The New York herald., 1869-06-05
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS QUESTION.

NEW YORK, June !, 1869.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Events are eliminating when must speedily bring
about q solution Of the question whether Great
Britain intends TO indemnify this country for the
losses to her shipping and commerce committed by
vessels of war built and partially equipped by
British subjects IN English ports, and, as II now
appears from the written statement OF the builders
openly and VIGOROUSLY built with the knowledge
and under the very eyes of her Majestys responsible
advisers. The facts now established simplify the
question and sweep away all the intrcacies and
technical difficulties with which legal acumen and
peryered construction OF the British Enlistment act
had smothered and surrounded II. England has al
ways sought TO justify the nonseizure OF ese Vesses
i'll her native aud coonlal ports, upon Ine gIoulu
that the provisions OF her municipal act dld not EN-
power her TO adopt such course. Earl Russell,
then first minister Of the crown, has recently uis-
covered that the fault lay upon the temporary inca
pacity of mis- legal adviser. The celebrated "AleX'
andra was tried IN the hope OF vndlcatlng the
impotency OF British law; II was sham trial
England has INDUCED in sham trials. To gratlly
this third Napoleon Dr. Bernard was indicted ior
consprlng in England with Orslni TO assassnate the
French Emperor. Lord Palmerston introduced an
eL post JaCtO law TO meet the emergency. Parlla-
ment rejected 1t upon the principe, nolttin,ts ieges
4ngce nsutGlt ana his administrator eoiapseu zap no.
application to the case the jury refused TO convict
the Emperor was appeased and the law renamed as
before powerless 10 punish the onence.
England vaunted 10 America and TO France,
"Look we have endeavoIed to enforce our laws, but
we are unable to punish the authors of the wrongs
OF which YOU Complain Assuming, however, that
the provisions OF the British enlistment act Ronesti
enforced, did not reach the onence committed py
the Lalrds and others In building, equlpplng and
armIng vesses'for the open and papable object OF
preylng practically upon the commerce OF. country
then AT peace with England, what was the course
winch had the friendship OF England been sincere
and impartial, she might have adoptedf
aude to point IN this great question whicn, &c.
cordng to my recollection, has not been mentioned
by the press OF either oountry-certainly not pro-
minenty menti0ned-in the course OF the
discussion. If the statement OF the Messrs.
Lairds be true the government were made
aware that the Alabama was being constructed 10
carry out the objects 1t afterwards accomplished.
Without asking an admittedly incompetent Law onl-
to peruse the provisions OF their municipal act
and advise whether the guilty enterprise was In vo-
% own authority mignt have seized he vessels in the
course of their construction or nterdlcted their
egress from any OF their ports and have applied 10
Parliament for indemnity. Precedents for such
an act are lnnumerable. In the case OF pubic ana
international wrongs not prohibited by positive en-
actment, such course has frequently been pursued,
and Parliament has never refused Its indemnity.
England would have done SO with respect TO France
or any other European power, and why not with re-
spect to the United states
was In my place in the House Of Commons when,
IN thin and inattentive assembly. Lord John Rus
sell announced that he had advised the queen TO
issue proclamation according bellgerent rights TO
the seeded Southern states.
Thoughtful men deemed the step hasty and pre-
mature. 1t was not as then believed, intended as
act nimical to this country but produced meal
cuable mischief and prolonged the lratrlcidal war;
Among the aristocratic and weather. classes q
strong feeling OF partalty TO the South was eyinced,
and many, when they subscribed to Confederate
loans risked their money the hope that the great
republic would crumbe into fragments.
In addition TO the strong grounds already existing
to claim ample indemnity for the losses thus sus.
tained venture to think that the non-adoption ol
the course suggested strengthens the position, and
through the medium tf your columns submit 1t to
the public.
War between the two countries Is possible but not
probable The interests OF civilization and the world
Will combine to avert such catastrophe.
Conscious Of justice and OF right, calm, nrm and
dignihed attitude assumed by this country VIII Sc
cure the concessions too long withheld. "PeW rl)eS
Uasiunt que pyOdH 10 OQUor, ctnt cunctdDL dtQfe
H1tAdS pelJe,t cGttQlte naaylsQte IoSa tneht0td
HlaRenS.n EDWIN JAMES.