Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-28
DAILY LEADER,
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1855.
nc AdaDs-RHsseII correspondence.
: q what Is the Duty Of Our Government

The Adalns-RHsseI correspondence
iy What Is the Duty of Our GOVerumen
'underG the Circumstances. illfIl
We publish on another page the conden
sation of the diplomatic correspondent,
between Charles Frances Adams tn,
american Minister at Eohdon. and
Earl Russell, British Secretary for For
elga Affairs. From this it will Be SEEN thai
Mr.. Adams has in a most formal manner
made demand on the British Government
for indemnify for damages inflicted by the
capture and burning of American ships by
british-Rebel pirates, built in British ship
yards, fitted cat in British ports. manned
/ BY British crews, armed with Britishscan-
mons served by British gunners, who were
l.sehsoled' on board of her, ,Maiesty's brac-
4ee-sbipthe EGeellenee, and sailed out of
British pcrts with the good-wishes of a
iaFsr majority ofthe British seople.J This
pjust and proper demand has been met with
fiat refusal by Earl Russell-not only a
refusal to pay, but. going so far as TO
refuse the eminently amicable offer to have
the question referred for arbitration TO a
third power, thinking undoubtedly, that
after having passed through an exhaustive.
gigantic war Of over four years duration,
our government would be in no mood for
enforcing its demand m.
Mr.. Adams backed up our Claims bv
the most ccn7incing arguments, show
ing beyond possibility Of doubt the
remtss,1ess of the British Government ~ en-
forcing its own laws aEaiiist the fitting out
of hostile ships TO war against a friendly
power. It's refusal to enact additional laws
for the purpose of more rigidly enf66rcing
its obligation of neutrality, and showing
upiifthe aipst admirable style the Indecent
hssir eyinced by the British Government
IN granting maritime belligerent rights 70 |
q bogus rebel iconfederaey, before it had
4 single armed ship aAcut. .z--T =.
Earl Russell responded by claiming that
his government didall it.c6uld to prevent
the Alabama and other British pirates
from leaving port, that it did even more
to prevent the fitting out Of those pifates
than our government did to prevent armed
ships from leaving American ports to prey
under flags of South American powers
upon Spanish and Portuguese commerce
Turing the wars of those powers against
heir rebellious colonies, and that in grant
ng belligereht rights, her majesty's gov
was justified by the action of the
American government in blockading
he Southern ports, thus acknowledging
hat the rebels were belligerents. He
hen went out of his way to refuse per-
mptorily the proposition made by Mr..
adams some two years ago to leave the
uestion to the arbitration of a third power. t
living as his reason that the honor of his |
overnment would not allow of an appeal S
ROM the decision of the law officer of the
rown to the decision of another governs a
lent, and thenvery eondescendinglyofered .
to consent to the appointment of COM S
Iission, to which will be referred all v
aims arising during the late civil war, 5
hieh the two powers shall agree to refer C
the commissioners" r
Mr.. Adams replied by showing that due Il
otice was served upon his lordship of the ~
ting out of the Alabama for the purpose "
preying upon American commerce; b
at after an unprecedented delay of three "
onths orders were telegraphed to Liver t.
Dol to seize the Alabama, when the ship Ia
I'D already left an hour before. In re- "
lrd to American ships being fitted under "
ie same circumstances under which the a.
labama was fitted out, to prey upon the
e commerce of Spain and Portugal, Mr.
dams very deliberately foored his lord b
.p by informing him that the American r,
,vernment settled with those powers to f,
cir satisfaction, and that that should il
ID that matter. and that he demanded il
at England should likewise settle to the Ii
Of our government, and then h
e sparallel would be perfect. He in n
rmed his lordship that our govepnent u
uld with as much propriety cite British "
'1cedent in the matter of the violation d
our flag by the impressment of seamen,
ON American ships sixty years ago, to
stify the so-called "Trent outrage, as o
e British Government could 60 back 81
'ty years to quote American precedents C
r allowing the Alabama and other v
ritish-Rebel pirates to leave British il
,rts. .sea..., S
Mr. Adams concluded his letter by p
arning Earl Russell of the serious conse- h
fences that would result to English COM il
cree by the general adoption of the II
ritish Interpretation of the law of bel d
gerent rights-that his doctrine will Il
oner or later come home to roost in p
owning street, when in some future
airs, fifty Alabamas may issue from =
me convenient neutral ports, to sweep V
ritish commerce from the ocean.
Mr.. Adams wound up by replying in =
le most admirable manner, in very caus- .
C style, to the hyPecritical congratula- A
ons offered by Lord Russell on the abo- a
ton Of slavery, by saying that he'eannOt ., a.
,rget that his Lordship visited awithal1the :;
verify of his too weigbty censure" the :,
It of emancipation by which that result n
as brought about. R
Mr.. Adams has thus committed our 81
Iovernment to the position Iaud a. just
ne tooj that our claim for damages should
e paid by the British Government. This =
,arl Russell will mot aecede to. He will L
OF agree to leave the equity Of our de- :
land to be decided by third power, and, u
e will not consent to its being left to n
ommissiOn, Judging by his proviso that L
My such claims shah be submitted as the a
wo powers shall agree to leave 10 the a
ecision of commission :
The dispute has now reached a very >
erious phase. Our Government has been h
cry summarily Hsnubbed" in offering
0 submit the question to be arbitrated by
third power. Either we will have to L
Iuietly pocket our losses and accept the a
English doctrine of belligerent rights, and, n
.ome out of the diplomatic contest shorn
l