New-York daily tribune., 1865-10-26

cent by individuals in this country 70 vessels on
the high seas II must not be forgotten that the GOy-
ernment AMI courts Of the United States have always
upheld the legality OF TINS traffic on tne ,ntlset o'
certain memorials Of British subjects sent TO the Secre'
tary Of State OF the United States during the Revolu
tionary War Mr.. Jefferson says: We have answered
that citizens have always been free TO maze send
export arms; that II IL the constant Occupation au
livelihood of some Of them. To suppress their oallngs
the only mc6ns perhaps Of their subsistence because
exists IN foreign and distant countries with which
we have concern, would hardly be expected. IL
would be hard in principle and impossible IN practice
"This be il recollected. was Doi the opinion Of Mr.
Jefferson aOne he wrote BY the direction Of General
then President Washington"
The letter concludes AZ follows:
"The question then really comes to this--Is Her
Majestys Government to assume or be liable to re-
spoDsiblity for conduct which Her Majesy's Govern
nent did all in their power TO prevent and TO pnnsh
possibility which Mr.. Adams, the part Of the
ed States Goyern,nent in the case OF the Portugal
positive firmly. and justly declined.
Have you considered 10 what this responsibility
would amOnBt'
Great Britain would become thereby answerable for
every ship that may have left British port and have
been found sftorward used by the Confederates as
ship.Cfwari nay more for every cannon and every
muske! used by the ConfedefGtes on board any shof
war # manufactured in British workshop"
So oHD AETTER PROM Mr.. .ADAMs-KEcA APITULATIoS
OF TIE AMERICAN GRIEVANCES.
On May 20 Mr.. Adams replies and contends that
Earl Russell has widened the area Of discussion ny
Adams therefore recapitulates tie points which he
wished specially TO bring under Earl Russes notice;
"It was my wish to maintain
~. That the sct Of recognition by Her Majettys
Government Of insurgents as bohgerents on the high
seas before they had single vessel afoat was prccip
tate and unprecedented.
- That il had the effect Of creating these parties
belligeronts after the recognition instead OF merely
acknowledging an existing fact
80. That this creation has been since effected e1
cusvelv from ihe ports Of Her Maesv's Kingdom aud
iis dependencies, with the aid and cooperation OF hcr
Majesty's subjects
- That dniing the whole conrse OF the struggle in
America, Of nearly four years In duration there has
been 10 appearance OF the insurgents az begerenf on
the ocean excepting IN the shape Of British vessels
constructed equipped, supplied manned ana armed III
British ports.
"5 That during the period II has been the con-
slant and persistent eDdcavor of my Government to re-
monsrate in every possible form against tins abuse OF
the neutrality Of this Kingdom and TO call upon Her
Msestys Government ~ exercise the necessary powers
20 put an effective stop to IT.
- That altsough the desire Of Her Majesty Minis
teYs themselves In the suppression OF these
abuses IL freely acknowledged the efforts which they
made proved in great degree poweriess from tue IT,
efficiency Of the law which they relied. and fom tie
absolute refusal, when solicited, 10 procure additional
powers TO attain the object.
"7 Tbs. by reason OF the flilure to check this fs.
grant abuse oneutaty the issue from British pofs OF
number Of British vessels with the aid Of the Tecog
milton OF their beieerent character In all the ports OF
Her Maiestys dependencies around the globe has re-
suited in the burning and destruction on the ocean o
large number of merchant vessels and very large
amount of property belonging TO tho people of the
United States.
"s That in addition to this direct injury the actio
OF these British built. manned and armed vessels hs
portion Of the commercial marine of tho nisd States
and TO corresponding extent eDlarging that of Great
Britain. thus enabling one portion OF the British people
TO derive an unjust advantage from the wrong CON-
miited on friendly nation by another portion.
''s: That the injuries thus received by country
which has meanwhile seduously endeavored perform
all its cations owing the imperecton Of the legal
means at hand prevent them. well the unwill
ingness to seek for more stringent powers are OF sol
grave nature in and justice 10 constitute al
valid claim for reparation and indemnifcation"
After having gone into heightened detail Of facts to
prove these propositions especially in the Of the
Alabama, Mr.. Adams. turning TO the prece,en.s of
Spain and Portugal, quoted by Earl Russell, says;
THE first remark that / would pray permission toI
submit in connection with this view OF the subject s
this: That even If II were true that the Goyernment
of the United States had half century since refused
to recognize the Just cnims Of other Powers for damage
done by Of their omission 20 prevent the abuse
of their neutral ports to the commerce Of those Powers
II could IN no degree change the nature OF any subse.
quent omission neglect committed by other Powers
al this dav Ii rs principle OF morals too thoroughly
known 10 lordshp to require my dwelling upon ~
for moment that the wrong dong oi one party car.
not be cited in justification OF repetition OF the act by
another Surely II the United States Government had
ventured upon declaring what was once known az
naper blockade of the whole Southern coast Her Ma
esty's Government wond not have been content 10 be
told that such the acknowledged practice Of Great
Britain many years ago. Neither would IT have been
better satisfied If the United States had resored to the
press gangs in the outset Of the war 10 fill their ships
with British subjects forced against their will 10 fight
their own cOuntrymen in the Aabamas, Floridas and
Shenandoahs, and Tallahassee depredating on the
ocean, to be told. in answer TO their remonHrences
that inst such the treatment Americans eSpe-
rienced at the hands Of Great Britain prior to the
81 Sf isi: lsls'
Mr. Adams then goes into the particular eases quoted
by Earl Russell and with respect 70 tbe case OF npan
shows that The United States Government agreed
entirely to the proposal for settlement MADE by me
Government OF Spain. As 10 the sympathy oil inc
United states people with ne o
stances wholly analogous 70 those nndef discus
sion bat he adds that the whole power OF the United
States In that case applied 70 preventing e5pedi
tions leaving for the soppo Of the revoutonists As
to Portugal, the facts ninutely narrated and MI
Adams thus comments upon them; So
"The Government bad not only nterany done AL IN
its power under existing laws TO prevent these viola
tions Of neutrality but had. at the request Of the
Envoy himself procured the adoption by Congress OF
new and nore stringent STATUE oure!, uhuei suon
circumstances nothing more could reasonably be er
pected oft.
euese Mnigter himself So well satisfied was he with
The nractjcaI operation OF this law in checking these
entarprsos that at the moment when 1t was about 70
exnr by its limitation or two years. on The fth OF
February lslg he more came forward " express
ria anYet, aboat losing it, and addressed an earnest
W the United States Government 10 Sc
cure an ertention o! the term The reply was 10 the
effect that it had not only been incorporated mo he"
and I'M proved form. bat was made permanent .
The nited States In that affair had done All IL cOnd
and bad Her Majestys Government summary hc'9d "a
this case the argument Of Ear kusse eouo no, nave
heen resisted But their conduct was diamericaly op
nosjte They had refused to reconsider the erstlng
laws with a view 20 their amendment but hah resolved
%, ,siy unon them as sufficient. Mr.. Adams freely &C
A A. H. hata Z.