The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-12

might the funny man In Sumter say,
go, ten,pora! 0, Noses!
Cor. Ne,o York World.
The AIabamn-Important Statement OF
Laird Brothers--Who Built the Rebel
Privatcer.
To the Editor Of the London Times:
We have hitherto refrained from an
swering nny OF the attacks made upon
MS as builders of the Alabama, not wish
ing to prejudice in any way the negotia-
tions entered into between the Govern
ment of this country and the United
States, which. if they had been conclud-
ed in q satisfactory manner, would prob
circumstances connected with the build.
ing of ships, and supply of war materials
by various parties to Northern and South
ern belligerents during the American war,
and thereby have given us an opportu-
nifty of explaining the part we took in
building and delivering the Alabama at
this port.
The Johnson Clarendon Convention
having been rejected by the United
States, we think the time hos come to re.
move the erroneous impressions that
have prevailed on this subject, as it can
not be to the advantage of the country
that unfounded statements as to this one
transaction should remain uncontra-
dicted, and be used adversely to this
country, while the larger question of the
assistance in naval, military and other
supplies rendered to the North as we'll as
the South during the war should be
hushed up.
The allegations made, and so often re-
peated 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
thet to induce us to enter into such ar
rangements, we were paid an extravagant
price for the ship and machinery.
Wo shall, therefore, proceed to show
that these statements are unfounded,
and that the contract to build the Ala
bama was entered into by us in the usual
course of our business as q mere COM
mercial transaction, and ct price mod
crate for vessels of her class, the firm
which We now represent hnving for up
wards OF thirty years been in the habit
OF building vessels of war for our own
Government, orforeign governments di-
rect, and for the agents Of foreign gov
ernments. .:.--,.,
The Alabama was built in our works,
where about $500 men were at that time
employed, without any security, and dur
ing her building, was constantly inspect
ed by visitors from various parts of the
world, and by the officers of Her Majes-
tvs Customs, as proved by the following
report from Mr.. Morgan. Surveyor of
Her Maiestys Customs, Liverpool, dated
the 28th of June, 1862:
nh1 N{R Lo&, - Ill f.1e
cess to the building yards of the Messrs
sci is now lying, and there has been no
disguise, what is most apparent to all,
that she is intended for ship of war. -
Alabdmd Papers, March a, 1868.
When ready, she was launched and
taken into our craving dock, to have her
machinery put on board, and to be
masted and rugged. - =. So,
On the 18th of June, this work was so
for advanced that the vessel was taken
for trial trip outside the port, and all
being found satisfactory. was brought
back to our craving dock to be com
pleted. = i't-pi ai.s 'sl'. 4
| On the 18th of July, more than fort
night before she left the Mersey, she was
moved from our works, and plaeedin the
Great Float public dock, at Birkenbead,
to which all parties have access, and was
there supplied by the purchaser with
coals and provisions for her voyage.
! Thetefwa4 NO hAsfeos segee obeerved
in any of these operations, and had there
been anything Illegal in the build or the
fitting of the ship, there. was ample time
and opportunity for the 4 Government
then to have seized her. They did not
do so, although they were informed on
thef21st Of July, by their officers, that
the ship appeared to be ready for sea,
and might le leave at anyi hour hour ahe
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