New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-20
SEuTRNGITH ENGLISH AND
AMERICAN.

n
/, i, well known TO those who have followed
the course Of the discussions in the English
Parliament concerning the violations Of British
neutrality that the Auorney-Gcpcral, after
being driven TO admit the rcmissness of the
lCoycrnmcnt in the matter OF the Alabama and
other Anglo-Rcbel pirates, fell back upon
American proccdents as justification OF
English untricndlincss 10 this country.
The argument passed for q good one with
those who were ignorant OF the eases cited
by the Attorney General, and who supposed
that he would not venture 10 misrcprescnt the
force and effect of Judicial decisions aud
opinions. II Wis reserved for an American
lawyer To expose The i.llacics Of the Engli.h.
Mr. George Bcmii Of Boston ha, collected q
summary Of the cases bearing on Oh, point
under The title "Proctdent- of American Nou-
trality," and with abundant learning and . pro-
fcssonal acutcncs> that sir Roundcll Palmer
will admire while ~ vince under H., ha, Illus
irated md recstablshcd the true american doe
trnc.
Tho vessel in question Wa the Ge"rgid, which
was built at Dulnbanon on the Clyde, went "a
soa with Liverpool crew shipped nominally
for Shanghae, received her armament OF The
coast of France. and started on her piratlcal
cruise while registered ut Liverpool rs the
property OF Liverpool merchant. and pa con-
inuing for nearly three months. during which
she was burning American shps. Subsequently
the vessel returned 10 Liverpool. sailing under
tn commission Of the Rebel government, and
Mr.. Barring put the que ,liou IN Parliament
whether IL consisted with The Ministry views
of neutrality ia permit, her 10 enter and remain
in a British port The Attorney General re-
piled ia substance that her commission from
10 Power which England had rccog-
uiled o. bcllgrrcnt, cstopprd all inquiry
into the circumstances of hor outfit,
and that the United States "neye. adopted the
practice OF inquiring into The previous history
OF public ships Of war which aborcd under The
suspicion or allegation of having been fitted
out IN their ports in violation of their ncrl-
trality." And he cited The cases Of the san
ti.jma Trinidad and tho Cassius, quoting there
fr0n dictum Of Mr.. Justice Story, aud sum.
mariling the two in the statement that " tho
Santi,5ms Trinidad and the Cs,riu- were both
received INTO the ports Of the United states.
held not To he amenahle 10 courts OF las aud
never ordered by the Government Ia leave any
port
Bui There happens 10 De- complete document
ary history Of the career OF thesc 81, and
he ii,cts are % unlike tho Attoruey-Goucrar-
Statement, that the charitable will presume lac
was only IGNORANT vi what hemdcrtook 10 aver.
dispatch from Mr.. Pickering American Secre-
tary Of State. 10 Ny Iiuckncy. American Min
i,tcr TO the French Republic, da'yi Jan. IG.
l1y1, rcctcs that the Cassrs under The name
Les .Itnneauy was Illegally fitted oat in Plila-
delphio, escaped tom that port, and cyadod an
attempt to stop her made by the militia Of Della
ware under orders from Washng'0u. The
agent, however ~ whom shc bad been fitted
out, was tried for the oi'rne, convicted. and
sentenced 10 fine aud inpri-onmc,r Nor did
the efforts Of the Government cease with The
escape Of the vessel. 4 circular was issued b.
the Secretary of War 70 The Coyern"ro OF
tho maritime Statcs. setting firth that the
Cassius-or Les Jumcaul-hnl gone TO
seq, aud might lie expected to- return
10 sons American port 20 complete her
equipment and directing hes seinrc ard The
arrest of the captain, officers and men. But
warned OF this circular, the Cassius went 20 a
French port in ~. Domingo, was sold to the
French Government put IN commission, and
then returned 10 Philadelphia with all the az
ihority Of regular ship-of-war of the French
Government Still she was not deemed exempt
from hostile proceedings. Suit nero begun
against tho vessel. the captain arrested. lie
suits tried in die Federal Cour,s, sustained br !