The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-24
R.portine Under DIfhcuItIes.
THE BRITISH ARGUMENT.
English View OF the American Claims

By the latest foreign mails comes copy OF
the argument presented by the British agent
before the court OF arbitration at Geneva. 1t
is mainly an epltome OF the counter-cases snb-
mitted two months ago, and, while ackneWl-
edglng nothing as actually due, incidentally
submits the estimate of the London board OF
trade for s., ,623, ,795, and the estimate OF the
British government Itself at s., l,S0O,92O, as even
alphabetically due. The argument takes posi-
tIon as follows
As to the cruisers, Tallahassee aud Chicka.
mauga, 1t Is maintained that no failure OF duty
| These we're built and nsed as ships OF com.
merce, and only BY an afterthought, and
when they we're within the water OF the Con.
, federate States, were they armed for war, and
that in the Confederate port of Washington.
| The Sumter and Nashville were not even
| built IN the Queens dominions; notnlng ls
alleged against the Queens government IN
respect oil their outfit, and setting aside some
minor complaints that will not bear eXanina-
tlon. they only received In British ports such
hospitalitles as were extended 10 Confederate
vessels In general in the ports or neutral
nations The RetribuLlon was not DullC or
fitted out in the Queens dominions; and the
facts alleged chow nothing more than that ner
commander upon one occasion sold cargo OF
captured vessel In British port oy person.
atlng the master OF his prize.
The Clarence, Tacony, Archer and Tusoa-
loosa were merely tenders of the Florida or
Alabama. The discussion thus confines Itself
practically, as well as of right, to the Alabama,
Florida, Georgia and Shenandoah, the four
vessels on account of which claims were made
by the United States against Great Britain BE-
fore the conclusion oil the Treaty OF Washing
ton. AS to these vessels, the charges made by
the JTnIled States are that the BRUSH Govern
ment did not exercise due care to prevent
them from being equipped or specially adapt
ed within British territory for war against the
United States; that the same government did
not cause them to be arrested or detained
when they subsequently, sailed to British ports,
obtain supplies and effect repairs Of nature
or 10 an extent Inconsistent with the ohllga-
tlons of neutral power. 1t Is not for Great
Britain to prove these charges erroneous, but
for the United States TO prove that they are
true.
The argument concludes:
From the premises set forth the following
results are deduclble: That on the 1st Of De-
oember, 1862, only two suitable vessels were
In actual pursuit Of the Alabama; that on the
following December the two were reduced to
one; LQaL WQeu Suo Wa6 cuun lHOLo uoAo ontJ
three, including the Kearsage; that there
were never more than three effective vessels
In search of the Alabama at one time; that
during the months OF February, March and
April, 1853, there was no effective vessel In
pursuit; that the average number OF United
States vessels In pursuit while the Alabama
was pursuing her career was less than TWO;
that the United States navy was increased
from four hundred to six hundred vessels
during this period, a considerable proportion
of which were suitable vessels; that on
the lst of December, 1862. no vessels were
In pursuit OF the Florida; that on the 7th
December, 1863 no vessels were 10 pursuit OF
the Florida; that on the 7th October, 1864,
when captured at Bahia, two vessels were In
pursuit of her, exclusive of the Wachusett;
that no United States cruiser was sent 10 spe-
cial pursuit of the Georgia, nor OF the she.
nandoab; that the claim tor the conditional
arbitration considered admissible (npon the
hypothesis explained in the admiralty report
on account OF the Alabama should be accord
inely further abated by $3.50 ,l04 FL: on account
of the Florida, s32,736 29; on account OF the
Sumter (see Connecticut, p. s3,) S26, ,65l; aud
the alphabetically admissible amount 80 cor
rected would stand thus: For the four Con-
federates in class l, s940,460 "a; for the Ala
bama only, 1891, $50 81; for the Florida only,
Sa9 S7o A.