The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-08

we were able to declare another splendid vic
tory over Lees forces near that place by Grant,
Sheridan, Meade, Wright, Griffin and Hum
phreys. We have also announced the opening
of the fight at Mobile, which is probably con-
Guided by this time, with the capture of that
place; and no doubt in short time we shall
hear of the defeat Of Johnston's army by Sher-
man, who is now closing in on him.
Thus much for the fate of the rebellion on
land. There are one or two remnants OF it still
left at sea, and tho most important Of these
is the iron ram Stonewall, lying in the port Of
Ferrol. Concerning her we publish some news
to-day from our Ccrunna correspondent show
ing that she started out to sea on the 21st OF
March, accompanied by Spanish ffigate, and
that tho Niagara and Sacramento Immediately
got up steam and followed her; but, not liking
the company, the pirate put back So al that
remains Of the rebellion on the ocean was
safely shut up In Spanish port at lastacoounts,
frightened By two wooden national vessels.
With such prospect people may well rejoice.
ri. Relations between England snd the
United states-Earl Russsll's Apology.
The speech which w publish this morning
Of Earl Russell, dslivered in the British House
OF Lords, ON the Esd Of March last, on the policy
Of her Majesty's government towards the United
States during the last four years, is model
plea Of injured innocence, harmless duplicity
and honest neutrality. The hitherto snappish
and supercilious Earl Russell Is becoming ex-
ceedingly affable and gracious. The stern
logic of events, the convincing diplomatic
arguments of the army and navy of the United
States have worked wonders in the British
Foreign Office. Abraham Lincoln must indeed
be hard-hearted "rail splitter" if be can read
Earl Russell's apology unmoved by emotions
Of thankfulness and gratitude, or without being
reminded Of "little story"
The defendant Russell, in his plea for miti-
CATION Of damages, first touching upon the alb
rogation Of the Canadian Reciprocity treaty,
approves the course OF the United States in
this matter, as eminently just and proper. Next,
in reply TO the charge that there was just cause
of offence on the part of this country at the
hot haste in which he proclaimed the "bellige-
rent rights" Of the "so-called Confederate
States" he pleads that the United States as
sumed the position Of belligerent in declar-
ing the coasts Of particular States under a
blockade, and that we had no right or power,
except as q belligerent, to interfere with neu-
traS commerce. If he did not wait the arrival
Of President Lincoln's representative, Mr..
Adams, it was because 1t was thought best to
avoid . troublesome controversy by settling
the question without him. But, Of course, no
offence was intended. On the contrary, the OBJ
ject was to place England as quickly and quiz
city as possible in position Of fair and square
neutrality, by placing the government Of the
United States and the spurious, the wretched,
vagrant, insurrectionary establishment Of JEFF.
Davis on,tAc same footing.
Next, I'm regard to the Trent case, her Majes-
tvs government jumped ct it as favorable
pretext for an alliance with Davis, offensive and
defensive, AMI the demand 81 PREPARATION, though
materially scttcned in its harshest expressions
by our true friend, Prince Albert, deceased, was
still manifestly designed by the British Cabinet
rather to provoke fight than compose QUAR-
rel. The United States was tier supposed to
be in the condition Of dangsrooa fellow caught
at last, with both hands tied, anc our difficulty
was England's opportunity Abraham lincoln,
however, with his ruling maxim Of "ono war at
time, gentlemen" yielded to the demands Of
England in the Trent case; but there was .
public sense Of humiliation IN this thing which
Earl Russells apology does not reach. We
could not accommodate England with q war on
the unequal terms proposed but the offence in
volved In her demand romans In the bill Of her
unsettled accounts.
The fragrant outrage. or that Anglo-rebel
piratical craft, the Alabama, II skinned over
very lightly by Earl Russell. He did what he
could to prevent the departure Of the pirate;
but It 30 happened that he was too late. The
information received fromMr. Adams had to 20
through the circumlocution ONCE, and mean
time the Alabama slipped out TO her incendiary
work on tho high seas. The noble lord who
favors MS with this paltry excuse 10 right in
supposlng that this matter remains to be dis
cussed between the two governments; but he
might have added that its settlement will pro-
baby involve bill Of costs Of some thirty or
forty millions Of dollars. The rebel iron-clsd
rams, subsequently seized and suppressed at
Liverpool, wcrs put ON the stocks when further
experiments In the way Fl furnishing Jen. Davis
an active navy began to wear q look Of danger
to England and her commerce, or, in all proba-
bility, they, too, would have had the benefit Of
her Majesty's Reconsideration Office. But as
those rebel rams were looked after in time to
prevent them doing any mischief we cheerfully
set down their ssizass 70 the credit account Of
Earl Russell.
We likewise concur in his opinion that since
our recovery Of all the Southern seaports
"thcre IL less reason than ever 10 apprehend
the occurrence of hostilities" between the two
countries in reference to the breaking Of the
blockade, the imprisonment Of the crews Of
vessels" and ether questions Of maritime rights;
but vet there is something Of cruelty In the