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PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK
ON THE
BURNING OF THE SHIP BRILLIANT,
BY THE
REBEL PIRATE ALABAMA,
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1862.
NEW YORK
(The burning of the unarmed merchant ship Brilliant by the Alabama was
on 10/3/1862.)
Down Mersey way she sailed forth
To destroy the commerce of the North
"Roll, Alabama, Roll" [thanx Chris Ryall &
http://www.cavendish.demon.co.uk/birkenhead/
("Alabama" links)]
Details & depositions available of the Procedings: Chamber of Commerce of
the State of NY at http://www.slis.ua.edu/tgtest/cssala/chamber2.htm. The
Resolutions were:
Resolved, That this Chamber has heard with profound emotion the graphic
account given by Captain HAGAR, of the burning of his ship, "Brilliant,"
on the 3d day of October, instant, a portion of which is in the following
words:
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At sunset the Brilliant was fired; at 7 P.M. was in flames for
and aft, the Emily Farnham lying about a mile from her. The ship
continued to burn all night. In the morning the steamer was close
at hand; and the ship seen the afternoon before had worked up to
the burning wreck during the night, probably with the expectation
of saving life, but daylight found herself in the clutches of her
destroyer! It continued calm during all day, and but a light air
during the night. Towards midnight a bright light was seen in the
direction of the steamer, and it is more than probable it was
from the third ship.
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Resolved, That in view of this atrocity, it is the duty of this chamber to
announce, for the information of all who are interested in the safety of
human life--the life of ship-wrecked passengers and crews--that henceforth
the light of a burning ship at sea will become to the American sailor the
signal that lures to destruction; and will not be, as in times past, the
beacon to guide the generous and intrepid mariner to the rescue of the
unfortunate.
Resolved, That henceforth, self-preservation will be the first dictate of
prudence, as it is the "first law of nature;" and consequently, that the
destruction of the "Brilliant" can be only characterized as a crime
against humanity; and all who have knowingly and willingly aided and
abetted, must be considered as participators in the crime.
Resolved, That this Chamber has not failed to notice a rapid change in
British sentiment, transforming a friendly nation into a self-styled
"neutral" power, the nature of whose neutrality is shown in permitting
ships to go forth with men, and in permitting an armament to follow them
for the detestable work of plundering and destroying American ships, thus
encouraging upon the high seas an offence against neutral rights, on the
plea of which, in the case of the "Trent," the British government
threatened to plunge this country into war.
Resolved, Further, that the outrage of consigning to destruction, by fire,
without adjudication, British and American property together, is an
aggravation of the offence against the rights of neutrals, and ought to be
denounced as a crime by the civilized nations of the world.
Resolved, That this Chamber has heard, with amazement, that other vessels
are fitting out in the ports of Great Britain, to continue the work of
destruction begun by the "Alabama;" an enormity that cannot be committed
on the high seas without jeopardizing the commerce and peace of nations.
Resolved, Further, that it is the duty of this Chamber to warn the
merchants of Great Britain, that a repetition of such acts as the burning
of the "Brilliant," by vessels fitted out in Great Britain, and manned by
British seamen, cannot fail to produce the most wide-spread exasperation
in this country; and, hence they invoke the influence of all men who value
peace and good-will among the nations, to prevent the departure of other
vessels, of the character referred to, from their ports, and so to avert
the calamity of war.
Resolved, That it is the desire of this Chamber, as it is the interest of
all its members, to cherish sentiments of amity with the people of Great
Britain, to maintain those cordial relations which have led to profitable
intercourse, and to strengthen the ties that knit them together in mutual
courtesy and respect.
Resolved, That copies of the foregoing preamble and resolutions be sent to
the Hon. Secretary of State, and the Hon. Secretary of the Navy, of the
United States, and to the Boards of Trade of London and Liverpool. And
that the Secretary of State be requested to transmit copies of the same to
the diplomatic agents of the United States, for distribution in other
commercial countries.
© Abby Sale - all rights reserved
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