The New York herald., 1862-12-29

@~"sO ~Si10N su0 VOSaoiOO W S.uc sxusuSs H0t
faithful ally, pertsds Albion. Lord Palmers-
ton understands Louis Napoleon too well to
expose himself to any sudden treachery on the
part of the latter. So England will, perforcs,
give up Greece. and WILL bide her time for rs-
turning with interest the new obligation she is
under to France. This she will soon be ena-
blsd to do should Napoleon continue his
schemes for conquest on this continent.
The Greek question, which bade fair to dis
turb the equilibrium Of the great Powers of
Europe, now seems to be in fair way for set
Element, should the people Of Greece accept
the ruler proposed to them by the nations most
directly interested; but ~ yet that consent Is
not positive fact, and complications may still
arise from refusal on the part of the Greeks
to accept the rule Of Fe rdinand.
The Pirate Alabama and the Navy Ds.
partment.
The alarming fact that the pirate vessel Ala
bama has succeeded in capturing ono Of our
California steamships puts new phase upon
the proceedings Of that craft, and should stir
up the Navy Department to sense of the dam
ger which menaces eur whole carrying trade
on the Atlantic, and indeed on every ocean.
1t was no matter of surprise that the
Alabama-which proves to be q ship Of
immense speed should repeatedly destroy
our sailing vessels; but it was hardly thought
that she could run down and capture with per-
feet ease . steamship like the Ariel. That
she has done so, therefore, should be warning
to Mr. Secretary Welles-K, indeed, anything
can stimulate that funotionary to action-that
at the present time our commerce on the high
seas is absolutely without protection.
For the past two years the government
have been creating an immense navy, until
now there are nearly three hundred vessels
at its command. Yet one craft alone, boldly
flying the rebel flag, it appears, can sweep the
ocean without molestation. The swiftest
steamship we have-the vanderbilt---was re-
jected by Mr.. Welles, and it was only through
the fundamentally of the President and the
War Department that her services were secured
at all. She could make short work Of the
Alabama if she came athwarl her. Then
there are two other vessels which are
now in the transport service-the Atlantic and
Baltic-and might be fitted out without much
could be armed with one gun Of large calibre-
say hundred FOUNDER. Plenty of officers
would be found to take command of them, and
either Of them could outsail the rebel vessel
Three other steamers of great speed are also Or
soon will be at the disposal of Mr.. Welles for
this seryice-the Connecticut, which has gone
South somewhere; the Rhode Island, which il
du for ond ho niS
this feet Of fast steamers the career Of the Ala
bnma could soon be brought to an end, if we
had an active and vigilant officer At the head Of
the Navy Department, instead Of fossil like
Mr.. Weles, who will probably wake up to
conviction Of the real state of affairs when our
marine commerce is totally demolished.
II is fast coming to that dsplorable condition
now. Our merchant vessels are seized without
mercy. The national fag Is no longer pro-
lection. Our shipowners and merchants are
60 terrified ct the danger which menaces their
property that they will not venture to trust it
upon the ocean, except under the sgis of some
foreign ensign. England il openly and boast
fully aiding this privateer system, of
which Captain Semmes il the leading spirit;
and she is doing SO in order T.
destroy the carrying trade Of this
country, and transfer it to British bottoms.
She is working out this object successfully.
The British or some other foreign flags are the
only ones under which an American vessel can
dare cross the ocean or venture into the Gulf
Earl Russell declared with apparent candor,
but with real malice. that, as far as the British
government was concerned, all parties, whether
subjects of Great Britain or others, should navi-
for escaping the rebel pirate vessels like the
Alabama and the two or three other smaller
craft which occasionally. turn up in different
quarters. At the same time the British govern
ment is treacherously fostering the fitting out Of
armed rebel vessels in its own ports, with q
view to so cripple the merchant marine Of this
country and render the seas so dangerous for
American vessels that British ships will enjoy
the whole carrying trade Of the Atlantic.
The commander Of the Ariel, after escaping
from the clutches Of Semmes by giving heavy
bonds as ransom for his vessel, very prudent
ly declined bringing back any treasure on his
return voyage, and consequently left million
of dollars behind at Aspinwall because he had
no convoy, no protection whatever to hope for
from our armed vessels, and he knew that he was
at the mercy Of the rebel pirate II she should
lie in wait for him. The gold Of California,
therefors-the product of our wealthiest
State--is no longer safe in vessels sailing under
the flag Of this republic, to our shame be it
told. That portion Of eur carrying trade also,
we suppose, must be entrusted to British ves-
sells, ~ the American navy will not be permit
ted to protect It.
Is this disgraceful state Of things to continue?
For the hsnor Of the natisn we trust not Are
our coasts to be swept byhostils vesssls7 Is oar
flag to be dIshopored, and great maritime |
country like ours to be dependent upon foreign |
shins Cor fha fransnortafion Of its own freasnre