New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-23
The Alabama Correspondence.

One Of the morning papers publishes part ol
The Alabama correspondence II begins with q
letter from Mr. Adams, the American Minister 10 Earl
Russell transmitting Capt. Wiuslows report oi the
sinking OF the Alabama and lt o! those 81 her crew
who we're saved by the DecThoand 10 tiis Bari Nus
sell replies Jnstliyng the conduct ri Mr. Lancaster III
reaching the droW ming Of the Alabama and decar
ing that il does not appear 10 him 10 be the duty 81
neutral make prisoners Of war for one OF the bcgcr.
enis. Neit comes II letter from Mr.. Lancaster IN
WLich he repudiaes charge % completely between has
yach the Dcerhuund and the Alabama, and declares
that he lad the warrant of Capt Winsow to save the
Alabamas crew from dros nIng. Then. after TIE
American official account Of tho action, We have mon
imIor ant l-pateh from Mr. Adams Ia Earl Russell.
raising tie question whether the men ~ saved by the
erhound were not lawful prizes OF war 10 the kear
sarge and demanded that they he given up as such In
hi, dispatch Mr. Adams fgocs beyond the immediate
ques He remarks upon the building and equipment
! Of the Alabama In an English port, and asks with
earestness Of her Macstys Government that 1t Should
adopt such MEASURES rs may be elective 10 pre-.
vent the preparation. equipment. and onitt OF
anv further naval expedition from british shores to
make war against Tie United States. at This point
the correspondence becomes serious. Earl Russell
takes time 10 consider hs reply; reply which will be
read with satisfaction than most Of his ordshp
dispatches. II is clear temperate decisive or course
there s the customary snap but TINS time II IS excu-
sable though sharp enough His iordshlp VIII not re-
peat arguments already exhausted; he will content
himself with stating tie conclusions at which Her
Maiesty's Government have arrived land which differ
from those your Government have come 10 nom the
same facts" II Is undoubtedly true. says bis lordship,
port But the hand of the law could be laid
upon her. orders given that sbe should b. seized
She escaped from British waters IN state OF half
equipment under pretense Of making trial trlp Her
equipment wa. aierward completed in foreign port,
and there she was delivered 10 her COMMANDER an
/ merican citizen. Mr.. Adamss letter being disposed
Of thus for. Earl Russell declares himself with admi-
rabie breyy upon the question more Immediately IN
dispute;
~ have t. state that it appears TO her Meiesiys
Government that the commander of the private British
] q .h iu anvil tr.m Al
Of ihe officers and crew Of the Alablmn, after ihat
vessel had snnk performed preisoHofthy act on hl'
manly TO which, moreover, he bad been exhortcd by
the officer commanding tue hearsarge 10 which vessel
the Deerhound had IN the hrs instance gone IN order
to offer to the Kearsarge any assistance which. after
her action with the Aabsmi sne mg stand m need
Of; and II further appears To her Mhlestyr Govcrn-
ment that under all the Circumstances OF the case Mr.
Lancaster not nhdcr any obligation Ia deliver 10
whom be had rescued from the waves. But however
that may be with regard 10 the demand mace Dy YOU
by Instructions from your Government; thht tnose
officers and men shond now be delivered up To the
Government Of the uDiied States AS being escaped
prisoners Of war. her Majesty's Government Would
beg to observe that there IL obligation by inter
national law which can bind the Government of n
neutral State Ia deliver up bellgcrent prisoners OF
war who may have escaped from the power of such
bclligerent, aud may have taken refuge within the
territory If such neutral. Therefore, even II her
Majcstys Government had any power by law to com
ply with the aforementioned demand, her Majesty
Government could not do 80 without being guiiiy oil u
violation of the duties Of hospitality"
/ Earl Russell goes on to assure MI Adams that the
British Government
Have adopted and will continue 10 adopt to the
utmost Of their lawful power, such measures as may be
effective prevent the preparation, equipment and
outfit of any naval expedition from British shores to
make war against the United States. The detention
and seizure OF the Birkenhead nclads aud the dis
EMISSIONS In Parliament on that subject suffice to show
that if peie prevention las not been obtained all
thai the of this free country do 10 stop
expeditions has been fully performed"
So fan ais we'll Lord Russell may not have pleased
the American Government but there is nothing IN all
this to rouse" them that was to be done in the fnal
paragraph. Earl Russell
"Cannot refran from observing that her Majesty Is
Government have been far successful in prevent.
ing breaches Of neutrality with regard 10 the lifting out
Of cruisers 10 take part in tho evil war IN North
America than the Government of the United States
were In preventing the hitting Out Of ships OF war " aid