The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-11-03
OUR CLAIM UPON ENGLAND.
The following is summary of the di-
plomatic correspondence between Mr..
Adams and Earl Russell: sE ~ ,ts4ss-A

/ The following is a summary Of the di-
plomatic correspondence between Mr..
Adams and Earl Russell: sa 30 ,ts4sl-t.
The correspondence begins with letter from
Minister Adams, dated the 9TH 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 govern
ment cannot avoid entailing the responsibility
The reply Of Earl Russell Is dated May 4. He
says that the duties of Great Britain toward 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 faithfully and hon
estly performed the duties which international
laws and their own municipal laws imposed
Tho rejoinder of Mr.. Adams is dated lfsyA
He Gays that the insurgents became belligerents
on the ocean solely BY reason of the facilities
furnished In her 1ajestys ports for then to do
her Majeetys officers in the port Of Liverpool,
and contends that after the Information which
he supplied respecting the Alabama, Il was BY
the fragrant negligence of her Majestys Board
of Customs that this vessel admitted to be In
tended for war purposes, was suffered TO de-
An interval eft three months ELAPSED between
the above letter and Earl Russell's reply to it.
In response Earl Russell proceeds to justify
the course Of her Majestys government In re-
cognizing the belligerents, and reasons are
given why there was extreme difficulty In Civ
ing orders to exclude from Bristish ports YES
sels Of war partly fitted up IN the United
A very important point Is referred to in this
letter. Earl Russell notices statement in Q
letter from Mr.. Adams, in 1868, a. 70 the gov.
eminent in Warrington being wLiing to refer
these disputes to arbitration.
Earl Russell declines this offer, and says h Is
. question, I'M the first place, whether the
Queens government have acted In good faith
In maintaining their neutrality, and II the Sec
ond place. whether the law officers Of the
crown have correctly Interpreted q British
statute. 9!SE9HF 0f ele2Ia iIai3 fN
Earl Russell continues :. The Queens GOV.
eminent can refer neither Of these questions to
arbitradon."o sc .d9esb Z" 1000 ~
y The words used BY him are q follows:
y ,E are the sole sra,
they have acted IN bad faith in maintaining
the neutrality they professed. The law OIL
Gers Of the crown must be held 70 be better In.
terpreters Of British statute than any foreign
government can be presumed to be. Her
Majestye government must therefore, decline
to make PREPARATION and compensation for cap
lures made by the Alabama, or TO refer the
question to any foreign State Her Majestys
government conceive that if they were TO act
otherwise they would endanger the position of
neutrals in all foreign wars. Her Majestyb
government are, however, ready to consent to
the appointment Of a commission, to which
shall be referred all claims arising during the
agree to refer to the commissioners
The reply of Mr.. Adams IL dated Sept 18th,
and Is very serious in its tone. - ,,. !,
MIR. Adams considers there is now no dispute