New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-11
OF ENGLISH NEUTRAL

| when Mr.. CODden, always Tue stanch HIchu
of the American cause, called attention to the
memorial of the Liverpool shiPowners, who
asked that the Foreign Enlistment act should
be so amended as to make it perfectly effective
for the preservation of British neutrality. The
result of that debate, as our readers already
know, was that Lord PalmerstOn declined to
take any action upon the amendment of the
statutes; and as Parliament has since adj
journed, we are left to the Courts of law for
remedy to protect our commerce, unless the
Ministry feel constrained by diplomatic action
10 interfere in some more efficient and hearty
method than they have yet done.
OF this result The London Times, the morn.
ing after the debate, says: If our ship-builders
sell vessels to the Conicderates, the Northern
officers must try to get hold of them as they
come out of tho Mersey, aud before they take
their ornaments on board. In default of such
vigilance, they must be content to hear OF
Confederate man.of-war cruising about IN the
Atlantic" And again: "The American Gov
eminent has 10 more to do with tho Foreign
Enlistment act than with the act regulating
street cabs."
! Fortunately this is not the position in which
the debate left the question, though the aIti-
tude of the British Cabinet is anything but
satisfactory or friendly, and the part played
/ by Lord Pamerston in indorsng Mr.. Lard's
reflections upon assumed breaches of neutrality
on our part anything but statesmaulike or
candid
We think the debate shows progress in the
right direction, though probably from wrong
motives. The declaration of the Prime MIN
lister il not, as The Times, IN impudent disre-
gard of its own report, would make II, that
"the American Government has no voice In
/ the enforcement of the Foreign Enlistment
act" but, on the contrary, IN their own types,
| in his own words, &" The Amcricdn Government
hare distinct right 10 eTpeci that q neutral rtl
,pforce lis municipai lar i IT be in Their Jaror. q"
And again, according to the same report OF his
speech in The Times, the Premier says: -
quite agree that re ought 10 endedror 10 enforce
our iao as far as IRE can, whenever we learn
that there are ships building presumably tor
/ begerent between whom aud other belligerents
We profess to be neutral, as far as our courts
of Justice will enable US 10 do So
/ This giving us the benefit of their own nunicip-
al law by the English is certainly step gained.
Hitherto the attitude of the Ministry, as eN-
rounded by one of their nbest opponents, the
Solicitor. General. Rounded Palmer, has been
that the Foreign Enlistment act was meas-
ure of their own protection, with which we
had no concern. II was municipal, not inter
national law, and passed for the defense Of
British neutrality against any invasion OF Il by
other powers, aud not IN consequence OF any
obligation imposed upon the British them
selves" The same view has been enforced By
various members OF the Cabinet on different
occasions. but the Cabinet, through its head,
has now declared that, though the Foreign
Enlistment act is n municipal regulation. Mr..
Adam. and the American Government have
voice IN insisting on il being enforced.
But what 10 the force OF this tardy adms-
sion by tie English Premier Coupled With
The concession Of tha, willy statesman IS this
declaration 10 the American Government
Since you have the benefit Of our municipal
Avs IN this manner, you must wait aud take
II. result. in due course. The Alexandra case
cannot bee feillcd till Autumn. can't say
how It Will be decided then. But 1t Is my
private opinion (Which | express for the bene
1T OF the Judges that We have as good II
right to sell ships as We have TO sell arms.
Take your cLGHce nth an English jury. don't
knorc anything urong about he Afatdma oase.
And If YOU "a nj get any hold upon tue Alex.
andra through the courts, there is nothing
that We can do for you" He adds something
about Mr. Lairds new indictment against ne OF
II vessel partly built for the Russians during
the Crmoan war, a case which, as every body
this side the Atlantic knows, strengthens our
position and not theirs, inasmuch rs work on
that vessel was suspended on representation
made 10 our Government by the British Consul
at this port
Now the position assumed BY the Prime
Minister carries US back to the Importance OF
the Alexandra case, and the unfairness Of the
proceedings in It, on which We dwelt IN an
article some days SINCE The more we reflect
upon those proceedings tho more Palpabe does
the outrage seem. Chief Baron Pollock told
the Jury that the case before them might be
put upon all fours, as tho lawyers say with
that Of the Alabama. And yet when the
Counsel for tho Crown were offering proof to
show what had been tho work and character
4 II i Ia. al I,,I
say ing that the Court had heard enough about
the Alabama If the case were to be decided
by Il comparison with tho Alabama, why was