his opinion, it was their duty to de.
tain her; that the board OF customs would
incur ltayy responsibility if they did not do
30: tlnt it would lie difficult to make ont
Hstncnt Act; ,hat if this was not violation
Of that act, it was little better than dead let
ter. That opinion WAS given on the a3d Of
July, 1sG2. The validity Of that opfu-
ion appeared to have been allowed by
the law officers Of tue Crown, be,
wrote, stating that he lad submitted the case
to the law officers Of the Crown, and hc tlleu
tc!egraphcd to have The vessel seized, so that
lie concluded the law officers Of the Crown
agrecd in the opinion Of alr. Collier. Now
he wished to know why were fre days allowed
to ciapse before tie case was referred to tic
law officers Of the Crown, namely, from the
222d to the 2sth Of July? On the very same
day that the tcltgrarllic message was forward
ed, IT appeared that the vessel sailed. Is an
order had been sent to detain the vessel If she
put into the port Of Nassau, be- should like
the noble lord why SHE was not detained in
Fort Royal, and why she was allowed to relit
there after fighting the Hattcras? Why WAS
not the order sent to Nassau executed III q
neighhoring colony: The vessel haying
started on tile very day after the law officers
not appear as if the representations made By
tEe American Minister had merely the.
Effect of enabling the owners of the
rtssrls to- get her away. That ap-
peaied to him to be curious coincidence
It was said that the vessel started on q
House authorities could hlve asccr1ained
whether that was thu fact. She sailed with
the British flag, she was supplied with British
arms and stores, and was manned chiefly By \
British crew. After this she ceased to hoist
The British flag and run up the Confederate
one. But lie should like 10 know from the
noble lord what steps had been taken to as
certain that she did make the change from =
British to ! Confederate vessel, and inasmuch
rs she had never entered into q Confederate
port whether she was not still 4 vessel under
British jurisdiction. If this had been merely
not have introduced the subject. lie had no
wish to make cut . case either against tho
Government or the country, aud be would
have considered 1t better to lrpve 1t alone till
the excitmeut passed away, had it been the
case Of one or even two vessels. But when
he found that thcse ships were to be followed
by many others, ii beca1nea question affecting
| tho interests If the cuuuttv, and their friend,
| lv relations with the United States. Thus the
| ports and shores Of the United Kingdom were
made use IF for the purpose Of Whist might
be called, not private, but 4 public war With
! tho United States. Hear, hcar.]
| SPEECH OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL.
| The Solicitor. General said he could, easily
| show That tho charge brought by the American
| Government against her S1rjesty'e Government
was most untounded, and when the honorable
| member referred to the complaints Of the
|
what they were Since the first Mr. Seward
complained not only Of the Alabama, but also
| in the same communication Of the export oI
arms, &C., to the Confederate States. 1t WAS
| certainly astonishing TINT the American GOV
esnmcnt could prefer such complaints; but II
lad all along denied to Great Britain til.
rights Of ne1trals allowed by internationa
law, Of which they had been themselves thu
strongest asserters. He quoted nt 1cug'h th,
f>orinions Of American iurlsts, and Of the rule
Of practice laid down By Mr. Webster aud Mr.
Madison, TO the effect that the American Gov
subjects from selling coufraband goods tt
beliigerrnts, but that they did SO oniy ut thu
risk Of capture and con1scatiop by either bel
lige1cnts.
The government would do Ill that it coult
to carry out the law. The foreign enlistmen
act was passed for our own defense, and no
By an obligation Of international law. It.
violation was not q breach Of in'ernationa
law, but Of the municipal law: and as ther,
was no offence on the showing of the Amerl
can government itself against intcrnation,
law, their only right Of complaint arose fron
the act. The American government was onl,
entitled to ask this government to carry on
the law rs it would do if It was concerned it
self, and to administer the law as English Law
WAS always administered, not on suspicion
but on eTidence CheeEs.l If govcrnmen
had directly or Indirectly aided In Hitting ou
I
ground for complaint, but not if private in
diyiduals did SO, aud their Offence would b.
against the law Of the country and not agains
International law, which did not prohtbi
them from dealing with either belligerents
subject to the penalty Of capture aud coatis
| cation.
The Government would carry out the lav
honestly and fairly. lie could not but attrl
bnte the erroneous feeling in America to tn
assertions Of the American Government, vi
though aware Of their inaccnracF. Hc denie
that there had been any ddlay on the part a
tho Government. The law officers were con
| suited, and the order t, stop the A}aba,n
sent down to Liverpool within three day
] after the evidence WAS laid before Eat
Russell, and showed that In similar case til
| Americans Ind takcu u much louger timf
Buth Cow trnElcnts had acted with REASONABLE
despatch, and no one in that House believe
that 'hc Government had acted unworthily
md although be could make great allo wanc
for the irritation Of the Americans, he trustc
} ! that they would be convinced that the Guy
crn'ncnt lad acted honestly and impartial,
although they had not always respected on
neutrality when their own interests WEI
! concerned,
| PROTESTS or NR. BARRING AND MR.. BRIGHT.
Mr. Basing expressed bis regret at the sreec
Of The Solicitor General, Which must be Q
lrnsiSe to the Americans.
srEEcH or Mr.. BRIGHT.
, Mr. Bright said he was sorry to hear II
erccch of the Honorable and learned gp,,tl
. u,an, not only As regarded its tone, hut b
cause it was very different to Il speech delive
cd BY the honorable and learned gentleman
the last session Of Parliament lie wou]
read to tue House letter wh1ci, be Ind :
. cciycd, telling him what WAS being done
/ I this country in the construction OF vessels f.
d tic Confederate Government. The writ
: ea.d that ". e. Miller and Son, the firm tn