The New York herald., 1862-12-20

kDAY, DECEMBEN 70, ]
tho other maritime Powers. We b Nouid hav'
constant interference with tho conn ueroe
those nations, accompanied In some Ses 81
aots or violence; for It would be imposdA pie x
exercise any check upoR tho conduct Of Ki tht
persons who would have command Of these l'rt
vateers. We have seen-in the case Of tn
Trent-how difficult 1t Is for an officer acting
under ofaoial instructions to discriminate a. to
the exact line Of his duty, and how near involv-
Ing US In war slight excess Of zeal may prove
If the government, with the immense navy
which II has at command, cannot rid us of the
Alabama, then we had better bear patiently
with the infiction. 1t will not cure the evil to
rush on others fraught with infinitely more dis
astrous consequences.
The BATTLE OF FREDERICKsBURG-CoNa
sIoNAL INQUIRY INTo THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER
Upon the motion of Senator Wilkinson (re-
publican), of Minnesota, the Senate has directed
an investigation into the causes of the late
disaster at Fredericksburg the Joint Committee
on the Conduct of the War being appointed for
that purpose, and ordered to report to the
Senate The committee is enjoined to particu-
larly inquire "what officer or officers are re-
sponsible for the assault which was made upon
the enemy's works." and also "who is RESPONSE
bic for the delay in meeting the enemy" We
learn that the committee have already proceed
ed to the Rappahannock to prosecute the in
vestigation; and it is further stated that they
are accompanied by Senator Wilson, of Massa-
chusetts, and several others. This last infor-
nation is not very welcome to our readers,
who recollect that Wilson's visits to the army
have been always followed by some calamity,
owing to his fatal meddling with the generals.
After the battle Of Antietam he paid an omi-
nous visit to the Army of the Potomac. Gene
raj Mcclellan was speedily removed from the
command. The object Of his visit to Falmouth
just now is undoubtedly sinister, and probably
to screen the really guilty parties and to throw
the responsibility where it does not belong. We
hope therefore that the committee will be on
their guard against his suggestions, and that
they will make no scapcgoats of subordinates,
but conduct the inquiry with thorough Impair
tiality, so as to get out all the facts. The in
quiry is highly important, and the result ought
to be laid before Congress and the people with
out any unnecessary delay.
1t will soon be seen whether it is
meant as a whitcwashing investigation,
resulting in the verdict Nobody to
blame," or whether the committee will have
the courage and integrity, at this critical no
ment in the existence Of the republic, 10 strike
at high game, anu Geaoance tie criminals, who
ever they may be. 1t is not because we have
plenty Of men that their lives are 10 be unpro-
tected or thrown away by the $4,000 at time.
II such course should be persisted in. our
great army, thus decimated. would soon be
frittered down to handful Enough Of USE
less massacres and purposeless slaughters have
been perpetrated.
! We perceive that a sum of seven hundred
and fifty millions has been voted by Congress
for army expenditure. 1t is very easy for mem
bers of Congress to vote money out of the
pockets of the people. II is not so easy for the
people to pay it. Before they do they want to
know in what manner the money already raised
for the army has been expended and whether
it Is not incumbent on the President to appoint
an entirely different set Of men to manage fl-
turo expenditures. The people are willing to
sxpcnd their treasure and their blood to any
amount for the restoration Of the Union, but
not a cent OF drop Of blood to carry out the
visionary, impracticable ideas of fanatics; nor
will they patiently look on while their sons and
brothers and neighbors are slaughtered by
wholesale through the criminal carelessness or
ignorance Of pretenders, who have never seen
battle, and who undertake, at Washington, to
lead in the field armies of 10000 men. at sixty
or one hundred miles distance, by a click OF the
telegraph. Let the people, therefore, have
light on this vastly important question before
it is too late, and "let justice be done, though
the heavens should fall
TIE ROTTEN SHIPS or THE B.SEs ExPEnI
rIoy.-By reference to our news columns twill
be seen that the ". Ssnord-o one OF the ships OF