Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-04
How the Rebel Rams were Tethered-Sham
Dispatch from Secretary Seward.

The following extract from Mr. Stewards d.
plomatic correspondence just published, ac-
counts for the sudden change in the policy of
the English Government, bywhich the fitting
out OF Pirates i'll British ports was prohibit
ed:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON
July II, 1868
SIR-Iour dispatch of the 10Th of June
NO. 4oo) has been received together with
three paper books containing report of the
trial of the Alexandra.
If the law of Great Britain must be left
without amendment, and be construed bv the
government in conformity with the rulinrs O
the Chief Baron OF the Exchequer, then there
loH be lett for tie United States no alternative
6ut to protect Themselves and their commerce
against armed cruisers proceeding from British
ports as against tie naraL forces OF a publ, enc
my /; and also to cLaae and insist upon iatlcnaai
ties for tie injuries mttcb all such erpedtio1s hare
hitherto committed or shall hereafter commit
against this g0UeJnnla,t and the citizens of the
United States. To tbs end this qogeya,,aent is
nor preparing q navai force actG the almost
Uigor;' and i Htenatonal aayy, lchicb it IS rand
5y creating, shall not be Sufficient for the c,ncrae,-
cy, then tie United States mast diq into Ja6log
ltezt Sch pTigate armed aavaE forces as the ,qer
caJ,tac marine shall afford British IS, do
nestle as well as colonial are now open, I'M
der certain restrictions, to the visits of prat-
| zeal vessels, and not only furnish them with
| Goals, provisions and repairs, but even re-
ceiTe 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 arO,n1 tIa,n o- -, 81
| sent them abroad as auXillaries in the work
| Of destruction. Can it be an occasion for
either surprise or complaint that if this con-
| ditlon of things is to remain and receive the
| deliberate sanction of the British government.
the 1aUy of tie United States acW leccige ipSt,7lc
tons TO pursue these enemies into tie 1OJfs rhicb
thus, IN y0lation Of tie laC Of nations and tie
| Obligations OF neutrality, become ha16orS for
p5l0tcs< The President very distinctly per-
| ceives the risks and hazards which Il 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 in
the case supposed the destruction of our COM
merce Will probably amount to a ua,d ua,,
acoged by portion, at least, of tie British nation,
| against tie goVcfrln1em and people Of the United
StatcS-a acar tolerated, although not declared or
avoaccd, By the British government. If, through
| the necessary employment OF all our means
of national defence, such partial war shall
| become a general one between the two ma
tions, the President thinks that responsibility
for that painful result will not fall upon the
| 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 the
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 hostiIities which are now
| unprecedented; nor will | allow myself to sup
pose that her Majesty'S Government will for
moment conceive that anything have writ
ten upon this point is written in spirit of
| mere demonstration; on the contrary, while
the pacific and friendly disposition of her
Britannia Majestys Government is fully APP
preciated and relied upon, it is well under
| stood that that Government is the last one in
the world to yield to vchemence what cannot
be conceded in equity and justice, So, on
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 scouge Of civil war to seek peace and
friendship with Great Britain and all other
nations through any concession that is com
patible with the permanent interests of ma
tional life and honor.