The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-07-15
A Refuge Of Lies.

Tho career Of the late oorsair Alabama was
probably the most stupendous and systematic
fraud on record. !. She professed to bs Rebel
or Confederate in origin and impulse, but was
built With money subscribed or contributed for
the purpose Of British enemies Of our Uuion.
2. 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 unsrm
cd, and with ladies on board to cover the de-
ception. 4. A 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, 90 as to preclude It's reception In sea-
son to stop her; her managers being meantime
privately advised that she must make herself
scarce. s. Though called Confederate, she
never dared enter Confederate port; never
was under the protection OF Q Confederate
shore battery; and never had even tenth part
Of her crew composed Of native or even natu-
rallied citizens Of the Confederacy. She was
British built with British money, Of British
timber and iron. armed wholly with British
guns, and manned by British crew. and never
fred cartridge that was not OF British mate
rails and manufacture. 7. Though fugitive
from British justice and Aagrant violator OF
British law, she has been everywhere welcomed
and feted In British ports, and has sailed over
oil seas, robbing and burning our merchant
vessels by the help Of the coal, provisions,
cartridges, &c., which have been ready for her
In every British harbor. 8. Though calling
herself National ship Of war, she has shrunk
from encounters with oil such, save when of
Galveston she decoyed the Hatteras (hslf her
size) under her guns by hosting the British
gunboat Petrol. 0. She was. in spite Of oil
pretenscs, in tip.top condition, as one Of her
officers telegraphed to Liverpool after the fight,
"the Alabama was In frst-rate TRIM" 10. She
was a sixth larger than the kearsarge 1900
tuns to l,O3l;) had eight guns to our seven
and full crew of $50 men. which was at least
equal and probably superior to our number, rs
she was enabled to work her guns much faster
than ours were fired. II. Semmes fought the
Kearsargc only because he could not help 1t.
Mr.. Dayton had protested against the shelter
and aid given to tho corsar in friendly har.
Dor, and the French Government had felt con
strained to order him out Of port. Yet there
lay the Kearsarge off the mouth of the harbor;
and, to get out. the Alabama must fight So
she made virtue of necessity, and steamed
out. IL. She chose her own time and distance,
opening fire first, and shortening the distance
at pleasure. If semmes had chosen to lay his
vessel aboard Of the Kearsarge. the maneuver
would have been welcomed. But he found It
enough where he was. l3. The Alabama was
thoroughly riddlsd, disabled and demolished,
and Semmcs was glad to surrender his ship to
save his life, and she went down with her dag
struck. He escaped capture through British
partiality, and Is this hour rightfully Capt.
winslow's prisoner. Tho Deerhound had no
right to steal away with part Of our spoils Of
victory, and did It by deception. ID. Semmes'
pretense that Capt Winslow tried to sink his
craft or her crew after she had surrendered Is
refutcd by the log Of the Deerhound, bis vir-
tual ally. IS. And, as II he had not yet lied
enough, upon reaching England. says one OF
his petty officers In statement to The News,
"Capt. Semmes auxiously asked what the
people Of England thought Of the South; said
hat Slarsry there sristsd but IN name; and
that the North and South would never again
be united"
We never heard this matched but once. and
then In Capt. Marryat's tale, where most In
veterate and immeasurable liar was dying. and.
being warned that the noise he was making was
the death. h.rattle In his throat, gssped out-,.No;
Ihars known man lips sir wesks making
that noise'-and there his voice failed him
forever.