Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-11-02
The Rebel privateer Question.


The Rebel Privateer Question.
We have the following additional news by
the steamer Hibcrnian, in regard to the COR
respondcnce between the American Minister
and Earl Russell, which was published in the
London Gazette of the l tn inst.
The correspondence begins with a letter
from Minister Adams, dated the 7th of April
last, in which he calls the attention of Earl
Russell to the official reports respecting the
ravages of the Shenandoah, and announces
that for the damages caused by such cruisers
his Government cannot avoid entailing the re-
sponsibility upon Great Britain.
TIE reply of Earl Russell Is dated May 18th.
He says that the duties of Great Britain to-
ward the United States are not measured by
the losses which the commerce of the latter
may have sustained. The question is simply
whether the Queens Government have faith
fully and honestly performed the duties which
international laws aud their own municipal
laws imposed upon them.
The reply of Mr.. Adams is dated May 4th.
He says that the incurgent, became belliger-
ent on the ocean solely by reason Of the ia
ciliics furnished in Her Majesty's ports for
them to do so. He complains Of the secret
sympathy of Her Majesty's officers in the port
of Liverpool, and contends that, after the in
formation which he supplied respecting tho
Alabama, it was by the fagrant negligence Of
Her Majcsty's Board of Customs that this
vessel, admitted to be intended for war pur-
poses, was suffered to depart for Liverpool.
An interval of three months elapsed be-
tween the above letter and Earl Russelrs
reply to it.
In response Earl Russell proceeds to justi-
| fy the course of Her Majesty's Government
in recognizing the belligerents, and reasons
are given why there was extreme difficulty in
giving orders to exclude from British ports
vessels of war partly fitted up in the United
Kingdom.
A very important point Is referred to in
this letter Earl Russell notices a statement
in letter from Mr. Adams, in 1868, as to
the Government of Washington being ready
to refer these disputes to arbitration.
Earl Russell declines this offer, and says
it is question, in the first place, whether the
Queens Government have acted in good faith
in maintaining their neutrality; and, in the
second place, whether the law officers of the
crown have correctly interpreted British
statute.
Earl Russell continucs:-"The Queens
Government can refer neither of these quef.
tions to arbitration" The words used by him
are as follows; e.
Her Majcstys Government are the sole guar
dians of their honor. They cannot admit
they have acted with bad faith in maintain
ing the neutrality they have professed. The
law officers Of the Crown must be held to
be better Interpreters of British statute than
any foreign government can be presumed to
be- Her Maiesty's Government must there
fore decline to make reparation land compei-
sation for captures made by the Alabama, or
to refer the question to any foreign State
Her Maicstys Government conceives that il
they were to act otherwise they would en-
danger the position of ncutrals in all future
wars. Her Majesty Government are, how
ever, ready to consent to the appointment OF
a commission; to which shall be referred all
claims arising during the late civil war, which
the two Powers shall agree to refer to tho
commissioners t1
The reply of Mr.. Adams is dated the 18th
of September, and is very serious in its tone.
Mr. Adams considers that there is now no
! dispute as to the fact that the recognition OF
the South us bclligercnts was such an act as
: was never done by one nation cowards anoth-
er in state of amity. lie charges the Brit
ish Government with having acted without
knowledge, and upon mere presumption, In
assuming that the evidence Of the blockade OF
the Southern ports was imperfect. &.
The blockade, he says, was the conse-
S qucnce. not the cause of British policy. He
: thinks that the only excuse for the British
Government is that its conduct was precipi-
{ tate He then intimates that if the doctrines
a and practices of the British Government are
n allowed to become the rule, the United States
u will not be the greatest losers thereby.
Mr. Adams does not appear to think that
the proposal of Earl Russell, to refer the ques'
, tiors in dispute to a commission, will be ac-
J. ceptcd by the United States Government.
The Times and Post are silent on the cor.
re The Duly Nems says. Besides the magni
+ tude of the questions affecting neutrals. th'
y matters in dispute are closely conhected Will
CT the maintenance of friendly relations between
ie England and America.
I'd The Star, in referring to the escape Of tn
a. Alabama from England, remarks, there ma,
perhaps be negligence without such gros
CT culpabiiity rs to render us liable for all tht
damages which the escaped privateers sperpe
C. trated But, flour views on these question
n should differ from those of the United States
m u and they should insist as pcremptorily upo
ie their claims as we upon our denial of rcspon
or sbility, wha. then =? Are we to run the ris
IN of rupture rather than consent 10 arbitrator
~ The Star awaits the instructions from Il
lie United States Government with much apprt
De- hension, and dares not to say what the effe
q will have upon the temper Of England, n
ld' what disastrous disturbance of the friend
ier relations between the two countries may n
ers result from deliberate attempt to apprai
IN losses caused by Confederate cruisers ups
ap- England, and to exact payment for them.
i7s GovExoR ANDREW has accepted the Pre-
,ro dency ofa company designed to aid in re'