Volume 2 / Part 4 — CHAPTER XXXI.
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Naval Affairs (concluded).—Excitement in the Northern States on the Appearance of our Cruisers.—Failure of the Enemy to protect their Commerce.—Appeal to Europe not to help the So-called "Pirates."— Seeks Iron-plated Vessels in England.—Statement of Lord Russell.— What is the Duty of Neutrals?—Position taken by President Washington.—Letter of Mr. Jefferson.—Contracts sought by United States Government.—Our Cruisers went to Sea unarmed.—Mr. Adams asserts that British Neutrality was violated.—Reply of Lord Russell.—Rejoinder of Mr. Seward.—Duty of Neutrals relative to Warlike Stores.—Views of Wheaton; of Kent.—Charge of the Lord Chief Baron in the Alexandra Case.—Action of the Confederate Government sustained.—Antecedents of the United States Government.—The Colonial Commissions.—Build and equip Ships in Europe.—Captain Conyngham's Captures.—Made Prisoner.— Retaliation.—Numbers of Captures.—Recognition of Greece.— Recognition of South American Cruisers.—Chief Act of Hostility charged on Great Britain by the United States Government.—The Queen's Proclamation: its Effect.—Cause of the United States Charges.—Never called us Belligerents.—Why not?—Adopts a Fiction. The Reason.—Why denounce our Cruisers as "Pirates"?— Opinion of Justice Greer.—Burning of Prizes.—Laws of Maritime War.—Cause of the Geneva Conference.—Statement of American Claims.—Allowance.—Indirect Damages of our Cruisers.—Ships transferred to British Registers.—Decline of American Tonnage.— Decline of Export of Breadstuffs.—Advance of Insurance.