Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-02-06
How the Rebel Rams were Tethered-Sban
Dispatch from Secretary Seward.

The following extract from Mr. Stewards di.
plOmatic correspondence just published. ae.
counts for the sudden change in the policy Of
the English Government, by which the fitting
out of Pirates in British ports was prohibit
ed:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHNGroNl
July IL, 1868
SIR-Your dispatch of the 26th of June
(No. 43S) has been received, together with
three paper books containing a report oftbe
trial of the Alexandra.
<
If the law of Great Britain must be left
without amendment, and be construed by the
government in conformity with the rulings
the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, then here
,oiA be left for tie United States 40 oiteluaspe
bit TO protect HenaselUeS and their commerce
against armed cruisers proceeding iron. british
ports as against the naval forces OF a public enc.
my and also to claim and insist upon pdcg1ai-
ties for tie injuries acl.ich all such expeditions hqrs
hitherto committed or shall hereafter commit
against this government aud tie citizens Of he
United States. To tbs end tbs gogera,a.At :
nor preparing IadU0L force nth The utmost
ciqol' and If educational nary, chck Il Is raDid.
IN creating, ShdU not be sufficient for The eAeggeu.
cy, then tie United States must bring into failot.
naeat such private armed naval forces Us Tie MR.
camille marine stall afford British ports, do
nestle as well as colonial, are now open IN.
der certain restrictions, to the visits Of pirat.
ical vessels, and not only furnish them with
Goals, provisions and repairs, but even re.
ceive their prisoners when the enemies of the
United States come In to obtain such relief
from voyages in which they have either burn
ed ships which they have captured, or have
even manned and armed them as pirates and
sent them abroad as auXillaries Ill the work
of destruction. Can it be an occasion for
either surprise or complaint that if this con-
dition of things is TO remain and receive the
deliberate sanction of the British government
tie mary Of tie United States ,gU Teccigt ii,sr7sc-
tons to pursue these eJeDties into tie 0rts teticl
Mlss, ilt VioLatiOn Of tie Tar Of nations and the
obligations Of neutrality, become ho.Joys Tor
pirdtcs2 The President very distinctly per
ceives the risks and hazards which naval
conflict thus maintained will bring to the com
merce and evan to the peace Ofthe two coun-
tries. But he Is obliged to consider that IL
the case supposed the destruction Of our CON-
merce will probably amount to nHW udr
,rqged BIZ portion, at leaSt, Of tie British adto
against tie government and people of the JInitai
lStates-a sar tolerated, although not deeiored o.
aUo1oed, by tie BRITISH government. Il, through
the necessary employment of all our means
of national defence, such a partial war shall
become general one between the two ma
tions, the President thinks that responsibility
for that painful result will not fall upon tie
United States
In stating thus frankly the views Of this
Government, it is proper for me to add that it
is not the Presidents purpose to resort to tie
extraordinary measures of defence to which
have referred, unless they shall be rendered
necessary by a final decision OF the British
Government that it cannot and will not inter
fere to restrain the hostilities which are now
apprehended; nor will | allow myself to sup
pose that her Majesty's Government will for Il
moment conceive that anything have writ
ten upon this point is written in a spirit OF
mere demonstration; on the contrary, while
the pacific and friendly disposition of her
Britannia Maiesty's Government is fully ap-
preciated and relied upon, it is well Under
stood that that Government is the last one in
the world to yield to vehemence what cannot
be conceded in equity and justice, So, Oh
the other hand, it ought to be understood that
the United States, if they could ever be pre-
sumptuous, are sufficiently chastened already
by the scourge of civil war to seek peace and
friendship with Great Britain and all other
nations through any concession that is con-
patible with the permanent interests of M
tional life and honor.