Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-04-23

''', 'hVh IL england justly RESPONSE
BILE for the additional expenditure TO which
our country was doomed; and, whatever
may be the final settlement of these great
accounts, such must be the judgment in any
chancery which consults the simple equity
OF the case. This plain statement without
one word Of exaggeration or aggravation,
is enough to exhibit the magnitude of the
national losses, whether from the destruc-
ton OF our commerce or the prolopgation
OF the war. They stand before us noun
tain high, with base broad as the nation,
and mass stupendous as the rebellion it,
self II aill be for wiso craftsmanship to
determine how this fearful accumulation,
Ike Polioh upon Ossa, shall bo removed
out OF sigqt, so that IL shall no longer over
shadow tib two countries. g
Then came the building of the
pirate sh ns, one after another While the
Alabamatas still in the shipyard, it became
apparent bat she was intended for the reb-
els. Our rbinistor Mt London and our con-
sol alX4-pool eNorted themselves for her
arr sietcution. They were put Off
from dSN'io day. On the oath of july 1862,
Mr.. Adams completed his evidence" ac-
companiet by an opinion from the eminent
barrister, Mr.. Collier, afterward Solicitor
General, declaring tho plain duty of the
British government to stop her. Instead
of acting promptly by the telegraph, five
days wereallowod to run out, when at last,
too tardily, the necessary order was dis
patched. Meanwhile the pirate ship escap-
cd from the port of Liverpool by a strata
gem, and her voyage began with music and
frolic. Here, beyond all question, was neg
Lgence, or, according to the language of
Lord Brougham on another occasion, ''crass
negligence" making England Justly re-
sponsible for all that ensued. The pirate
ship found refuge in that obscure harbor of
Wales, known as Moelfra Bay, where she
lay in British waters from u o'clock p. NJ,
July 20, to about o'clock A. NJ, July 81
being upward of 80 hours, and during this
time she was supplied with men from the
British steam tug Hercules, which followed
her from Liverpool. These 80 hours were
allowed to elapse without any attempt to
stop her. Here was another stage of "crass
negligence" Thus was there negligence
in allowing the building to proceed negli-
| gence in allowing the final escape from the
British coast. Lord RUSSELL while trying
to vindicate his government and repelling
the complaints of the United States, more
than once admitted that the escape of the
Alabama was scandal and reproach, -
which, to my mind is very like a confess
sion. Language could not be stronger.
Surely such an act cannot be blameess.
If damages are ever awarded to a friendly
| Power for injuries received, it is difficult to
| see where they could be more strenuously
claimed than in case which the first min
lister of the offending power did not hesi-
tate to characterize so strongly. The en-
listment of the crew was not less obnoxious
to censure than the building of the ship and
her escape. Itwas a part of the transaction.
The evidence is explicit. Not to occupy too
much time, 1 refer only to the affidavit of
| VIM. Passmore, who swears that he was
engaged With the express understanding
that " " was "to fight for the govern
ment Sf ~ confederate States of Amer
ica;" thar joined her at Laird's yard at
Birkenh,ad, near Liverpool, remaining
there several days; that he found about 80
|
it was "vell known that she was going out
as q privaeor for the Confederate govern
ment to hight under commission from Mr..
Jefferson Davis" In a list of the crew now
before me, there is a large number said to
be from the "Royal Navy Reserve" 1
might add to this testimony. The more the
case is examined, the moro clearly do we
discern the character of the transaction The
dedication of the ship to the rebel service,
from the very laying of the keel, and the
organization of her voyage with England as
her naval base, from which she drew muni-
tions of war and men, made her departure
as much hostile expedition, as if she had
sailed forth from Her Majesty's dockyard.
At moment of profound peace between
the United States and England there was q
hostile expedition against the United States
II was in no Just sense a commercial tran
saction, but an act Of war. The case is not
vet complete. The Alabama, whose build
ing was in defiance of law, international and
municipal, whose escape was a ''scandal
and reproach." and whose enlistment of hei
crew was a lit SEQUEL to the rest. after being
supplied with an armament and with reb.
e commander entered upon her career o
piracy. Mark now a new stage of compli
city. Constantly the pirate ship was within
reach of the British cruisers, and from tim,
to time within the shelter of British ports
For six days unmolested she enioyed th,
pleasant hospitality of X ingston, in Jamaica
obtaining freely the coal and other supple,
so necessary to her vocation. But no Bri
, tish cruiser. no British magistrate ever ar
rested the offending ship. whose VOYAGE wa
, a continuing "scandal and reproach,' to thu
British Government. The excuse for tbi
, strange license is curious technicalitv. a
if A tecbnicalitv could avail in this case n
anv stogo Rorrowing n nbrase from tina
, mastor of Admiraltv iurisnrudence Si
VIM. Scott II ia said that tbe shin ..donos
itedr bor ORIGINAL sin Of tho conclusion .
ber ,,o,,ooo 90 ttot oftory,ord Name
lo... 80 ,,,o AIohar,a ,o,,o, oonol,do
, her yoIsse rntiI sho sanl, nndor tho 0,,r
of tho II eo,sa,.a.1 ,,o,a,,a -. -