Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-28

GLOBE, mas fesulteu III tHo DNi5
stroying on the ocean q large nulnDer oi'
merchant vessels, and very large Ainouh
of property belonging to the people OF the
United States.
8. That, in addition to this direct injury
the action of these British-built, manned
and armed vessels has had the indirect
effect of driving from the sea a large por-
ton of the commercial marine OF the
United States, and to a corresponding e1-
tent enlarged that of Great Britain, thus
enabling a portion of the British people
to derive and enjoy advantage from the
wrong committed on a friendly nation by
another person. -
Q. That the injuries TINS received by a
country which has sedulously ~endeavored
10 perform all its obligations, owning to
the imperfection of the legal means at
hand to prevent them, as well as the I'M
willingness to seek for more stringent
powers, are of so grave a nature as IN rea-
son and Justice to constitute a valid claim
for reparation and Naturalization.
Mr.. Adams goes into a heightened de-
tail of facts to prove these propositions, es-
pecially in the case of the Alabama. He
then argues the precedent alleged by Earl
Russell to have been established by the
United States during the revolution of the
South American States against Spain and
Portugal, showing that it does not apply
to the present case. He again refers TO
the extraordinary decrease of American
shipping, and concludes as follows;
Thus it is that whatever may be the line
of argument 1 pursue, l am compelled to
return ever to the one conclusion that the
nation that recognizes a Power as a bel
l~igerent before It had built a UeSseb and be
came itself the support of all the belliger-
| ent character it has ever possessed on the
| ocean. must be regarded as responsible for
ali the damage that has resulted from that
cause to the commerce of a power witt
which it was under the most solemn obi
cations to preserve amity and peace.
NO. ".
ram RrssEL's REsPONsE-HE DECLINE
ARBITRATION AND PROPOSES A COMMITS
SION.
On the Both of August Earl Russell sc
in an elaborate reply, stating that it hat
been purposely delayed, but that now, tn,
United States being at peace, and "Mr
Seward recovered from the injuries h
received from an accident and the wound
inflicted by an assassin, and, therefor
able to apply his remarkable powers c
mind to the questions at issue,-the i'm
had arrived for a calm and candid di
c%ussion,
He 'The question than, as 1 un
derstand it, is now reduced to these term;
Whether her Majesty's Government haV
Judged rightly the state of a friendly nj
ton disturbed by a formidable insurre'
ton, and whether they have correctly al
piled the law of nations in respect to the
duties toward that friendly nation"
He lays down the following propOs
. tions:
l. That the instruction had no para
r lei in modern history.
Q .. That while in the spring of lS6
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a blockad
> and Jefferson Davis issued letters
marque, the commander Of the British n
val forces on our coast asked for instru
l tions.
9 3. Desiring to remain. neutral, h
S maiesty's government put that neutrall
in force with "Eairness and ifipartiality
n 5. That the Foreign Enlistment act
intended for the service Of a power at W
It with a friend or ally of her majesty.
+ 6. That the owners of the Alabama su
g ceeded in getting her off to sea on t
IS very morning that the proof against h
Is Voc declared to be complete.
: Z. That the Oreto was begun to
3 built in England, but completed at W
mington.
2 8. That the rams we're seized at Birke
Is head, the Canton or PCmpero convicted
IF Scotland, and that the Rappahannock W
IT forced to take refuge in Calais.
Ie 8. That it is not enough to say that
is Foreign Enlistment act ought to ba
lie been amended, unless it be shown that I
lie amendments would have been efficient.
II 10. That only the most extensive e
g ployment Of spies and informers col
is have prevented the sailing Of the pirat
lie IL. That the Shenandoah was dispatch
lie to other waters, and there made an arm
Of cruiser.
IL. That there exists no ground
ut PREPARATION and Naturalization.
After arguing these points at gr'
length he concludes as follows:
To- In your letter of the 23d of Octob
1863, you were pleased to say that
government of the United States is T0a
to agree to any form of arbitration.
Her Majesty's government has Il
al been led to consider what question col
be put to any sovereign or State to VIII
e, this very great power should be assign
of 1t appears to her Majesty's governm,
es that there are but two questions by VIII
he the claim of compensation could be test
The one is: Have the British governmt
OF acted with due diligence, or, in OF
IS words, with good faith and honesty, in
1T maintenance of the neutrality they p
claimed2 The other is: Have the ]
I'd officers of the crown properly underst'
III the Foreign Enlistment act when they
clined, in June, 1862, to advise the det
ton and seizure of the Alabama, and
~ other occasions when they were asked
Y detain other ships building or fitting
Nc British ports?
ne 1t appears to her Majesty's governm
that neither of these questions could be
s. to a foreign government NTH any regard
~ the dignity and character Of the Brit
= crotCn and the British nation.
u Her Majesty's government are the
as guardians Of their ou1n honor. They CT
10 not admit that they may have acted W
n. bad faith in maintaining the neutral
they professed. The law officers Of
L. crown must be held to be better interP
ters ofa British statute than any fore
is government can be presumed to be. I
lie Majesty's government must, therefore,
ct cline either to make repdrGtion and CT
IL pensation for the captures made By
/? alabama, or to refer the question to anyt
IN eign State.
Mt Her Maiesty's government conceive
if they were to act otherwise they wOI
enddnger the position Of n~eUtrdLs an all
G. tUTe JCdrS.
Her Msjesty's government are, howeN
" ready to consent to the appointment O
7e commission, to iohich t0iU be referred
ID claims arising during the late civit 10
a 4chich the tlco Poioers shall agree to re
IN to the commissioners.
/ cannot conclude without taking t
u opportunity to ask you to join with
Maiesty's government in rejoicing that
war has ended without any rupture
tween two nations which ought to be C
nected by the closest bonds of amity.
D. Nor is there any question ia dispute t0h
seems likely to disturb the friendship Of
er nations, which, the one in Europe and
as other in America, are distinguished
" their love of liberty. Let u two natic
70 therefore. instead of cautious discussio