The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-09
THE BRITISH ARGUMENT.


or the four vessels in respect Of which alone the
United States have up to this time made claims
against Great Britain, two-the Georgia and Shen-
andoah-were never, In any manner or degree,
within the dominions OF her Majesty, fitted out.
armed or equipped Tor war or specially adapted to
warlike use. They were constructed and fitted in q
manner suitable to merchant ships.
THE SHENANDOAH.
One OF them, the Shenandoah, was not only built
for merchant ship. but had been owned and used
as such before she was purchased by the govern
ment Of the Confederate States and her condition
and equipment when she departed from Great
Britain and when she came into the possession of
the government of the Confederate States were az
far as appears the In all material respects as
they had been when she was owned and emploN1
as trading vessel This vessel according to the evil
dence which has been brought to the knowledge OF
Her Majestys government was sold and trans
ferred to the Of the Confederate States
after she had departed from Her Maestys DOMINION.
No Information whatever respecting these two ves-
sells respectively was conveyed to Her Britannia
Majesty's government by the Minister or Con-
sular ofhcers Of the United States, or came to
the knowledge OF that government until they
had respectively departed from Her Majesty's
dominions. Her Britannia Majesty's government
had no ground to believe or suspect that
delivered to the government OF the Confederate
States Its officers, or employed in cruising or
rying on war against the United states. II the
Minister or Consuls OF the United States had any
such grounds OF belief or suspicion they were not
communicated to the government OF Her Britannia
Majesty. The other two vessels,
TIE ALABAMA AND FLORIDA,
though suitable by their construction for vessesof.
war, were not armed for war when they respect
lively departed from the waters OF the United
Kingdom. They had then no armament whatever,
and they did not receive any until alter they had
rived at places very remote from Great Britain and
out OF the control Of Her MaJesty's government.
AS to one OF these two, the Florida. no informal
ton. supported by evidence, proving or tending to
prove that she was intended to cruise or carry on
war against the United States was conveyed to or
received by Her Britannia Majesty's government
previously TO her departure from the United King
dom. On her first arrival In q British colony this
vessel was seized under the authority Of the Cover
nor, but was
RELEASED FOR WANT OF PROOF
by decree Of Court OF competent jurisdiction
The Florida, before engaging In any operation Of
war, entered port OF the Confederate States. She
remained there for more than four months. She
there enlisted and shipped a crew and was put in
suitable condition for cruising and she was from
tueuC0 beuL OuI W CIuisc.
In the case OF one vessel only-the Alabama
admissible evidence tending to prove the
RxISrBSCE OF AN UNLAWFUL INTENTION
was furnished 70 Her Britannia Majesty's govern.
ment before the departure OF this snip. This
evidence was supplied little by little, the last IN
stalment OF 1t being delivered on the fourth day
before her departure she put to sea unregistered
and without clearance. under the pretence that
she was about to make trial trip and return to her
moorings The circumstances under which the
evidence relating 10 this vessel was received, re-
ferred to the legal advisers of the government and
by them considered and reported on, are stated in
Part OF this case.
WHY THE PIRATES WERE NOT DETAINED.
All the information furnished by Mr.. Adams to
Her Majesty's government, as well IN relation to the
Alabama as In relation to each OF the three other
vessels hereinbefore specined was referred by the
Secretary of state for Foreign Affairs with the
utmost expedition to the proper departments Of the
government for inquiry, and In order that measures
might be Immediately taken, should occasion so re.
quire, for the due enforcement OF the law Inquiry
was accordingly made in every case. In the cases
OF the Georgia and the Shenandoah
NOTHING COULD BE DONE,
since each or these vessels mad already departed
from Her Majesty dominions. In that OF the
Florida no evidence Of unlawful intention was or
could be obtained while she was within the United
Kingdom. In that Of the Alabama, the persons
having possession OF the ship carried her TO sea
before the
ORDER FOR sRIzrNa HER WAS OWEN.
In estimating the reaaVnRbleness OF the Views