Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-13
Confederate OruisDs and British Prizes.


certain as LO1g, of the British Parliament, has
t " sadly perpex.d and embarrassed the British hia-
istgy by meas Of question 30 which al answer coua
no, DC refused; bui which, bsiOg answered, i-voIseS
cons Quonees nos az al to be reished Oy the money
mixing, mousJ-lOy,Dg merchants OF England M
LlnS. With grying iGqaisitiyeness Wor!Sy OF fAa-
kse. wanted 90 know Whsthsg ship belonging 10 TIC
Coniederae 1a,y Would have the SINE nigh. 10 scare
ana make prgs OF an Eagl 81 vessel oarrJiOg GONNA
0a4G Of war 10 Federal port thas Fsderal va
vessel would exercise IN the case Of British ship
our,ing oo,uab4nd OF war 10 Con!edsrats port d
n not whether such Partially in favor OF one OF two
bsuSsrent powers is reeOaoilAble With the strei
neutrality professsd by her 4ajssiy's Government"
Rrss view it would strange that there should be
any necessity for asking such question: or that there
could be Any hesitation in answering ia BusAr LOrg
had observed with some surprise, doubt, thai while
Yankee cruisers daily capturing and eOndemniug
British vessels on the bare suspicion OF carrying con
trabaad of var or Of intending TO run the blockade
the ALBANIA and other Confederate cruisers eonten
themselves with taking Yankee vessels, leaving hOs
under the British Gag TO pursue an unmOessed traffic
in all sOrts Of eontraband artids. Whether this
difference IRON greater tenderness on the part
of the OOniedsrates towards the British 6 and
British commerce, or from the superior profits o
Yankee huniiog, wss not by any means clear. At al
events conspicuous has been the forbeSranee Of the
Confederate naval commanders in ttis matter tb,
she world bad gTlduslly, but pretty surely, cons
81 the conclusion hat the rght TO capture neutral ve
ssls laden VITA 0on.raband of a right 70 be
enjoyed solely by Yankees and that any exercise OF il
by Confederate cruisers would be piecs OF uopara!
slsd impudsnce by TO be tolerated, and no.
~ all TO be anticipated Bat Mr. Long did not see il
IN that light Mr.. Long appears to have logical Iurl
Of mind. he would never think OF questioning n
old and respectable maxim that What sauce for the
goose for the gan5er. He, therefore, very la
IurATy, wants to knOw Why, the COnfsderaieS being
recognised IS bengerens, they have all TIE righ
of bsligeren's, especially rights which the Yankees
are exercising with the reckless audI0ity and
the aimsiest Of shadoEy pretsIts. Perhaps it is dis
suetipg to the impartial SOL Of Mr.. Long that the
Confederatss have not exhibited little more en,sr
Prise in this business, and 50 saved hin the trouble OF
questioning, and the Ministry the trouble of answering
But it makes little osrence TO him that bis awkward
Interpolation" may have the effect Of setting fresh pur
suors on the track Of the worried commerce of Eng
land He merely wants to know Why, if the Yankee
have right TO worry their British cousins TIE Con
federsteS have not right to worry them likewise. 1t
vas certainly puzzling dilemma for the Ministry
They could no: say mo" without exhibiting
the helioWness Of their pretensions Of neu-
srAlity, and denying the logical and necessary
consequences Of their recognition OF the Ccniede-
rates as bsligerents. They could not say "yss'
without admitting right which, in its exercise, might
prove nealculably injurious TO the commerce Of Eng
land and thus aienGte from the Government the sup
port of the powerful mercantile interests. Il IN
deed perple1ing predcamens. But the Ems lish mil
istry rather used TO perpexing predicsments and
are IN ihs habit Of shutting of them either by fore
Of sheer impotence, or by means of that pecuilr
6nesss for which British statesmen distnguishe3.-
Any fool can ask qlestiOo-sc We arc told. BG: in
The British Parliament fools question must be noticed
Just as well as wise mans. And Nc. Long is olearl,
no fool; consequently impudencs could no: be relied
this case and 6nssss had 70 DO called in to supply
she dessiency. Af-sr days consideration of wha,
appears to be very direct question, admitting only Of
. simple Affirmative or negative answer, Mr. Long is
told, ard through him the world and especially the
Con'eSsrates, ths her MSjess legal advisers have no
hesls4tOn in saying cha. Confederate cruisers have
Oisely the rights Federal cruisers; that tley
may e5psure and condemn British vessels laden with
eoniraband Of war; bus that the rgb; is modified by
one very important condition. o-Eis:-.bat such British
vessels, 20 captured By Confederate cruise 5. mGst
be taken into port for condemnation before prize
court Tois is What maY smphaioally Ee called
"do6ge" TIE "Arsiu" never perpetrased one n Ae
decided Il Will no dyubs excite the ntensest admi a.
Ion in the Old Fag1s a. tho head of European aa g.
Even the smps-minded Gonfederates will scarcely be
able restrain their applause of the ingenuity whsh
adnils right and denies ts exercise which COMES Is
thas We may capture certain Bsh vessels If We csn
but shows how We eannOt il We may. The English
Ministry know well enough that impossible for Coo.
fsdsrAts cruisers comply with the prescribed cond
tions The ports Of the Confedersey are blockaded;
hence prizes be brought here for condemnation.
European ports are closed against hence prizes
not be taken there for condemnation. Urder these cir
oumsanees prizes Caano. be taken anywhere; hence,
according to she Ministry, they cannot be made at ALL
very short and easy way Of getting rid OF Mr.. Ling
and the progressively worried and iitated Blush
chAs But the right capture neutral vessels cary
ing contrabAnd OF var IS derived from the Law Of nA-
Oos, and not conceded by the grace Of g. Britain
Of any other European nation The obligation to take
them into port for condemnation is only imperative 50
far circumstances admit Of complying with it,
Under the custom which prevailed before this war,
there would have been no difficulty In the case
Prizes could always BE- taken into neutral ports for
condemnation before neutral courts. II foreign ma
~ l..