The New York herald., 1864-07-09

The Kearssres and the AIaoama-A
Clear Case Tor . Dsmand Upon Rag
Isnd.
The exact and oopious details which We sub.
NIT to our readers this morning, In connection
with m illustrative map, Of the late ses fight In
the British Channel, the reader will 6nd exceed
ingly interesting This information 10 furnished
from on board our victorious ship, the Kesr-
| sarge, by our Paris correspondent; and, being
gathered from participants in the engagement
from both vessels, it is equivalent to q compre-
hensive official report Here We see, as in
moving panorama, how the Alabama was es-
corted from Cherbourg by an imperial iron
clad beyond the neutral waters Of France;
how she was then left by tho punctious
Frenobman to shift for herself; how tho fght
between the rebel rover and the Union ship
was opened; how it ended, and how . British
tender to the Alabama assisted In rescuing the
pirates crew, foundering in the waves, aud how
she picked up, and. like thief, ran OF with
Captain Scmmss and . number of his officers
and men "to Cewes and a Market" and what a
merry time the jolly bucoaneer and his lucky
companions were having among their sympa-
thizing friends in merry England"
These are interesting facts for the reader and
the historian. But the fact which ia this con
nection stands out in the boldest relief is this :
that before Semmes or . single man from his
sinking ship had taken to the water he and
his whole crew, from the surrender of bis ship,
had become prisoners to Captain Winslow, of
the Kearsarge. Ssmmes has committed him
self in his statement Of = surrender, and that
several shots were fred at his ship after he had
surrendered. His English bottlebolder, Cap
tan or Mr.. Lancaster, Of the yacht Deerbound,
saw nothing Of this alleged firing; but the fact
Of the surrender is amply verified by numerous
witnesses from both sides The testimony pre-
scnted upon this point is indeed overwhel elming,
and broadly reveals the conduct OF Semmes
and his English companions in anything but q
creditabs light.
Granting that Captain WinsIow carried his
generosity too far, and Was rightly served in
trusting to Sem.nes, the sea robber aud in
cendiary, ~ to an honest sailor there Is no
excuse for the conduct of the English neutral,
Ar. Lancaster. Requested or permitted BY
Captain Winslow to assist in picking up from
the waves the helpless captain and crew OF
the Alabama, it would have been q clever
trick on the part Of aa unk nown rebel skipper
to run away with them to the neutral
shores Of England but this wss not the
part for an English neutral 10 play. Captain
Semmes, however, it appears, was not more
eager in appealing to his English friend to run
away with him than was Mr. Lancaster to
render him this friendly service Of sympa
thizing neutral. This gentleman may perhaps
be interested in the rebel cotton loan, or In tho
Angio-rebel blockade running business, or he
may have supposed that the sympathies Of The
British aristocracy would result in making
lion Of him at home as the deliverer Of Semmes
from the hands Of justice; but the fact remains,
nevertheless, that Semmes, stolen of from bis
captor though landed on the soil Of England,
lis still subject to Tequistion from tho United
States.
1t therefore becomes the duty OF our govern
ment to make this requisition upon Earl Russell
for the surrender Of Semmes and his companions
treacherously stolen away from their captor
and landed in England. In view Of the honors
showered upon this piratical cruiser by his
friends among the English people. aud OF their
promises, before the expiration Of another
month to furnish him new ship. superior to
The Alabama this requisition for the lucky
Captain cannot be made too soon. The de-
mand OF my Lord Rissell for the Testitu-
ton of Mason and Slidell will answer
for the form Of .be application-tha is
to say, few emphatic words from Mr.
Seward through Mr.. Adams, with q few more
lighting ships in the British Channel. The
country suffered deep humiliation In the
settlement of the Trent affair and the Aneri-
can people feel aggrieved from other irritating
concessions to England and France for the sake
Of peace. President Lincoln has now fair
opportunity to begin the settlement OF our
outstanding accounts with England in requi-
sition FLOR Semmes, the pirate. Indemnity for
his spoliations among our merchsn. vessels can
be made at any time hereafter.
What we want now for the honor, the dig
nifty and the complete unity OF the loyal States
and their people is q demand for Semmes.
There need be no apprehensions Of France in
this affair. The French are chuckllng with lily
disguised satisfaction over the sinking Of .
crack British ship and her first class British
crew by an American vessel Of the same
tonnage and weight Of Detal; the Germans
are delighted, and Russia, we knew, Is with
us We would, therefore, respectfully, but
earnestly, appeal to Mr.. Lincoln and his
Secretary Of State that, in calm but 6rm and
unmistakable requsition for Semmss, they
have the opportunity to redeem the past
blunders Of their foreign policy in forward
step which will command the unanimous sup
port Of the people Of the loyal States, the
sympathies OF France. Germany and Russia,
ad the polite compliance Of England, from
! sheer necessity.