New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-07
a RHFUGF OF LIES.

REFUGE OF LIES.
The career of the late corsair Alabama was
probably the most stupendous and systematic
frand on record. l. She protested to be Rebel
or Confederate in origin and impulse, but was
bnilt with money subscribed or contributed for
the purpose by British enemies of our Union.
9. She was built as peaceful merchantmen,
being all the time intended for no other use
than that to which she was devoted. 8. 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 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 - to pre-
dude its reception in season to stop her; her
managers being meantime privately advised
that she must make herself scarce. 5. Though
called Confederate, she never dared enter
Confederate port; never was under the protec'
ton of Confederate shore battery; and never
had even a tenth part of her crew composed OF
native or even naturalzed citizens of the
British money, of British timber and iron,
armed wholly with British guns, and manned
by a British crew, and never fired q cartridge
that was not Of British materials and manu-
facture. Z. Though a fugitive from British
Justice and a fragrant yiolator Of British law,
she has been everywhere welcomed and feted
in British ports, and has sailed over all seas,
robbng and burning our merchant vessels by
the help of the coal, provisions, cartridges &c,
which have been ready for her in every British
harbor. g Though calling herself National
ship of war, she has shrunk from encounters
with all such, save when off Galveston she de-
coved the Hatteras (half her sizc) under her
guns by hosting the British flag and declaring
herself the British gunboat Petrol. 9. She was,
in spite of all pretenses, in tp-top condition, as
one of her officers telegraphed to Liverpool
after the fight, 1.-THE Alabama was in trst-rate
trim" TO- She was a sixth larger than the Rear
sarge q 200 tuns to ,O3l y had eight guns to our
seven: and q full crew of $50 men, which was
at least equal and probably superiorto our num-
Der. as she was enabled TO work her guns much
faster than ours were fired. II. Semmes fought
the Kearsarge only because be could not help
it. Mr.. Dayton had protested against the shell
ter and aid given TO the corsair in friendly
harbor and the French Government had felt con-
strained to order him out Of port. Yet there
Law the Kearsarge off the mouth of the harbor;
and, 70 get out, the Alabama must fight. So
/ she made a virtue Of necessity and steamed out.
/ ~. She chose her own time and distance, open
! ing fire first land shortening the distance at
pleasure. If Semmes had chosen to lay bis yes
sci aboard of the Kearsarge, the moneuyer would
have been welcomed. But he found it hot
enough where he was. Is. The Alabama was
thoroughly riddled, disabled and demolished,
and Semmcs was glad to surrender his
ship to save his life, and she went down
with her flag struck. He escaped capture
through British partially, and is this hour
Inghtiully Capt. Winslow's prisoner. The
Deerhound had no right to steal away with a
part of our spoils Of victory, and did it by de-
ception. II. Semmess pretensc that Capt,
Winslow tried to sink his craft OF her crew after
she had surrendered is rciutod by the log OF The
Deerhound, his virtual ally. IL. And a. if he
had not yet lied enough, upon reaching En-
gland, says one of his petty officers in a state
ment TO The Neies,
Capt. Semmes an1iously asked what the people Of
England thought Of the Sonth; said thaf SiareTy he
eficd in ao1ae; and that the North and south would
never again DO united
We never heard this matched but once, and
then in Capt. MaTyat's tale where most IN
yeterate and immeasurable liar was dying, and,
being warned that the noise he was making
was the death-rattle in his throat, gasped out
." No; ! hare knorn man lire SIR ireeks making
that noise and there his voice failed him for
ever.
THE MEETING. OF sOyEEEIGNs