New-York tribune., 1890-04-29
A STRANGE EPISODE.
MAKING UNITED STATES BONDS UNDER
PRESSURE.

Immediately, without moments "'"S' nv
obeyed the summons. and found there secretaries
Chase and Seward, in anxious consultation "l'h
the President They wished to know what was
the shortest time within which SlOOOo,oOo III
common fyetwenties7 could be prepared, signed
and issued They were informed that the correct
answer to that inquiry would depend upon the
denominations already printed: that IL suN'icch'
number of the largest denomination OF @l'ooo'
were on hand, they might be issued wI'hm Iour
or five DAYS: if the denominations were smailer'
longer time would be required: thai the NUMBER
printed could be ascertained by sending TO 'hc
Registers Office, for there VAS report from 'he
custodian of unissued bonds made every day.
poth AR Chase and Mr. Seward said that much
time could not be given; that these bon's must
be regularly issued and placed on board the
steamer which was to leave New-iorS for Liver
mol at IL o'clock on tie following Monday, If
this could possibly be done; that the Register
conld command all the resources of the Govern
ment. if necessary but he must see that the bonds
were on board the steamer at the hOur named
There was one conditioD-the bonds mnst Do
regularly and lawfully issued, with nothing on
their face to indicate that the issue was not maze
in the regular course of business
Rv the act of Congress which authorized the
issue of these bonds il was declared that rhey
should be signed by the Register. The cons'ruc-
tion given TO the act i'll the Department was 'I'"'
tho Rccistcr must sign them in person, and that
he could not delegate his authority Any NUM-
ler of clerks could be employed IN their prepare
t;on and entrv but the point of difficulty was
whether the Register could sign them within ,tnc
time There were seventy hours bel Neen the
time of the discussion and Inc hour when the Sc
curi,ies must be on board the special tram 'l'a'
would carry them 10 the steamer Inc tic W"S
long enough. Ten thousand signatures, Inu hnl,rs
Greater number, could he made III seventy h""is;
with proper seasons OF rest ana sleep pa' 'o.i0
the physical strength OF one man hoid o'. 10 M .nc
end of such drcary, monotohous VOTE s"I Mi'm""I
sleep or rest? The question was one OF physicdl
endurance only TO be determined ~ a ui'l. i'"'
a few moments could De spared iol dlScussioih;;
II WAS speedily settled that the k'SlS'eI woNu
"a, ,houf tho task at once: that he wonhi siSn
until his strength gave out lie WoHld 'ncH re-
sign his office the President would appoint an an
other Register who would complete the lsslc ms
vauld lead 10 complications. and was otherwls'
objectionable; but the faith OF the Government
was involved: the emergency J"slined tN"'"'
The immediate occasion of this sudden deter
mination TO issue these securities was a dlspal'n
Just received by Mr. Seward by special nesSri
from Mr. Charles Francis Adams. our NlliliswI'
10 the Court of st. James KS ALREADY mum %
The cable was not in working order. ilu no SUI,
cestion Of the facts had been made 10 tic i So So
Department previous TO the arrival oi tnr I'ro
sencer Its importance was obvious 10 'nr ,To %
Secretaries. but will not be nnderS'GDa .N co"-
reader without explanation covering 'o ",
siderable perioi of time and events "hi'h alN
now for the first time made pupllc
A MENACE TO THE UNIONS SAFETY
Mr. Adams had for several weeks been aware
and had communicated the fact to his Govern
mont that the Ncssrs. Laird extensive snip
builders. were building at their yards in Brken-
bead near Liverpool, TWO armorcd vessels for The
Confederate Government. They were TO be fur
nished with powerful engines and capable OF great
speed When completed they were to proceed II
a small unfrequented British island IN the West
Indies where they were to DE delivered 10 The
aqcnts of the Confederacy. They were then 10
receive their armament, previously seat thlther.
take their crews Oh board and then ser iorth on
their pTatical cruises, after the example oi The
Alabama After sweeping our remaining com
merce from the seas. by burning md sinking
every merchandising bearing our nag, they Were
10 come upon our own coast. scatter our oiock-
aiding feet. and open all the Southern pofls 10
British commerce. which would no longer be re-
uuired TO take the great risk Of breaking the
blockade This feat was TO be accomplished by
vessels which had never entered Oonlcdcralr
port ,or indeed any harbor which was NOT COW
cred by the British some other nag wlch pro
tected the iron-clads against pursuit or capture
by vessels of the United States Navy.
Greater danger than these vessels never threat
encd the safety of the Union. In tonnage aria-
menf and speed. they were intended 10 be superior
to the kearsargc and every vessel OF our navy
Their armor was supposed TO render mem
invulncrable II the blockade was not
maintained, immediate recognition of the
belcerent character of the rebels hX brrat brlt'In
was Anticipated Even if that did not take place.
AL the cotton gathered in Confederate porS wonld
lc released and find profitable market Wmie ih'
old wooden vessels. now principally consul ullh~
the hlockading feet. would moi resist one OF tnfs'
ironclad vessels long enough for second broad
side.
Mr. Adams. With lis accustomed energy not
withstandirg the secrecy III which Al the Con
federate movements in Great Britain were
shrondcd he had collected and laid before the
English authorities clear proofs Of the rebel owner
ship and intended unlawful purpose OF these YES
nt mo
tracts under which the Messrs Laird were build
ing them and had ascertained the fact that pay
mcnts on their account had been made from pro
cpeds of cotton owned by tie toDicdeftcN ne
had represented that the evidence FURNISHED by
him. verified by the oaths nf credible witnesses
sufficient not only 70 lnstliy tncIr >'/lc' p.'
10 secure their condemnation in the courts. and hc
had insisted. with force apparently un'hsWer-
able that il was the duty of Great lritoin 10
prevent these vessels from leaving the Mcrsey and
setting forth upon their piratical career
OBJECTIONS RAISED BY. CROWN OFFICERS
But unfortunately. the sympathps OF the party
in power in England were not with the Union
cause. II suited the views of the law officers Of
the Crown not 10 interfere. and 10 excuse Their
inactiob by raising objections to the legal suili
cheney of the evidence The situation WAS per
fcctly comprehended by thr President and his
Cabinet, but remonsrance appeared 10 be I'M
availine and the departure OF the vessels was eN
pected at early day.
Homeless as the task appeared 10 he neither
Mfr Adams nor his active agents relaxed tier cf-
forts for a moment Their recent investigations
had been prosecuted with such energy that the
Minister had finally been able 10 furnish the Brit
ish Premier with The sworn aiidavts of some Of
the officers and men actually enlisted in Liver
pool and other English cities for service these
vessels: that the advance payments 10 these men
had been made by Confederate agents; that the
ships were TO leave the Mersey at an early APP
pointed date for an island near Bermuda; That
their guns and ammunition had already been
sent thither. Mr. Adams had also secured the
names of several Of the ships officers, with copies
of their commissions, bearing the signature of
President Davis and the seal of the tOnfcdcracy.
The last stalment OF afiidavltS forwarded by
our Minister proved 10 he more than the Crown
LAWYERS could digest They covered every defect
named in their former objections: they could not
le answered even by a special demurrer. They
were recnforccd by the caustic pen Of Mr.. Adams.
whose argument clearly pointed ont the duty
l.--... 4 IL.