The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-08
FIRST EDITION
THE ALA B AM a.
Important Statement of the Messrs.
Laird-WhO Built the Rebel
Privateer-HOw She was
Fitted Out and Pre-
pared to DemOlish
the American
Shipping.
the Rtitor Of az London TYmes:-

TGITHIneU HnSWpTlnV
the attacks made upon us as builders of the Alabama
not wishing to prejudice in any way the negotiations
entered into between the Government of this coun-
try and the United States, which, II they had been
concluded in satisfactory manner, would probably
have lea TO to-, an in inquiry into all the circumstances
war materials by various parties to Northern and
Southern belligerents during the American war, and
thereby have given us an opportunity of explaining
the part we took in building and delivering the Ala
The Johnson-Cl Clarendon Convention having been
rejected by the United States think the time has
come to remove the erroneous impressions that have
prevailed on this subject as 1t cannot be to the ad
vantage OF the country that unfounded statements
as to this transaction should remain uncontra-
dicted, and be used adversely to this country, while
the larger question Of the assistance in naval, mill
tary, and other supplies rendered to the North as
well as the South during the war should be hushed up
The allegations made and so often repeated that
many people believe them, are-that we not only
built, but armed, manned, and equipped the Alabama
to cruise against the Northern States and therefore
committed an illegal act; and that to induce us to
enter into such arrangements we were paid an ex-
travagant price for the ship and machinery.
We shall therefore proceed to show that these
statements are unfounded and that the contract to
build the Alabama was entered into by us in the
usual course of our business as q mere commercial
her class, the firm which we now represent having
for upwards OF thirty years been in the habit OF
building vessels OF war for our own Government, for
foreign Governments direct, and for the agents OF
foreign Governments.
The Alabama was built in our works, where about
2500 men were at that time employed, without any
security, and during her building was constantly
inspected by visitors from various parts of the world
and by the officers of Her Maestys Customs, as
proved by the following report from MIR. Morgan
Surveyor OF Her Maesty's Customs Liverpool, dated
( the 2sth OF June, 1867
The officers have at all times free to the build
said Vessel lying and there has been attempt on
the of her builders disguise apparent
. e S ma Eare% sle a. isssHoe' 0r snip Oh
i When ready she was launched and taken into our
craving dock, to have her machinery put on board,
and to be masted and rugged.
on the 18th of June this work was so far adj
vanced that the vessel taken for trial trip
outside the port, and all being found satisfactory,
was brought back to our craving dock to be COM
pleted.
on the 18th Of July, more than fortnight before
she left the Mersey, she was moved from our
Brkenhead, to which all parties have access and
was there supplied by the purchaser with Goals and
There was no haste or secrecy observed in any OF
these operations, and had there been anything
illegal in the building the fitting of the ship there
was ample time and opportunity for the Govern
ment then to have seized her They did not do SO,
although they were informed the 21st OF July by
their officers that the ship appeared to be ready for
sea. and might leave at any hour she pleased.
This appears by the following extract from letter
addressed by the Collector of Customs, Liverpool to
the Commissioners OF Customs, London, and dated
the 21st of july 1862, week before the ship left the
dock:-
Il shall feel obliged S by the m board ar being gesSsSd sS to
PSa1s Ppieases 50 pc f'"OS 0r sea- anu may
1t would in fact appear that the intention OF the
Government to detain the ship was based, not on
the character or condition of the ship her
others made affidavits that they were engaged to
serve on board her. although they did not state that
they were engaged by the builders
Sir Roundell Palmer, on the 9th of March, 1868,
alludes TO this as follows:-
But wish the House to understand that in those depo
great of hearsay evidence which,
could mot G5% the basis S sod q S 1SSI o
good tor ANYTHING at all via the evidence OF person
% s % s b % Ss
And Mr.. Sumner aludes to Passmores afildayit in
It It had been true of which, however, there is no
PROOF that these had been engaged to serve on
board the parties so engaging them would have
been involved in pecunary penalties for payment OF
which the ship might have been detained until the
penalties were satisfied good bail given. See the
copy of letter from the Commissioners OF Customs TO
the Collector of Customs, Liverpool dated 22d July,
1862, viz:
I'VE acqusint you that we have communicated with
the TO % Hs being
taken against the vessel under either the sixth or seventh
yourself The soiStoT has hOwsysE
court Of enlistment OF individuals they would be liable
s ms G bs sp Sf aH those sn
ties satisfied good bail given but there is not sniff
assS FL
The United States Consul did not, however, avail
q A week elapsed after the opinion given by the
Solicitor Of Customs in London, and the Collector OF
Customs in Liverpool had reported that the ship ap-
peared to be ready for sea, and might leave at any
hour she pleased, and she still remained In the BIZ
4 We were not requested by the Government to de-
was moved from the berth In the Great Float and the
Il same evening was unlocked and came to anchor in
~ the river OFF the public landing stage In Liverpool,
until the morning OF the 29th of July, when she left
the river about 10 O'Clock. ,,- -
At this time the Alabama had not or board any
part of her armament ammupitiOn or warllke stores,
II shown by the Surveyor OF Customs report, July
- w. 1S62:-
81 have only to add that directions to keep strict
Natch on the said vessel have been carried OUT and
fullest confidence that she left this port with
much as a signagun or musket" laJama Papers. March
Il g. 1863.
We here draw special attention 10 the fact that we
\ did not supply, or engage 10 supply the Alabama
either before or after she left the Mersey, with any
u part OF her armament, provisions GOALS or Warllke
stores of any description, or engage any men 10
serve on board her, or to join her after she lelI tne
a port.
"a We merely completed a contract to build and de-
liver an unarmed and unequipped ship in the port OF
M Liverpool.
W Alabama OF the arrangements he had made for man
Ell hing, aTming, equlppng, and commissioning that
Vessel at a foreign port nor had any idea OF her
having gone to the Azores until that fact was gene
"# faly known by the public.
Our opinion as TO the legality of building and de-
a lyerng the ship in the way we did may not be OF
much value, but we submit that the opinion OF some
Of the most eminent lawyers OF the day should have
WEIGHT and We therefore give the following on a
ease admitted to them some months after the Ala
hama had left Liverpool:-
oprN1oNs OF MR. MELLIsH SIR HUGH CAIRNS AND
MR. KEMPLAY AS TO LEGALITY OF BUILDING THE
5| ALABAMA.
ct 80 - oninon that Messrs Laird had right build
W h Mn which has since been called the Alabama in the
manner they did and that they nave no on
al With reference 20 that ship am Of opinion that IN
simple building OF shg;& & even @ % 5 d 9e Ha
sn sncb aim 10 purchaser In an English port eyeI
Ihe ugh the purchaser Is dno % pt 20 ~ t
AL osnse aSainst the Foreign Ennstnenh aet to eot