The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-03-09
THLEGRAPHlC NEWS.
The English Debate on the
Alabama Claims.
French Opposition Vote in Defeat
Of the Government.
ENGLAND.


ENGLAND.
~>>~~~-~~-.~~o~~~c~ooo>
Tho Alabama Claims Debate-speech or MIR.
shaw Lefevre.
LONDON, March 8, 1858.
In the House OF Commons on Friday night on the
order OF the day for going into Committee OF Supply
MI. shaw Lefevre In rising to call attention to the
failure OF negotiations with the United States gov
eminent for arbitration OF the Alabama claims said
that In bringing forward this important subject he
trusted would not be supposed that he desired to
take Q course which would embarrass the future ne
gotations of the noble lord, the Foreign Secretary,
IN his diplomatic correspondence with the govern
ment Of the United States, or which would add to
the complications already existing between the
United States and this country. 1t seemed to him
and to Others however, that some good might arise
from the discussion OF the subject II It were con.
Quoted with candor and a due sense Of RESPONSE
bnity. He would not ask the House to follow him
through q long statement, but there were certain
facts and dates with which he must trouble the
House. The earnest cause OF complaint on the part
OF the United States government arose out OF her
Majestys proclamation Of neutrality, which was
Issued May H. 1851 the advice OF the law officers
OF the Crown. Tie fall Of Fort Sumter took place
on the l4th Of April and generally considered to
be the commencement Of the civil war. Long before
that however, seven Of the Confederate States had
made great preparations for war, and had virtually
separated from the Northern States The fall Of Fort
Sumter was followed two days afterwards by the
proclamation Of President Lincoln calling out 900
men, That was followed by proclamation from the
Confederate States calling out 10000 men, and invt-
ing privateers to apply tor letters OF marquee The
next day President Lincoln proclaimed the blockade
OF the Southern coast, and announced his ntent on
TO treat the Of the privateers pirates These
facts reached this country on the Sd Of May, and
the 4th they were published in the London Times.
although 1t was not till the 10th that an ofncial
copy reached the Foreign once. On the 9th OF May
her Majesty's government announced In this House
that they should recognize the South beligerents
and on the 18th OF May as he had stated the proama
ton Of neutrality was issued by the government The
actual blockade was enforced by the North along the
coast by the end OF April; and from that day for
ward there were In the Prize Courts numerous
OF English vessels captured during the blockade,
and OF vessels OF the Southern States captured on
the high seas. II was not until some time afterward
that the Southern nag made Its appearance II was
the custom Of the American government to talk as
II all the vessels which carried the Confederate nag
had their origin in this country; but there four
cases Of Confederate men-of-war or privateers,
which sailed from Southern ports before any one
was built In this country. The first It is believed,
was vessel called the Sumter, which escaped from
New Orleans and which, after capturing several
prizes Off Cubabput into Trinity the Goth Of July,
1851. That was the first instance In which
the Confederate nag had been recognized by the
government Of this country. Another vessel-the
Nashville-also duly commissioned In a Southern
port afterwards sailed a cruise OF destruction,
and put into English ports at various times. II was
not until the following year that any complaint
made OF vessel being built and equipped in our
ports. In the course OF the winter Of 1872 the
Confederate government sent over here ct an OF
naval offlcers with instructions to buy or build YES
sells Of war, their main object being to embroil US
with the North. They also raised considerable loan,
out OF the proceeds OF which these vessels were to
be paid for. In due course the Oreta or Florida,
was completed by Messrs. Miller Co., OF Liver
pool. The American Minister having made CON-
plant In respect to this vessel inquiries made
and the Collector of Customs, q gentleman who
seemed on all occasions to have been easily misiA1
asserted his belief that she was intended for the
Italian government. She cleared for Palermo, but
she sailed direct for Nassau there underwent some
judicial investigation; then obtained portion Of her
armament and ran the blockade into Mobile whence
In due time she sailed as a vessel OF war; burning
and destroying every federal she fell In with. In his
complaints Of the doings of that vessel Mr. Adams
pointed out that another vessel was being built in
the Messrs. Lairds yard also for the Confederates
The Collector Of Customs on being consulted about
that vessel reported that she obviously intended
for war purposes that her did not deny It, but
that they refused to say for whom. On the 21st Of
July, 1862 afldavis were obtained by the American
Consul throwing light upon her intentions. Among
these was one from Passmore, who stated that he
nad hnpU he ufaip Rn wi mil i'm,
that the vessel was intended to fight the North.
These affidavits the next day Qhe 22d) were also
sent to the Foreign once by Mr.. Adams and on the
23d the solicitor to the American government, Mr.
Syramey, on calling at the Foreign once was In
formed by Mr. Layard that the papers had been sent
on the 22d to the law officers The honorable and
learned member for Richmond tSir r. Palmer. then
Attorney General) had on previous occasion told
them that they only reached him on the 2sth During
that interval they appear to have been LEFT with the
Queens Advocate, who according to the routine OF
the ONCE, would have given his opinion and sent
them on to the Attorney General. Cnfor-
tunately at that very moment the then
Queens Advocate was suffering from q severe
malady, from which 1t was to be feared
he never would recover and the result was that long
delay That fact hitherto had not been stated in this
House. chiefly through the kind reserve OF the honor
able and learned member for Richmond; but as In
conversation between Lord Russell and Mr.. Adams,
reported In the American Official correspondence, the
delay was attributed to that cause and as II was well
known In the States there was no longer any reason
for the reserve On the 2sth the papers reached the
Attorney General, who at once gave his opinion. and
orders were sent the next day to stop the vessel On
the next day. unfortunately before the order arrived
or was executed the builders got wind OF II and
the Alabama got away by strategem, under
the prctence OF o trial trip, without a clear
ance and with party OF ladies and music
on board, but not without great suspicion OF
treachery the cause OF which he believed was freely
spoken OF In Liverpool. She went to Port Lynas
near Beaumaris, where she received part Of her
crew. and then sailed to the Azores, where she was
met by another vessel, from which she obtained the
soaA OF hor man and armament. When Il was dis.