The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-05
Thc priva,e AIabamn CI.;u..


Charles c. Beaman, Jr., has published
volume showing the ownership and amounr
of the Alabama claims, with map oil oInoi
valuable information in regard to lhis in..i
esting historical subject. The report Vi W.
Joint High Commission when wn oo '"io
before the Senate on its reassehoiiiS III
few DAYS is believed to suggest OASIS ior
Se,t,emant of these claims which will prove
satis acto,y to both nations. Mr.. Bcamans
facts have on this account special interest
at this time
Great Britain has for several years been
willing to pay the private claims for damage
inflicted on our commerce. The point which
that country has been unwilling to concede
is reparation for the national wrong inflicted
on us by the premature recognition of Rebel
beIligerency-an untriendly act which occa
stoned not only the direct loss of 300 vessels
destroyed by Anglo-Rebel pirates and the
transfer of 700 vessels to the British flag, but
other indirect but equally serious losses that
are almost beyond computation. 1t is under
stood that the Joint Commission has embrac-
ed in the terms of the proposed settlement
recognition of the national injury and repara-
ton therefor.
The private claims arise mostly out of the
depredations of the "Florida," alabama"
Georgia" and the shenandoah"
THE FLORIDA.
The Florida, according to Mr.. Beaman's ac-
count, destroyed 80 American vessels and
bonded others, giving rise to claims against
Great Britain on her account of over three
million dollars. This was the first of the pi-
rates that got to work. While she was build
ing at Liverpool, early in 1862, ostensibly for
the Italian government, under the name OF
the Orete, our consul at that port as well as
the United States Minister represented TO the
English government her true character and
endeavored to have her detained. But it was
of no avail, and she sailed for Nassau, where
she was arrested by an honest British naval
officer only to be released on an absurd ruling
of Judge Lees of the Vice-Admiralty court of
the Bahamas. On returning to Nassau after
one of her successful cruises she was received
with enthusiastic hospitality. The Florida
was finally seized in the harbor Of Bahia by
the steamer Washusetts in October, 1854.
THE ALABAMA.
The case of tie Alabama is so exasperatng
that its details deserve TO be remembered.
They are as follows:
She was built by Laird s. Co., at Birken-
head, opposite Liverpool. Mr.. Adams sent TO
Lord Russell the most overwhelming evidence
that she was intended for the Confederate ser
vice. Earl Russell referred the letter of Mr..
Adams to the Commissioner OF Customs, and
the latter reported that there was no attempt
to deny the fact that the Alabama was to be a
ship OF war and that she had several powder
canisters on board, but he stated that the Mes
srs. Laird did not seem disposed to reply to
vessel after she left Liverpool. He did moi
think, however, that the officers of customs
would be justified in taking any steps against
her. Earl Russell, in sending copy OF this re-
port to Mr.. Adams, suggested that the United
States Consul at Liverpool send his evidence
to the Collector of Customs for his action
This was done, and Mr.. Dudley received in re.
ply note, in which the Collector said: 81 am
respectfully of opinion that the statement made
by You is not such as could be acted upon by
substantiated by evidence" Such demand
was never made before. Here was British
Customs officer refusing to act against Britisl
subjects, on information that they were VIC
lating British law, until the complainant had
completely established their guilt by illegal ev
idenceP How many criminals would ever bt
brought to justice if such was the common
practice of officers OF the law? The crimina
must be convicted before he is arrested!
But Mr. Dudley, although he knew that til,
brush government had no right TO demand il
Of him, retained counsel and procured affida
Wits to prove that the Alabama was buildin.
for the Confederate service and that men had
been enlisted in Liverpool for service on boart
Oh In 1VyIfS
barrister, II. T. Collier, who said: at appears
difficult TO makesout a stronger case of infringe
ment of the Foreign Enlistment Act which. il
not enforced on this occasion, is little better
than dead letter. The Commissioners OF
customs referred the matter TO the Law off
GERS Of the Crown, and at the same time de.
cided themselves that the evidence was moi
sufficient to cause the detention of the vessel
Mr. Adams also tried to induce Lotd Rus
sell to act in the matter, but he was unsuccess
full On the 29th of July, 1862, the Alabama
left Liverpool accompanied by tie Hercules
which was known to nave on board men AND
provisions for the gunboat, and she men pro
law officers, before whom all the evidence had
been LAID, reported, to the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, their opinion that the YES
eel should be detained, but, though her where
abouts were known, and the custom officers
hadIorders to board and detain her, no attempt
at seizure was made, either on that or the
next day, and, after remaining at Moelfra Bay
36 hours after these orders were given, she W Is
allowed to depart without molestation. There.
upon the British officers were on the alert and
telegraphed to Queenstown and Cork for he1
detention, though they probably knew that she
was well to sea, and that her officers would
not display the folly of returning into trap
OF which they had been fully informed. The
explanations of these delays by the British au-
thorities were never satisfactory to our Gov
eminent, not even to Lord Russull himself
who, more than year aiterward, admitted to
Mr.. Adams that the cases of the Alabama and
Oreto Were scandal, and, in some degree, a
reproach to English laws.
The subsequent history of the Alabama is
well known. She went on burning and de-
stroylng, was cordially received in British
ports, and allowed every facility for obtaining
coal and provisions, until she was sunk off
Cherbourg, on the 10Th OF June, 1864. Even
then an English steam yacht was on hand to
rescue the officers and crew, and to save them
from falling into the hands of the authorities of
the United States. In less than two years she
had captured 20 American vessels.
THE GEORGIA.
The Georgia was built at Dumbarton and
equipped by a Liverpool firm, who also shipped