Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-11
nur ReIa,iops wIth England.

organized Committee Of Arrangements
sur Relations with England.
Several oftkeE English papers the principal |
of which are The Times and Herald, are dis |
cussing the probable course to be pursued |
bv our government in regard to questions
that have sprung up between this country
and Great Britain since the war has COM
menced, especially that pertaining TO the
damages inflicted by the Alabama on our
commerce The Times hints very plainly
that the time to settle is psOaO, 50 that if
worEe comes 70 worst, advantage could be
taken of our apparently exhausted .condi-
tion, caused by our present war. This sug-
Restion of the Times is rather unchivalrous,
t. say the least, but it is one perfectly in
keeping with the traditional character Of
John Bull.
Undoubtedly, the policy our Government
will pursue will be announced in due time.
This much, our English friends may rest
assured Of, our Government will do. It
will consider the justice of its demands
thoroughly, pursue liberal policy in the
premises, and only ask that which is right
and Just, and no mora. After our reason
able demands are made, the responsibility
of de.iding the question of peace or war
will then rest entirely with the British
Government. The American people viii
request that England will do what is right,
and our Government will be obliged to en-
force its demands if necessary. All that
needs to be done TO preserve peace is for
our EngHsh friends to stop indulging in
the pleasing illusion that "Britsnnia Rules
the Waves" and be as prompt in doing
that which is right as our Government was
in adjusting the Trent sffair.
The question whether England should
pay for the damages inflicted by the Ala
bams, abuilt Of English oak, fitted in an
English port armed with English guns,
manned with EOglish sesmen and English
gunners, drilled on board of Her Msjesty's
practice ship the Excellent" and sunk by
the American ship Kesrssge, of equal ton
mage, can be easily disposed of by an
ordinarily parallel case, which is settled
by the same law in every country in the
civilized world. The case is simply this
II q person owns vicious dog, and allows
him TO escape and commit depredations
upon & neighboring flock of sheep, who
loses the value of the sheep-the owner or
the dogs master Not court of justice
exists in the world but would decide that
the owner Of the dog should pay the dam
ages. Upon precisely the Same principle
England shOnld pay every cent Of the
damages done TO our commerce by the Al
sbsma. While she was being fitted out,
or Minister at the Court of St. James, Mr..
Adams, notified Lord John Russell that
she was being built to do service as a rebel
privatesr. His Lordship, with the air of
Dogberry, demanded evidence to that effect,
and declined TO interfere. Two months
afterwards, Mr.. Adams laid satisfactory
evidence before his lordship. Instead Of
acting promptly in the matter his Iordship
delayed two days before sending dispatch
ordering the ship to be detained. The dis
patch was received one hour after the
sailing of the Alabama. The whole thing
looks as though Lord Russell purposely
delayed sending the dispatch in order that
the Alabama might be allowed TO escape,
knowing that the panic she would create
among American merchantmen would |
have the effect of throwing the American
carrying trade into British bottoms.
In direct contrast with the suspiciously
procrastinsting course Of Lord Russell in |
the mstter Of the escape of the Alabama,
we will refer with pride to the prompt and
highly honorable action Of our government
in precisely similar case during the Cri-
mean war. The fscts are these. In 1855 |
the British Minister, Sir John Champion,
notified our government that the bsrque
Msury was being fitted out in the hsrbor of |
New York as q private er, to prey upon the
British commerce under the Russian flag.
Our Secretary os State, the late William L |
Marcy, Immediately telegraphed to New
York ordering the detention of the Maury,
and then courteously requested Mr..
Champion to produce the evidence. After
examining into the matter, the British |
Minister candidly admitted that he was
misinformed; the bsrque was released and
that ended the matter.
That was the way our Government lived
up to its international obligations. Now
any fair mind can see that the question of
the British Government reimbursing our
ship-owners for damages inflicted by the
Alabama is one Of honor as well as Of ma
ked justice. 1t cannot be expected that
one side should live up to its international
obligations, as our Government did in the
case of the Maury, while the other side
should shirk from its obligation, as the
English did in the case of the Alsbams,
without sacrificing national honor.
The Eurrender Of Gen. Lee and his {
Army OF $4,000 Troops
One of the most grand spectscles known :
to history is undoubtedly the surrender of
that consummate rebel General, Robert Z.
L.