The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-22
Engllsh Neutrality.
From the Cinchnanti Gazette,

It is stated that feet of iron clad vessel,
is being constructed in English shipyards fol
the rebels. The information comes through
various sources apparently reliable, and some
English papers confess it, and some boast o.
it. Mr.. Gladstone may have spoken upor
this evidence when he said the Southern lead
ers were creating navy. 1t has come to b
regarded as matter of course that the rebels
are building vessels of war in England; snd
when the sailing of pirate like the Alabama
from British port, or the arrival of an armed
vessel or shipload of arms from England al
a southern port is announced, the public looks
upon it as natural event. Yet where is the
British neutrality, on which they SO virtuous-
ly plume themselves? Do neutral govern.
ments permit ships of war for the belligerents
to be built in their shipyards, and to sail
openly out of their ports. 1t is certainly q
new style of neutrality, and it will illustrate
English faith.
The fact is that besides the English sympa-
thies with the rebellion, and their desire for
the division of this nation, they have direct
interest in the destruction Of our merchan,
navy, so as to throw the commerce into their
hands. A risk that will drive American
ships from trade, will double the trade of Eng.
lish vessels. To this end English merchants
are allied with the rebels in levying war upon
American commerce, and are subscribing large
sums to build armed ships to sail out of Brit.
ish ports under the British flag, to hoist the
Confederate bars and fall upon our unsuspect.
ing merchantmen. While pretending peace,
England is treachorously reaping all the adj
vantages ofwar without exposing herselfto any
pitts retaliations
The course Of our Government in the
Canadian rebellion was in marked con.
trast with this. Our neutrality was not
proclamation to give responsibility to the re.
bellion, but an active principle. The Gov
eminent placed military force on the from
tier to prevent the organization Of those who
sympathized with the rebellion, or who would
have joined it merely from love of adventure,
and to stop all supplies. But for this the Can
adisn rebellion might have had efficient re-
cult, for it had cause which appealed direct-
ly to the sympathies Of the American people.
Suppose that instead the Government had
prpocoimed neutrality recognizing the Can
adams as beligerent power; and then hsd re-.
NAMED passive, while the Canadian rebels and
outside adventures and our own merchants
built and EQUIPPED armed steamers in the har-
bors of New York and Boston, to sail out and
fall unawares upon English commerce. And
- Az sN~Asa0AA We SupPo9o Suos . OAASsS0 uaous
Of war, sent to watch ports where these yes.
sells were preparing, should be ordered off the
coast by our feet, We would have parallel
case to that which the British Government BOW
presents. By this course English commerce
might have been plundered till it was swept
from the seas, without any risk to this nation.
But would that be called neutrality? Would
not the English Government have promtly
changed the treacherous, pirstical war into
and open and general war! And would not
the powers of the world have justified her
in it? Our case is the same. The sailing of
every ship load Of arms for the rebel Confed-
eracy gives US cause against England Eng.
land is guilty Of every merchandising and cargo
burned by these pirates fitted out in her ports.
We may have to bide our time for enforcing
this responsibility, but this notorious treach-
cry should be made the subject of an emphat.
ic remonstrance to the British Government,
and at least we may lay up the example set us
by England for future Improvement.
iO
ARMY HOSPITAL THIRvEs.-We are Glad n
learn that an investigation has been instituted
to ascertain the truth of the complaints from
the army that certain swinish surgeons and Of,
fcers. to appropriate their persona. uses the best
Of the sanitary stores that are sent for the sol.
diers in the hospitals. From information tina,
we have no doubt that there is truth in the
charges. The Sanitary Commission owes it Il
itself and to the good people who contribute