New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-24
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
AN IMPORTANT SUIT INITIATED.

While the Hon. Rcverdy johnson, our Minis
ter to Eug1nd IL cndeav0rlng 10 obtain satisfactory
settlement OF all tho claims ~ orr citizens against the
British Government for the dcprcdaors of the Alabama
on onr commerce Mcssrs John y. william Cushing ~
New burypoft. Nuss OWBeia ~ tue American slps"Hoh
which burned 1t sea by thc Alabama, nave takrn
tine 10y the iorcoc, and Instead ~ avoiding the Issue
of rcd-tapc negotiations. have inflated sur agHhNi
John Laird, ir Brkcnhcnd. England tho builder hnl
hcrout OF tho Alabama, to recover for tie loss oi their
Tho libel has been Hcd IN the u. s. Dstric Court. IN
Admiralty lor The southern District 81 New l1Fk, Tue
ulty laws, hut for what legally and technically known
on tie libel being fled all TIE Effects OF Laird. the
claimant, found within this District were attached by
The libel alleges that ubclants arc the owners Of the
American ship Sonora that ON tho 10Th ~ December.
CS TO AfyaS in Iifiti. India nlcr charter party
10 deliver cnrgo al the latter place ard receive cargo for
England aud while In the straits Of Mulacca, In Latitude
s. \. ohtude 1912 l.. The Alpbal1a. which had been
wronCfnY aud ~ direct violation of the laws o Great
Britain lifted cut and equipped for the purpose If prey
ing mon American commctcc practically destroyed inc
vessel and property of tho lbclauts
The beants clam $500 the value of tho ship. aud
s3J2H the value of The charter party IN all SlgOl and
10 secure Themselves in caseof decision n their favor
have attached a the effects ~ the claimant IN the hands
o. Foster Thompson II is city, aud IN TIE hahds %
tho Assistant Treasurer OF the L. g aud all the proceeds
THIS the first suit u this nature brought in the United
since the commencement Of the late war mud u
Involves points OF the gIcacst Importance ~ oar mari
time interests respecting the establishment Of pre dents
that may have material bearing upon futuTc lhcipIcta
tons Oi the neutrality laws. 49,
II Mr. johnson shodld previous 10 the conclusion ~ this
suit. obtain tu Indemnity for tho depTedatons 81 tho
Alabama, 10 world operate cstOIlcl upon the libel
nnts and the British Government having Satisfied the
claims OF citizens, would Incorporating the COuTeo
OF that Government not held tp encourages The in
out priyaeers It's ports 10 prey upon cur cpmmorco
s remedy against aud look Tor rcnba 10, the
parties fttinc 0ut such vessels.
precedent for tho claims Of citizens for damages
sustained by the Alabama aud other Confederate prya
tecr was established Subsequent To the war 81 loiI BE
fore tho OF that war, while England and
France engaged IN hOstilitics AGAINST each other
aud wo were a peace Win both nations French prya
tcers fitted out In the Port OF BaltlmOre-tben IA
coebrat for It's fast clippers the Clyde u now aud
during tho war; for ~ fact blockade runncrs-to
prey upOn British commerce. British merchants pre-
scented caui through their Government at the clos, Of
the War 1872 for decentralization fOT their losses from
the dcprediiuns OF these pyaicore and these claims
allowed by Government TO DC just and were
satisfied.