The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-13
A REFUGE or LIES.

The career OF the late corsair Alabama was
probably the most stupendous and systematic
fraud on record /. She proiessed TO be Reb-
ell or Confederate in origin and impulse but
was built with money subscribed or contribu-
ted for the purpose by British enemies of our
Union. =. She was built as q peaceful mer-
chantmant being all the time intended for no
other use than that TO which she was devoted.
3. She stole out OF Liverpool, where she was
built, on pretense OF making trial trip, wholly
unarmed, and with ladies on board to cover
the deception. 4. A peremptory order from
the Government for her detention, based on
proof furnished by our Minister and Consul OF
her true character, was treacherously detained
on the way, so as TO preclude its reception in
season TO stop her; her managers being mean
time privately advised that she must make
herself scarce. ). Though called Confederate
she never dared enter Confederate port; new
er was under the protection of u Confederate
shore battery; and never had even tenth
part OF her crew composed of native or even
naturallzed citizens of the Coniederacy. She
was British built, with British money, of Brit
ish timber and iron, armed wholly with Brit
ish guns, aud manned by British crew, aud
never fired cartridge that was not of British
materials and manufacture. q. Though a iu-
gitiye from British justice and fragrant vio-
lator of British law, she has been everywhere
welcomed and feted in British ports, aud has
sailed over all seas, robbing and burning our
merchant vessels by the help OF coal, provis
ions, cartridges, dc. which have been ready
for her in every British harbor. Z. Though
calling herself National ship of war, she has
shrduk from encounters with such, save when
of Galveston she decoyed the Hatteras (half
her sizel under her guns by hosting the Brit
! ish flag aud declaring herself the gunboat Pc
/ trel. 5. She was, ia spite OF all pretenses, in
d llD-tOn condition. .afh hafa tala
graphed to Liverpool after the fight, "the Al
ALBANIA was IN firstrate TRIM o. She was a
sixth larger than the kesTssrge Il 200 TO 1881 y
had eight guns To our seven: and full crew
of $50 men, which was at least equal and pro-
baby superior to our number, as she was en-
abled to work her guns much faster than ours
/ were fired. 10. Semmes fought the Kearsarpe
+ only because he could not help it. Mr.. Day
ton had protested against the shelter aud aid
given TO the corsair in friendly harbor, and
the French Government had felt constrained
+ TO order him out of port. Yet there lay the
kearsarge on the mouth Of the harbor; and,
f to get out, the Alabama must fight. SO 81 e
made virtue of necessity, and steamed out.
Z II. She chose her own time and distance, op-
ening Dire first. aud shortening the distauce at
pleasure. L. Semmes had chosen to lay his
vessel aboard OF the Rearsarge, the manouvre
would have been welcomed. But he found it
hot enough where he was. L. The Alabama
was thoroughly riddled, disabled and demol-
shed, and Semmes was glad to surrender his
ship to save his life, and she went down with
her flag struck. He escaped captures through
British partiality, aud is this hour rightfully
Capt. Winslow's prisoner. The Deerhouud he'd
no right to steal away with p lrt of our spo l.
OF victory, and did it by deception. 13. SEM
mes pretense that Capt. Winslow tried to
sink his craft or her crew after she had sur
FGnlprnd 10 raft, IL. l.. A.
hound, his virtual ally. IA. And, as if he had
not yet lied enough, upon reaching England
says one OF his petty officers in statement 10
The Neus-
'Capt semmes auxiousy asked what the peopls
OF England thought of the southi said that siarers