The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-20

States of the Southern Continent for
the restitution OF captured property.
And IN many cases restitution was had.
The main point, however, is that in no
case did u Government complain Of
being asked TO perform the duties of a
strict neutrality. In no case did the
United States Executive refuse to re-
spond to the appeals Of the agrr:eved
Government-tO the extent even Of
asking from Congress additional pow
ers for the suppression of expeditions
and schemes IN violation of our obi
cations as Deutrals. Thus, when It
came to the knowledge of the Pie /
dent, in 1917, that Galveston and other
Southern ports-not then within the
jurisdiction of the United States-were
being used for the outfitOf piraIical ex-
pediiions by American citizens, Nj.
Monroe in his message to Congress de
clared that the immediate tendency
of suffering such armaments, in de-
fiance of our laws, would have been 10
embroil the United States with all the
nations whose commerce with our cOun-
try was suffering under these depTadG,
tons and if not checked by all the
means in the power Of the Government,
would have authorized claims from the
subjects of foreign governments for in
IDENTITIES at the expense of this nation,
for captures of vessels fitted out in our
ports, and, as could not fail of being al
| legged, c-ountensnced by the very neg
lect of the necessary means Of suppress
ing them
In less than a year the obnoxious
ports were shut up, 50 far as their pi-
ratical facilities extended How vas il
with Nassau, Liverpool, Halifax, Mel
bourne and other ports, where, all
through the war, and for several months
after its close piratieal craft fitted out
solely by British subjects and by means
of British capital, found abundant re
fuge2
On a variety of matters of simple
historical statement, Lord Russell, be-
fore retiring from his post of Foreign
Secretary, lays himself open TO criti-
cism 10 = degree which it is evidently
painful for Mr.. Adams to expose. Thus,
for instance, Lord Russell had loudly
affirmed that, for ten years, all the pro
visions of our laws recommended by
the Executive and carried through Con-
gress with the view of fulfilling our OBJ
Geations as ~neutrals had failed from
1918 to lS2S, and that the complaints
of Portuguese Ministers were Is fire.,
ouent during the whole OF that decade
as between lSl6 and 1878. To this i'll
considered aVerment, which was based
on 8 dispatch of nc authenticity, Mr.
Adams replies by quoting from a dis,
patch of the Minister Of Portugal Of
February, 1878, in which the Minister
of that country says.
This law, THAT recommended by the
President,) so honorable to the spirit
of Justice of the government that en-
acted it. has also been found in prac-
tee the most useful Of the laws exist
ing On this subject. Unhappily the
continuance and recent a-ggravations OF
the evils It was intended TO remedy
seem to render it necessary that this
law NAV still continue in force for oEe
time. apply, therefore, to this gov
eminent, IN order 10 obtain the cOntin-
nance of this law, so necessary to the
peaceful trade Of the subjects o. my
Sovereign, Rpd so honorable to the
character of the United States, perfect
ly confident that nay request is accord
ing TO the Just and friendly intentions
of the Chief Magistrate and Legislators
of the Union, and conducive to the con-
solidation Of good harmony between
my Sovereign aud the United States.
A wear later the MiniG.er of Portugal
again writes rs follows:
'"Permit me, Sir, to profit OF this oc-
casion 10 offer NY thanks to this gov-
eminent for the Law that prohibits the
.-E .rsvoFa.wa IN shA urnaf I'M
| nortaut ports of the Union, and for
, the other that declares piracy the land
I ing and committing outrages ashore IN
foreign lands acknowledge the saiu
; tary influence of the Executive IN Oh
tanning these ameliorations.
So much for Lord Russells positive
| assertion that for ten years from ISIS
p TO lS2S) our lsws were utterly inetfica
| cious to prevent the Citing out Of priva-
; teers
The point, however. on which AF.
! Adams has most effectually disposed OF
Lord Russell's defence Of the neutral
tendency of the policy and practice
! carried out bv the Queens Government
! throughout the war is that wherein our
. Minister brings his Lordship 20 book
on the amendment Of existing laws
We cannot refrain from quoting tex
tually from this portion Of Mr. Adams
reioinder
THE suggestion which his Lordship
has been pleased 10 make toward the
close of his tote of Improvements in
p the statutes Of both nations, 10 the end
that greater security may be given 90
p the respective nations against those
who endearor 20 eyade its laws, though
il appears 10 NE TO be in substance lt-
tie more than il hiss been the object Of
my Government from the outset Of the
war, 20 obtain, Is yet one which ! can
not but receive with great respect and
: which I shGll transmit 10 my Govern
ment with pleasure 10 the reasons for
il are sound now, ] am at a loss 10 per
ceiye why they did not avail during a
: period when my country could have
D felt the benefit Of them
From the whole bearing OF the arCu
ment the public here is naturally pre-
pared for the conclusion that on the
{ side Of the Queen Government Lord
{ Clarendon declines further to continue
e g. aud that on Gu. side, Mr. Adams
Z announces that the proposition Of
p Her Majesty Government f0r "a Usg-
tao e. "a saHt commission IS rcSua-fl.iU
dacfsa The tone and demeanor of
r Mr.. Adams throughout the cores
ponderc, r,fects the utmost credit on
his temper and good ens Whatever
! may be the upshoJ we have the salts
faction OF knowing that our case has
been put before the world in a way
which will bear lie test as wei Of has
p toric precedent, As OF whatever interna-
! tiOnsl complications may arse in the
future lf e are 10 be losers for the
moment our Losses are purely 9tTisl
and may be covered by so much gold
? We gain for ali time hereafter in na-
, Goual influence, aud in the ability 70
command and enforce respect whether
our position shall be that Of neutrals or
bellsgerents-A J. TiwSG
A dispatch from Washington, on the
authority OF private but trustworthy