The New York herald., 1869-06-08
ENGLAND

and ceIe,ncDy.
ENGl AND.
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The Letter Of Messrs. Laird on the Building
OF the Alabama.
The following letter was published in the English
papers Of the 9th ult, an extract from which was
published in the HERALD of the day foowing:-
We have hitherto relralned from answering any of
the attacks made upon us, as builders Of the Ala
bama, not wishing to prejudice in any way the ne
gOtiations entered into between the government of
this country and the United States which, II they
had been concluded in q satisfactory manner,
would probably, have led to on inquiry INTO all the
circumstances connected with the building OF ships
and supply OF war materials by various parties to
Northern and Southern belligerents during the
American war, and thereby have given us an oppor-
tunty Of 1eXplaining the part we took In building
and delivering the Alabama in this port.
The Johnson Clarendon convention having been
rejected by the United otaes we think the time has
come to remove the erroneous Impressions that
have prevailed on this subject as 1t cannot be to the
advantage OF the country that unfounded state
ments as TO this one transaction should remain un-
contradicted 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 wen as the South, during the war, should be
hushed up.
~ The allegations made and so often repeated that
may people believe them are-that we not only
built, but armed, manned and equipped the Ala
bama, TO cruise against the Northern States, and
therefore committed an illegal act and that to H.
duce us TO enter into such arrangements We were
paid an extravagant price for the ship and machin-
s eGs We shall therefore, proceed to show that
the contract to build the Alabama was
entered into by us In the usual course OF
our business, as mere commercial transaction and
et price moderate for vessel of her class the firm
which we now represent having for upwards OF thr-
v years been In She habit Of building vessels Of war
1or our own government, for foreign governments
direct, and for the agents OF foreign governments.
The Alabama was built in our works, where about
36Oe men were at that time employed, without any
secrecy, and during her building was constantly IN
spected by visitors from various parts Of the world
and by the oificers OF her Majesty's customs, as
proved by the following report from Mr. Morgan,
Surveyor OF her Maesty's Customs, Liverpool dated
June Is lsSaTne sa ,G officers have at all times free
Birkenhead, where the said vessel Is lying and
there has been no attempt on the part OF her build
she is intended for snip Of warn alabama Pa
pers, oath March, 1881 When ready she was
her machinery put on board and be masted and
rigged.
that the vessel taken for trial trip outside the
port, and all being found satisfactory was brought
back to our craving dock 10 be completed.
On the 18th OF July, more than q fortnight before
she left the Mersey. she was moved from our works
and placed in the Great Float public dock at Biz
kenhead, to which oil parties had access, and was
there supplied by the purchaser with Goals and pro-
Visions for her voyage. There was no haste or Sc
there been anything illegal in the build OF the tnS
Of the ship there was ample time and opportunity
for the government then TO have seized her. They
2st Of July BY their officers that the ship appeared
TO be ready for and might leave OF any hour she
rom letter addressed by the Collector Of Customs,
Liverpool, to the Commissioners OF Customs, Lon
6Sn and dated !Tly III lssa & @ week before @ the ship
being pleased 70 instruct me by telegraph how am
20 act as the ship appears 70 be ready for sea, and
may leave at any hour she pleases"
II would In fact appear that the intention OF the
government to detan the ship was based not on the
character condition OF the ship herself, but be.
a IN Oth mn
efidavlts that they were engaged to serve on board
her. although they did not state that they were
gagged by the builders. Sir Rounden Palmer on the
27th Of March, 1563, alludes to this follows:But
wish the House to understand tnat In those depo-
sitons there was great mass OF hearsay evidence,
which, taken by ITSELF could not form the basis OF
any action. or the six dispositions transmitted on
the 22d Of July, only one was good for anything at
al-viz the evidence Of person named Passmore,
which was sufficient TO prove the material facts.
Two more were sent corroborating Passmore, on
the 24th and were received by Earl Russell on the
28th;" and Mr. sumner alludes to Passmores afrda-
VT In his speech OF April, 1883, II 1t had been
tsa tese @ en had Ssen envaSsa 70 no psoo
board. the parties engaging them would have
been involved In pecuniary penalties for payment OF
penalties were satisfied or good bail given. See copy
OF q letter from the Commissioners Of Customs 70
1862 namey:-"we acouaint you that we have com,
muncated with our solicitor on the subject who has
advised US that the evidence submitted Is not sum-
cient to justify any steps being taken against the
vessel under either the sixth or seventh section Of
act So George I'LL, cap. so, and you are TO govern
stated that there should be suflceDt evidence to
satisfy court OF enlistment OF individuals they
would be liable to pecunlary penalties for security
OF which, II recovered, this department might detain
the ship until those penalties satisfied or good
bail gwen; but there Is not suficent evidence to
Qure the Customs to prosecute. IL Is, however
petent for the United States Consul other person
TO do SO at their own risk II they see nt.' The
United States Consul however did not avan himself
A week elapsed after the opinion was given by the
Solicitor OF Customs In London and the Collector OF
Customs In Liverpool had reported tnat the ship ap
peared TO be ready for sea, and might leave a any
hour she pleased, and she still remained in the Brk
enhead public dock. We were not requested by the
government to detain the ship and on the afternoon
Ofsthe 2sth she was moved from the berth in the
Great Float, and the same evening was unlocked
and came TO anchor In the river Off the public land
Ing stage In Liverpool until the morning OF the 2gth
OF july when she left the river about ten O'clock AZ
this time the Alabama had not on board any part OF
her armament ammunition or warlike stores, as Is
shown by the surveyor OF Customs report 30th OF
July, lso2'i have only to add that your directions
TO Keep strict watch on the said vessel have been
carried out and write IN the fullest confidence that
she LETT tins port without any part OF her armament
Oh board; she had not as much as a signal gun or
mnsket" alabama Papers, Gath OF March. 1s69.)
We here draw special attention TO the fact that we
o sn o e sp spP ses
part OF her armament, provisions, coal, warlike
stores oIany description orr or engage any men to serve
We merely completed contract TO build and dc.
liver an unarmed and unequpped ship in the port OF
chaser OF the Alabama OF the arrangements he had
made for manning, arning, equipping and commls
sionng that vessel at foreign port nor mad we any
idea OF her having gone to the Azores until that fact
was generally known by the public.
Our opinion 10 the legality Of building and de-
uvering the ship In the way we did may not be Of
much value but we submit that the opinions OF
Some oi tne most eminent lawyers OF the day should
nave weight, and we therefore give the following on
. case submitted TO them some months after the
Alabama had left Liverpoo:--
xsptx AZ TO THE LtoALITY OF BunprSo TIE
am Of opinion that Msssn. Laird had rish, 10 buud
She ship which has since been called ths Asbsms IN The
manner they did and that they have comcd no oicncs
ss.in" either the common law Foreign Enlistment
pie building Of ship even although the ship BE- Of Mind ap
parenty adapted lof wArke purposes dcycring sr
ship 70 apurchaser In Engsh port even nItboush 49,
chaser Ia suspected knowto be The agent of