New-York tribune., 1870-02-07

Mr. Fish in his dispatch of Sept %, 1862 when mas
been much attacked here, and not az
much praised in America as il deserves adoP's
and restates Mr.. Uptons position; aptIy euotms
the well-known language Of Mr.. Bright: we supply
the ships supply the arms, the munitions OF war;
we give aid and comfort TO the foulest of crimes;
EnGliShmen only do H."
Next in order is Mr. Uptons charge that these YES
sells burnt American vessels without taking them INTO
port for condemnation; which, again. Lord Russell
is forced to admit but seeks Finally comes
the charge that the Alabama and kindred pirates |
were joyfuy received into British ports and thero
permitted to reft. As not even Lord Russell can deny
q fact so notorious as that he goes into long examl-
nation Of the history Of these vessels to find in the
circumstances Of their origin and escape, and IN |
sundry precedents our side, palliation Tor the
enormous wrong thus done to friendly Power. III
is too long to quote but quote in full the only pas
sages really touching the case:
"The serious question however arises was 1t rghtto
admit the Confederate cruisers into British portsf Inc
pecedents Of the British navy and the general usaees
OF international law sanctioned the practice OF cohms
sioning manofwar far from the ports OF the country
to which IL belonged by virtue Of authorities acng on
behalf of that country. Had IL been otherwise bISn
feet might in the last war With France nave Deeh
entirely crippled by the loss OF Of ts ships and ho
impossibiy of supplying their place by shps cap'uieu
was to be lamented indeed, that this generai ruo
should have been applicable to the Confederate vessels
whose flag had been recognized only as that OF pes
erent and not that OF an independent state lsa'eu
in the House Of Lords the reasons which woud uuco
the British Government to be very slow ana very reuc
tant in recognizing an independent nation the Coneu
crate States -
Accordingly notwithstanding theappeas Of Southern
nartisaps no reeoenton of the Southern Confederaey
by Great Britain ever took place.
But the Cabinet Lord Palmerson thonght that lhe
general rule must be Observed and that athoush INC
Confederate menof-war could neither be repareo vi
fitted as vessels OF war furnished with warAe stores
in British ports they onght to receive the ordinary re-
pairs and vctuang necessary TO enable them TO put 10
sea-" Vol 2, p 26l-2.
No hint of justification, as you perceive Tor the
policy without which the Rebel cruisers would nave
been unable to keep the sea- No pallatlon, except
that the right of independent Powers, not tbegerents
| merelv-to commission men-of-war from their own
ports had formerly been conceded. From that, Lord
Russell Jumps to the concession that 1t was legal and
lust, and neutral" to welcome all over the world
the piratcal cruisers of an unrecognized Confeder-
acy He has nothing else to allege III excuse for the
| continuing wrong thus inflicted Oh u.s. except that
"the Cabinet of Lord PalmerstOn thought the gen.
| era rule'-whch has 10 existence-"must De op-
servedn In either words, it the exercise OF the
hostile to the Power toward which it professed heu-
| traty and good will
| Asto fhe Alabama herself and the circumstances
of her escape and the acts of commission ana onis-
sion of the British Government in respect TO her'
/ cannot find in Earl Russells defense single new
OF stating them. ii you like to read over again the
old story told in tine old way, here it is:
On July 90 the papers sent by Mr. Adams to the Foreign
Office were transmitted usual, to the office of tie
Queens Advocate directed TO the Queens Advocate and
Attorney and General Other papers were
by Mr. Adams July 26, and were likewise trans
mitted Queens Advocate and the law officers 1t
Is said that the Queens Advocate Sir John Harding was
already suffering at this time from the mental malady
which for long period incapacta;pd him. BE this as 1t
may the Attorney and sOhcitorGerera met on Monday,
July 49, between and o'clock in the afternoon and ad-
vised the detention seizure OF the Alabama The re-
port was sent the Foreign Office the following morn
ing telegraphing to Liverpool IL appeared that
on that morning the Alabama had escaped on pretense
Of making trial trip" " p. 25s.
But one would still be glad 20 know why Lord
Russell refused arbitration, OF, at least. whether be
still thinks that refusal justable. All that he says
on that point is containedin the following paragraph
"These the two grounds upon which declined to
submit the question to arbitration by foreign power:
| "It appeared TO mo that could not, consistently
with our position independent State allow foreign
Power or State decide either that Great Britain had
wanting in good faith, that law officers
did not understand well foreign Power state
the meaning of a British statute" Vol. 2, y. 259.
| That and that only.
| We are however, favored by Lord Russell with q
moro distinct opinion on two other points. He dis
approves the Jomson-C Clarendon Convention because
under the vague phrases Of Alabama claims and
arbitration it would have been open to the United
States to contend that the conduct of the British
| Government had been throughout wanting in good
faith and that arbiter chosenl by lot perhaps Mr.
| Sumner), or foreign Power State. should decide
upon points deeply affecting the honor of the British
| Government" V.2, p. $50.
| And he has substitute to propose, which give in
| his own words:
As matters stand at present the only peaceabe alter
natives appear be a reasonable answer to the claims
Of the United States agreement 20 drop the whole
question Oh both sides !"
The agreement to drop the whole question on both
sides is a suggestion stupendous in its absurdity
that is tempted to suspect Lord Russell of turn
| ing jester at H. His alternative of reasonable
answer is not much moro reasonable although he
tries to father it Mr. Foster He would limit all
reparation by Great Britain to the payment of
| sum of money for the actual losses sustained by
merchants in consequence of captures made by the
Alabama. Even this he would not concede outright,
but only if prma tdce of negligence could be
| made out. Furthermore. such a convention must
be strictly limited to the of the Alabama, and
no such wide phrase Alabama claims be justly
admitted II may be set down to the credit of
Earl Russell that, amid SO much discussion which is
| trivial and wholly unworthy Of his fame and his
former abilities he has the perspicacity to see that
the miserable concession he proposes would fall far
short of satisfaction to the United States"
Into his Lordship's speculations ON international