New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-04
TIE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
nor GOODWIN SMITH AT CLEVELAND.

PROF. GOODWIN SMITH AT CLEVELAND.
Prof. Goodwin Smith delivered lecture in
Cleveland last Saturday evening, on England and
slavery In referring to the relations existing between
England and the United states, Mr. Smith said:
fool I'm position positively to deny the assertion so
ntoerahy ibifons to the honor of England that the
Queens prerogave abused for the purpose OF con-
spracy against the integrity OF frlehdy rover, ana
bat another stem in the same conspiracy was the launch
ing OF the Alabama on this question OF tne aaoa,
stand before you EnglishmaD with toleraDy clean
hands II was 10 denounce the Alabama that came, IN
the first instance, into public ire; ana VIII Neu 20
b h%tlders and abbettors have cast upon the honor
nf INV country But the truth is serious enough
T iriateJ np rather asserted that she an
English ship, aud that the EngiSh hat,on anu
cane and were parties TO her dcpredatons She built
i'm England and, i'm that sense was an English Snip lust
STai soldier was an English rifle. But she was the
Confederate Government in private yard anu com ,h
uanded by Confederate officer, now cltlzen OF tn1
United States, who, If we quarrel about TINS hatI9 VIZ
he with his fellow SOutheners In the singular position OF
making war on s for not having been successful in pre-
eb We're taken on board for feigned voyage Beside
which every great maritime country has a number OF
rowing sailors, like the companlonsOt walker me n1us
NO yav Tenresent or commit the nation. The Alabama did
not venture shc would have done IL inc EnElsn oUv
ernment had favored her TO arm In English port she
vent ont Inarmed at the risk Of capture, and met her
armament at port In the Azores, from Whca port hOt
from any port I'm British territory she sailed forth on her
career OF depredation when she slipped out Of Liver
pool the order her arrest was on its way she was
pursued to Nassau which was her supposed desuhauOn
and she would have arrested there, but having put
into port belonging 20 another nation ana mere e4
ped herself for war; she was according 10 the opinions Tt
the legal advisers OF our GOyernment-an opinion WHICH
have not the slightest doubt was given IN gVOu
ont Of the British ursdeonsO that she coulu Dg
byusnO further The English stopped hercon
sort, the Alexandria; and II stopped the steam TdS
though in the case OF the rams inc evidence aGcOrns
10 our law weak that the Government had 10 pay
for them out Oh e RDT IbPpp utmost 70 violate our neu
traty aud to entange us In the war ana the Only case
in which they successful was the case OF the Ala
bama. The escape OF the Alabama was due to these
causes first, the defective state OF our munelpal law
peculiar state Of things or the peculiar device OF Duu
ing ships in part aud arming them In an9ther sec
VI Who vas no dnnbt bribed by the Confederates to
give them notice Of the intended seizure
Of the Alabama. In all these things for the
detective state Of law, tho inability of legal adj
wiser to attend his duty and the msconduct Of our
Official at Liverpool, responsible but u does not
follow that any ono would be justified in making sweep
ing mputatiOns against the honor OF the British Govern
ment or British nation. For he mode in which the
Alabama carried her warfare, by burning vessels az
sea detestabe as II was manifest is the duty Of put
ting end, by some compact among clvzed natOns 70
the possibility OF that warfare for the future England Is
not Responsible II the Alabama after going into the
port OF ercera was out Of our Jurisdiction as she was
held by law officers to be- our Government could not
control her operations We were obliged to leave heren
re in hands sae pat nP gS Sw G y winch de on
Government could prevent nSF from ,9yop wSs
zance is will undertake to say, entirely uniounded
West Indian ports though not more IN the ports Of Brit
ish colonies than in the French colony OF Martinique
But the British Government, as free Government, has
no means of preventing manifestations Of feeling
the part or private citizens good deal OF the sym
been bestowed daring 9nd successful adyenurer
or Dick Hatterrck or Byrors Corsair Our Govern
ment warned by the escape OF the Alabama, should, IN
the Judgment or some or u.s. have at once proposed TO
Parliament to alter our municipal law. Perhaps Lord
Pamerston would have been willing to do hls had
he been smarting under the recollection OF the re-
cent overthrow OF his Government In consequence
nF instance
French Emperor the law relating 10 ponu-
ton arises since the British Government did contriye,
under the existing law, to prevent the escape OF any
tor there will doubt be long and tough debate be-
tween the lawyers on the two sides Inc English adyo
Fenlau Invaders OF Canada. Of the Cuban expeditions
International law is, with reason indugent 20 heurss
on whom the onerous duty OF preventing 'aoiatohs 9
their neutrality by begercnts cast by 10 act OF their
own and without their consent In addition 10 the
loss aud annoyance gcnerally ihncicu Oh tn' anu ~
aicted England In the highest degree IN inc present
case by the existence Of war do not feel sure that
the legal position OF England even on the Alabama
question Is 80 unteuabe II generally assumed 10 be-
this question treated merely as 9 legal ques-
tom have always wished that It would be treated IA
friends and men Of honor The Alabama ought not To
have escaped The escape led to consequences AT once
pation She i'm fact though not With our approba.
ton counivance, made our shores the base Of her
operations aud carried OF devastation from
ports The favor shown her by British synpathzers
with the Confederate cause both In England and In the
colonies though merely that OF private ana irresponsible
partSans did In appearance, somewhat compromise the
| nation. And all this took place at the moment OF
| your national agony when wrong was most bit.
ery felt and when your resentment was naturally most
keen Under these circumstances, II had any voice in
the matter would do the same thing which would do
under analogous circumstances In private life. would
without discussion. and possible without me hteTyen
OF arbitrator the whole OF the Alabama claim
have always advocated this before country
mem am advocating IL now. But II Is difficult Tor such
counses 10 ud their way the heart Of proud nation
when IL Is being at the same time loaded with
limited demands, and when 1t has reason 10 ap-
preheud that repaTation might not be received in
kindly and generous spirit with burst OF eXulta
ton over It's PROSTATE honor While the war was going
on heartily supported the great English Liberals who
were trying do justice 20 America. try TO do justice
10 England now told the other day that was sit
ting between two stools, and that should come 20 tho
ground am politician and have no party objects
in view and wish not TO sit upon stool but TO stand
upon my feet and TO uphold far as can, what IS
true and Just the before III do not utterly
mistake the principle OF freedom this Is the best homage
which / can render to Il free people.