Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-07-07

course, these defendants throughout insisted and still
Insist that they were guilty OF violation OF the law
and no arrangement made with them which emit Ties
any to say that they guilty of any ouch viola
ton. With regard to the next question: my answer s
that of such Combination that which it indicates
Was part of the terms of the arrangement The Grown
was not prosecuting for misdemeanor 1t was
only proceedings agansthe ships AS regards the ques
ton of the claim for compensation for the seizure,
can only say that it is quite impossible that any such
claim can be made the footing which the arrange
ment proceeded may add, in reply to the last qQes
tlon that hope it will not be found necessary to pro
pose any new Legislation The subj CT The Government
confidently trust that all Parties will profit by what has
taken place, and that there may be no occasion for
further Legislation or prosecutions bu undoubtedly
the Government are much prepared and determined
to maintain the law they understand and still
understand it to be- If ary future infraction of it should
be attempted. They do not, may further observe
think that this arrangement will operate as premium
to shipbuilders to speculate in building vessels of
tor beIrgerens because the parties to the arrangement
have represented and the Cove nment have no reason
to doubt the bona des of the rep esenatou that If the
ships were entirely under their control they would
be able to bring them to more profitable market and
to obtain for them larger price than the Governmen
consented 10 give. The price demanded by the
was 30O00Ol. The price, they stand, was fixed by
the vouer for the Admiralty at 100 COOL and for their
completion IN all respects further sum OF $4,000.
will be required.
Perhaps the Solicitor General thinks that anything
is fair sin love and law, and that he was doing more
than his duty to his clients 1.-THE Gov ernment) 10 making
such statement in the Court of Excbequer left the
impression that the of the admitted he was
E the wrong and allowed verdict to be taken for the
Crown and which is utterly false. Such view, how
ever will not be endorsed by honorable profession
and doubt not the Soicior-Genera is convinced By
this time that his zeal has lead him into error. We
hope that the assertion CT the AtorneyG2Beral that
Lit the case had gone trial. to say the least of it, po
itital feeling might exercise influence the result
Is altogether uGwaranted. We canoot forbear TO call
attention to another point. The Atorney-General
said there was no to doubt that If the ships had
been free they could have been taken TO profit
able market What docs this mean I hat the Gov
ernment took advantage OF their power as prosecu-
tors to get the ships for less than their market value
under threats of long and ruinous litigation II the
Government deemed the vessels forfeited, they ought
not to have abandoned the prosecution. If they felt
their too weak to go to trial. they ought to have
paid full price fog the vessels
On tuesday, Lord g. Paget said supplementary es-
innate would be brought forward for the purchase.
money of the steam rams.
On Wednesday Mr.. J IolIemache asked the Attor-
neyGeneral whether the offer to sell The B,kenhead
ronciads at the price of 800 0O0L. was made the
Government by the owners Messrs Bravag or by the
buders Nessrs. Laird He had referred to the report
of what took place n the House Monday evening and
he wished to have it clearly understood by all parties
that the 300 000i not asked by the Messrs Laird
and that they bad control whatever over the actions
of the Messrs. Bravay.
The Attorney General said the cfer was made BY
the gentlemen who represented themselves to be TIT
owners Of the fonclads-the Messrs. Brayay. No suc
proposal emanated from the Messrs. Laird