The New York herald., 1862-10-17

;.
every political creed, from the federalist to the
republican. just now this wonderful man pro-
fesses to be Roman Catholic and an abolition
ist. His conversions are 80 sudden, however,
that he may be an Atheist and secessonist
before Christmas. What sort of representa-
tive, then, would he be in Congress Of the pious
and conservative State of New Jersey? Let him
follow his own inclinations "remain al home
and pursue his accustomed studies;" stick to
the Pope OF Rome-who sadly needs his aid
and become an Abelard, Newton or Des-
cartes. With all his versatility he cannot have
so soon rcnounced the opinions expressed in his
last Reviesc, and, with such opinions, his nomi-
nation as "a friend Of the administration" is an
attempt at political swindling.
The Rebel Cruiser AIsbama ana Her
DcPredati0ns.
A very unusual excitement prevailed in our
commercial and financial circles yesterday, in
consequence OF the news of the terrible work Of
destruction commenced by the rebel priyateer,
the Alabama, or $780," among our whaling and
merchant vessels on the high seas. The intsll-
gence Of these depredations, however, 80 close
behind the warning that the robber had taken
to the road, was very naturally calculated to
produce q sensation.
But this sensation was not little increased
by the arrival in this city yesterday of Captain
Hagar, of the late ship Brilliant Gone of the ten
or dozen vessels already destroyed by this in
ccndiary rebel cruiser), and by his startling in
formation concerning her. Thus it appears that
the Alabama is very fast and powerful armed
steamer, and is commanded by that experienced
and daring freebooter, Raphael Semmes (of the
Sumter) and provided with a crew of which
Capt Kidd himself would have been proud; that
Semmes has made the ocean highway between
the British islands and the United States his
cruising ground, and that one very ingenious
and dangerous trick of strategy in his plan of
operations is, in capturing ship, to hold it till
night, and then to fire it. OF course every yes
sci within reach of the scene is attracted by the
confagration, and hastens to the spot for the
benevolent purpose of picking up such of the
unlucky ships crew as may be still adoat
Thus with the mornings dawn, the rebel in
cendiary may find two, three or half dozen
prizes within his grasp.
1t is not difficult TO believe that under this
most ingenious of all piratical devices millions
of dollars worth of the property Of our loyal
people may be seized, burned or sunk in the
sea before we can put an end to the career of
this rebel piratical craft. To make the matter
worse, it appears that the rebels at Liverpool
Glasgow, and some other British shipyards,
have three or four other steamers, similar to
the Alabama, nearly ready for sea, and all
designed for the same profitable business.
What, then, are we to do? The true course
was suggested by our merchants and our New
England fishermen in their propositions year
ago to the Navy Department in behalf Of
large number of volunteer armed cruisers to
keep the Atlantic clear of these rebel corsairs
and to make our blockade complete and eff
Gent
Now is the time for our merchants, together
with those Of Philadelphia and Boston, to act
upon this idea, and to prepare, without loss
Of time, number of swift and powerful
armed steamers to look after these rebel
marine guerillas. We have some hope that
Admiral Wilkes, with his flying squadron, may
before long fall in with this Captain Semmes
and send him to Symmes' Hole. We under
stand, too, that the Vanderbilt, one of the very
fastest ships afioat, is nearly ready to set out
upon this important mission; but at the same
time the prOverbial slowness of old Mr. Welles
should admonish our commercial men to put
their own hands to the work, and with the fixed
resolution that the work shall be done.
The blacklist and most repulsive feature Of
this rebel piratical business is the Financial
and material aid'' which it receives from Eng
land. We have recovered all the shipyards of
our revolted States, and the rebels cannot now,
within the dominions Of JEFF. Davis, get up
steam vessel equal to voyage across the At
lantic But England is ready to supply them
on the most accommodating TERMS and the de-
vice is practically armed intOvention against
us, without the drawbacks of actual war; We
must be expeditions, however, in suppressing
this nuisance of these Anglo-Southern confede-
racy cruisers, or We know not what may be the
consequences.
Political RAID ON WALL STREET.--We are
living in extraordinary tmes-in a season noted