Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-12-11

2Sb. The number q psfsons employed
~ board Of our naval vesseIs, including
= eceiving slips and recruits IL about 2s,-
900 and there are not less than l2,OOO
mechanics and laborers employed at
the different navy yards aud naval So.
tions. II wonld be difficult TO state the
number employed At private yards and
Embellishments on government wo'H
and under contracts with the Depart.
ment. The subject Of harbor deienses
10 disnissed with the single remark hist
the Notifications Of our principal forts
are believed to be adequate for their
protection.
The Secretary displays healthy indig-
nation 10 his discussion Of the fitting out
Of pirate vessels in English ports. Hav-
ing mentioned the exploits Of the Sum
ter and Alabama, be says: "Ihe p.
ratioai privsteer 900, or Alabama, has
no register nor record, NO regular ships
papers not evidence OF transfer, and no
vessel captured BY her has ever been
cent into any port tor adjudication and
condemnation. All forms OF law which
civilization has introduced to protect
and guard against private rights, and all
those regulations Of public justice hlch
distinguish and discriminate the legal.
zed naval vess,l from the pirate, are
disrega,ded and violated by this lawless
rover, which though built in and sail.
ing from England, has no acknowledged
flag or recognized nationality, nor any
accessible port to which to send any
ship she NAV seize, nor any legal trbu.
nal TO adjndge her capture. Under the
E"gl'sh flag, 10 which they contided,
and 10y the torch of the incendiary, APP
pesling to their humanity our merchant
men have been lnred 10 destrnc ION.
She was built and fitted out in British
ports in A.graut violation OF British law
and of the royal proclamation Of neu
,ral, y, aud 1 hsye reason to believe
that her crew is composed almost cxclu-
81 ely Of British subjects, or persons
who, pursuing u Lawful voy age, would be
entitled TO ship and receive protection rs
British scamen. Before this pira,ical
cruiser lett Great Britain the authorI,ies
Of that country were informed bs the re.
cognlzed official agents Of this Governs
ment OF her character and purposes.
the BRUSH Government, thus invoked,
came too late TO prevent her sailing.
To what extent, under these ci,cnm-
stances, the Government OF Gtcat BIit.
an 10 boand in honor and jastico TO
make decentralization for the destruction
of private property which this lawl.ss
vessel may perpetrate, is question that
NAV present itself for Disposal. / is al
lnded TO now aud here, not only from a
sense Of duty towards our commercial
interests and rights, but also by reason
OF the fact that recent intelligence ind'-
Gates the, still other vessels Of similar
character are being fitted out 10 British
ports TO depred~,e upon our commerce.
Our ow0 cruisers not being permitted TO
remain in Blush ports TO guard against
these ortrages, Tor to coal while cruising,
nor TO repair damages IN their harbors
when injuries are sustained, the arrest
of them is difficult, aud attended with
great uncertainty. This Depa, tmcnt has
dispatched vessels to effect the capture
of the Alabama, and there is now quite
fleet on the ocean, engaged in pursuing
her"
Abiding to the naval expeditions past
and prospective, the Secretary takes a
glimpse into the future, when they shall
have accomplished their work "But a
,, short time can elapse before the few re-
naming ports which are still in the pos
session Of the insurgents, will be reduced
I, our naval or military occupation and
authority. When the instruction is
thus excluded from the coast there may
be presented for decision, and its near
approx,maiio ion makes allnslon TO II jusli.
fable, the grave and important question
whether, iu so far as relates tn all such
ports and places on the insurgent sea
coast thus actually held and controlled
by the National Government in time o.
war, for war purposes, and by the power
of war, it he not our right and Outy &c
dismiss the costly apparatue and embar-
RAISING formalties aud rules of All inter.
national blockade, and TO substitute in
;. place Of within all ,he ports apd
, places held and occupied by our forces
. our own domestic authority TO contro
, all trade therein, as We control every
! thing else there, and thus TO subject a
/, such points all commerce. coast wise an,
!. foreign, of export or import, to sucl
conditions and restrictions and rcgula
/. tions, either OF sdmisslon or exclusion
! as wise war pol cy may prescribe, an'
j. present war power, sfioat in the lar
Dor, or on shore in a military custom
). house, may enforce
= Synopsis Of the Report Of the SecTetar,