The New York herald., 1862-12-20

IN december. Only regular ocean steamer
ousns TO be entrusted with the lives Of on
Dl.se troops on such a voyage, particularly a
anls season Of the year. There Is no spot b
aae Atlantic where the sea D more boisteroul
snan on Cape Hatteras and to pat troops OF
Doe1d OF these rotten ships ana send tiism beyond
taat point In the middle Of winter shows an
uHer rscklessness Of human Life, in keeping with
that whi,sh caused the massacre OF Fredevicks.
burg. These vessels are oil under the direc.
tion and control Of the War Department, and
not the Secretary Of the Navy. A resolution
OF inquiry has been moved In Congress to
ascertain who are responsible, and We hope the
truth will be brought out and the guilty parties
punished. Certainly one or more ought to be
put on trial for their lives in connection with
the Banks expedition, and unless somebody is
hanged justice will not have been done. On
sea andland our troops are fearfully sacrificed
by the blunders of the War Department. Let
the law take its course.
CONFEDERATE PRvATEERs-Im ENarLsg
WORKING on THE FEARS or Our SHlpowNERs-
1t Is q noteworthy fact that most of the reports
OF the appearance Of the Alabama here and
there on the Atlantic como from British COM
manders. If we were to believe all that we
hear in this way, it would follow that the far
famed vessel Of Semmes is endowed with the
ubiquitous qualities Of the Flying Dutchman
A Demerara paper, Just received, contains a
statement which is made on the same au-
thority. II is to the offcct that now rebel
privateer, the Virginia-formerly the Wyo-
ming-overhauled British vessel, the Milo,
in tho West India waters, and after examining
her papers let her 60. There may be some
foundation for this statement; but, seeing the
industry with which similar reports are circu-
lated by tho masters of British vessels we are
not inclined to place much faith in it. 1t is
clearly the object Of these mon to create such
panic among American shippers as viii
insure to themselves monopoly Of the carry
ing trade enjoyed by our vessels. They there
fore seek to scare them with the reports OF
such frequent meetings with Confederate pri-
yateers as will induce the belief that there is
but little chance Of safety for a Union vessel
crossing the ocean. Even the British govern
ment lends its countenance to this trick, as will
be seen by the following reply Of Earl Russell
to communication addressed 10 him on the
subject by the Secretary of the Liverpool Cham
Der Of Commerce
SRI am directed by Earl Russell 10 reply TO your lot
ter OF the 9th inst respecting the destruction by the
Confederate steamer Alabama Of British property,
barked IN American vessels, captured burned by that
steamer Earl Russell desires me to state to you tina:
British property board vessel belonging o the
bellgerents must be subject to all the risks and contn
cefned The OF any British property not
band Of board federal vessel, captured and de-
stroycd BY Confederate vessel-o war, may claim,
Confederate prize court compensation for the destruction
OF such property.
In other words. Earl Russell recommends
that none but British vessels should be en-
ployed for British freights. Those freighting
federal vessels, he says, must take the risk OF
the total loss of their property in case Of cap
turc; for recourse to Confederate prize court
for compensation is tantamount to this.
Although ostensibly intended for the Liver
pool merchants, thore is no doubt that his lord
ships letter was written for effect at this sae.
We trust that our shipowners will not be SO
silly as to be frightened by such shallow de-
vices If it suits the purpose Of British mer-
chants to incur the risk of running the block
ade, the exploits of one or two Confederate
privatcers are surely not sufficient to scare
American commerce from it's accustomed high
ways