The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-07
Capt Semmes, of the Alabama, and the
ms British Government,

The celebrated pirate, Capt. Semmes, occu-
pies nearly three columns of the London Times
in trying to convince the British Government
that the so called confederate states have been
much wronged by not allowing them to bring
their captured vessels into English ports, so
that this pirate aud his crew might get prize
money. This pirate Captain attempts TO jus
tify the burning of his prizes on the ground
that their own ports were blockaded, and the
British government would not open theirs to
his vessels. Aud he asks in this view Of the
case, Was ii expected that should abandon
the right ofcapture altogether? or that would
be guilty of the chiId's play of capturing the
enemy's ships with one hand, aud releasing
them with the other?" No, he could not be
guilty of such folly, and thinks the Queens
government very foolish in supposing that he
would quit the high seas and leave the enemy
TO pursue his commerce. He ran the blockade
at New Orleans early in the war as captain of
the steamer Sumter, and since that time he has
done great amount of mischief, aud destroy
ed many vessels and cargoes. He seems to be
somewhat tired of this course because it don't
pay, and now desires a chance to carry his
prizes into neutral ports, that he and his pirat-
ical crew may make some money out of his
depredations upon our commerce.
The document published Ia the Times is
very elaborate, and shows the writer, whoever
he may be, to be both able and learned. He
has made the most OF his case, and we suspect
some English lawyer wrote the article for this
pirate captain, and received his pay for his la
Dor. The writer had before him baltimore
ani Wheaton, and prepared the appeal to the
British Government with great elaboration,
and used all the authorities and logic at his
command. 1t is quite an able paper, but it
fails to convince even the editor of the Times,
who, we feel quite sure, is, at least, half will
ing TO be convinced.
That our readers may see the humor in which
this pirate, or his lawyer, writes, we insert the
closing part OF this document lie says;
"And viii it be less graceful In Great Brit
ain 10 perform this act OF justice because one
ofthe parties In the forum is struggling against
odds, while the other has become ovesbearing
nay, truculent and defiant, from fancied
excess OF brute strength? IL is never safe for
a nation, any more than an individual, to tenn
porize, especially with bully, and at the cost
ofinjustice TO weaker party. Great Britain
innocentiy fancies that she Is "laying up
against a rainy day"-that is to say, that she is
conciliating the universal Yankee nation by
her present one-sided course, and establishing
wise and safe precedents TO be followed by that
people hereafter when she shall herself be come
q beiligerent. But | warn her that il Is all
fancy, aud that she viii reap ibe reward of her
fimidffv in ha IA al wav ha
OF nations always inviting further insult and
outrage. A people who have become so lu-
natic as to destroy constitutional Govern
ment and voluntarily submit their necks to the
yoke of a coarse and illiterate tyraDt for the
sake Of butchering, In qualification of their re-
venge, eight millions OF their former fellow
citizens, will hardly permit themselves to be
ruled by English precedents, TO be calmly quo
ted TO them by some future. peace-loving Earl
Russell from ponderous blue-books."
II will be perceived by the above that lie
slightly bullies the English government, ard
greatly ISLANDERS our administration. 1t is much
70 be regretted that the rascal could not be
captured and hung upon the yard arm of bis
own piratical craft. He deserves such fate,
and his master, JEFF. Davis, ought to be sus-
pended at the other end. We believe the lib
erty-loving people of the whole civilized world
would rejoice at such a demonstration.
IL would seem from the general tenor ofthis
appeal and its earnestness, that Capt. Semmes
is apprehensive that the rebellion may collapse
before long, and deprive him of the chance of
filling his Golfers with the needfu. 1t would
be very convenient for this pirate to have the
Queens government repeal their Orders in
Council, passed June /, 1861, so that Rebellion
might have Prize Courts of its own, sitting in
Charleston or Savannah, whose prizes, con
structively IN their custody are la fact living
safely in the Mercy or the Thames This or
der in Council did cut away the prime induce
ment to privateering, and of this Semmes Bit
terly complains. Being compelled TO burn his
prizes, this robber on the high seas finds, no
doubt, his employment quite Improbable, and
he and his crew will be without funds when
the war is over. This want Of funds now great
ly embarrasses him in pursuing his piratical
course, and hence his great anxiety to have
the British government clear away the obstruc-
tions TO more profitable career. But he is
destined to disappointment as we trust and be-
lieve.
The Times devotes more than column to
comments ON this argument and appeal Of
Semmes. The editor endeavors to steer his
course between the contending parties, and
preserve a sort of independence OF both. These
comments are pot manly, and the evidence
crops out occasionally that he would not "pre-