The Portland daily press., 1865-11-22
The Shenandoah.

D. . 2. p 81 D.. D. 81 n
The arrival of the pirate Shenandoah in
the Mersey has been announced. A dispatch
dated the 7th at Liverpool, says @the ,Shenan-
"doah is closely watched by the gunboat
"Goshawk, Lieutenant Cheek. Captain Wad-
"dell, his officers an3, crew all remain on
''board, and no attempt at an escape has been
"made. 1t appears that Captain Waddel
"has in his possession large amount of
'money and valuables, including number of
thermometers, which he is anxious to deliver
cup, considering that they are now the proper
''ty Of the United States Government"
The London Times speaks of the position Of
the officers and crew Of the pirate vessel, in a
way that shows it regards them as very un-
comfortable elephant on the hands of the
English Government. 1t says:
"What, then, is this position, and what con-
sequences does the fact of their having carried
on the war for months after the fall of the
ConfederacY entail upon Capt. Waddell and
his associates? These are two very different
questions ofvery unequal difficulty. 1t is
much TO be regretted that either of them has
been raised in this country instead of in
America, and that no Federal man of war
succeeded IN capturing the Shenandoah before
she cast herself, as it were, upon our mercy.
Having been raised, however, both issues
must be honestly faced, and we may be sure
that, whatever it may involve, strict Justice will
be done by the government and. tribunals of
England"
In relation to the proper disposal Of the,
vessel the Times seems to be free from doubt.
On this point it declares itself as iollows:y n
"With regard to the Shenandoah herself we
apprehend that little hesitation can he felt,
On every principle Of law she belongs to that
government which has succeeded to all fbe
rights and all the property of the de fdct0
confederate government, This doctrine is
lad down very clearly by Vite-Chancellor
rage wood in the decision which has been so
much criticised of ate in America but in
1rutn, II is scarcely more than rule of COM
mon sense"
Later news from England states that the,
shenandoah has been surrendered to the off
Gals of the United States. AAMQGOW
The Times doubts Capt. Waddelps state.
ment, that he did not hear Of. the close of tho
war I'LL August, says the statement is expressly
nesanved by accounts from California. derived
from 1he testimony Of persons belonging to
ships he had destroyed, and says:
we nave their positive assurance that CAM
Wadoeli was told of all that had haDnened b~
some oi hS prisoners but refused to credit i
How it could otherwise have b tnern authority
his knowledge, or how he could ern oacsn n 10
csive an intmation OF it from an Office VI re-
if it were true no longer existed Il is fo WHEN
to explain, for by refusing to ACCEPT snn nun nn
tice he certainly took on himself all The no 10
sponsibility Of his subsequent acts. WHY AID
he not at least run into the nearest neutral
ha:bor to verify report which, unless false.
so gravely compromised his further proceed
ings? 1t is possible that good answer may
be given to these questions, but we must re-
peat tina: the onus proba3ldi lies entirely on
capt. Wadlefs side. All the world knew and
believed the news which he rejected, and
winch was not so improbable in itself as by
ANY my means to Justify his obstinate scepticism.
There is an old saying about none being so
oil if