The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-10-26
LATEST fRoa Eu.nePf !.
heizsye IF TIE Stain R.cas-7Ae Anasi a s,.a.
npo9. Theaa-- Ct1oiseats IF Tie
Lo.4doa Press

the 18th last, has arrived at ~. J0iluss. Tho
most importanf by this asfisal y ~ seisu:e
Of the two steam rams by the nsifish GeesnMsss'
They were taken possessfoH n N The ~ Inst,
ard the sshroad arrow'' (oevsmneSs nAsk} wAs
branded on hoth vessels. Tbs- Lsadoa &tepaeA
has the isllowiAg nntice - fihttfyest: =. 4.
+ The two sieaha sans eonstsacseE ~ MG3lf4.
Laird ~ Liverpool have been seized By order Vi
Government. Our correspondent at the port, un
whom we can place every reliance, iaforms us BY
telegraph that the instructions were received ~
the Custom authorities yesterday afternoon, and
were Immediately carried ont. To the public
generally this resnl. val, occasion ss1yi for
had already intsmateh na. the subject sras snder clos
and earnea inrei9ation, and depended of course,
upon the facts and upon the bearing Of the &C.
knoViedged public law taken In relation with
those facts what the ultimate conclusion should
be. Some weeks have elapsed since we referred
to the subject; the length of time was in itself
proof of the care, and we may say Of the pains,
given TO the question, ana hence those out OF
doors could not assume the upshot one way or the
other.
from the decision; 10 1t to be- expected thatthe
roabioas relrtiOns Of neutrnls to beigerants even
when they are kept ON their most precise and
sound footing, should be entirely free from en-
| barras<nent. We may, for instance, appTe Bend
that some among the Federais will regard tn pro
ceeding dictated by the threats which have been
1eveled at this c0untry--unOfiealiy, no doubt,
for vi have admitted that the tenor Of The com
municaion from Washington orcasiOaed no just
ground for complaint. but the public OF the
Northern States is likely enough to ascribc the
ssconcession; to judIcions reverence for Amsri-
power and daring; and IL would not at all sur
prise II the event wese associated zciM caftain
unprecedented phe'omeae f he Rassan 'sarg at se'o
York.
That the necessity OF expediency Of the seizure
was self evident, il apparent from the time ba.
slowed on the inquiry into the facts; aad it also
shows clearly enough how deeply Impressed was
Her Majesty Ministers with the paramount ifn-
portance OF keeping the duties, and, therefore,
the correiutive rights "f neutras clear from any
new ambiguity. independently cf abiding cnnsid-
prations which would suggcst that zeaGus can
| tion--the vsiy interest ofihis county In secnr
ing the greatest disinesRess and the Aost general
observance Of maritime law-ihe present condi-
ton o the worii forces the whole cless of sub
iecss upon our attention with peculiar emphasis.
| 1t is impossible to assert that We may not, At
very early date, have TO appeal to the .naranfees
and immuniies of the international ood%; and Ill
would that Minister serve his Sovereign or his
country who should, In view Of these very CON-
teeth on the 1t occasion !ae u"roased, cnd. to
say the les c it, odd crAise Of the Russian f3ecs he'd
ether effect ssM al leaa hare reminded psb
lie sesraHts MT to fsr9d Themselves ya.a noc. But as
we stated long since, they had already applied
themselves to the work With all honest diligence;
and IL did not prove to be chiids play. The actual
law the case vas not 20 ready cut and dry a.
some might suppose. Plima fdcie tho probabilities
lay against the need or even the power of seizure.
That the shipwri yhts Of a neutral country have
a right make ships for the market If the world;
tina, the does not lapse Oh the nete opening OF
q war in which their GOvernmt Mt has no concern;
that the actual knowledge of practical and par
tcular demand IN the market aforesaid no more
destroys their right than their chance Of profit
these, we believes conclusions which can be as
little gainsaid they can with regard TO gunpOw
der, rifles, Sheffield cutlery SO far as the facts
Of the present have been, not known, but
surmised. il might have been conjsctured that
Messrs. Laird had every ground for free trade iB
their business; and well aware that certain
Of the very a;les, esi.'s in this country possibly
we might venture to guess that even some who
we're in yet more responsible posijOn-at fret in
cliEed to the opinion that the International code
would afford neither the requirement nor the war
rant to arrest the departure OF the vessels.
At the same time all who are familiar with the
special branch Of study, even in its accidencc,
must be aware no persons, subjects of a neutrul
Power, are at liberty to accept direct commits
sion from begerent TO construct and equip war
chips for iu hOstiiities against aD ally Of that
neutral. The practical question In the present
case, therefore, wus. not whether shpbuildets N
OF amy ., sy ne sa
under The flag of the bcilgerenfior OH that point
we have no doubt-but whether the shipbulders
specifically named had, avOwedy or asces:aiLa-
bly,, accepted the orders OF the bei'sgesehts
through his agents; and ii so, whether the mode
Of proceeding was such TO render the British
subjects amenable TO the charge OF Infringing the
law of DeutrRls.
In that event, Of course, the Government OF
those British subjects must bold Itself responsible
fn. the due enforcement OF the law. II is not Tor
conmerca! gentlemen who should turn out to be
so much at fault la the comprehension OF thei:
Own liabilities; nor need We spend moment in
askiDs by what lack Of discretion or Invention
they stumbled into so false position. Al tire pro-
per season, no doubt, the grounds of the step
which we now report will be fully explained
meanwhile, We are bound TO take the result as
| showing that the eminent firm 4 question had
permitted itself to become alnenable the public
law and in the act itself we have the substantial
test of the assurance We have already given, that
whatever the decision Vi the lsw should prove 10
be- itsacould Immediately be cyoTced 'osthoM fear Or
! favor.
| The London Daily Ne,cs believes that every
| English gentleman, whose reason has not neen
blinded by prejudice aud passion, will congratu-
late hioiseif upon the step taken by the Govern
| mept In seiztng the rams.
The London Morning Herald considers the act
as significant that Earl Russell 4'as rnccumbed 10
the pressure put upon bin BY the Federal Govern
ment.
The IimS in an editorial On the seizure OF the
irOI ;ams, Is glad that the question must now be
a.sued on its proper legal merits. II adds The
vessels will now either leave the Mersey With
clear bills or not ut all.
Two war vessels had been on the alert TO pre-
vent any attempted departure OF the Toms.
prOpo siiioI, II was stated, had come from tho
a.kish Government to hny the TsWs.
Henry Ward Beecher made speech 10 Liver.
moo, ,.u the i0h inst, at which the following seere
occurred;
tia ooin,ed rcnarks were frequently greeted
AiIh rounds Of applause, aud when q notice was
read that the broad arrow OF the Government had
that day been placed On the suspected steam rams
in the Mersey the enthusiasm reached ks climax {.
The whole audience Toss, voeiferously cheering
| and waving hats and bandkeIehiefs.
The Liverpool, Post of the 10Th, says:
Yesterday the members Of the Preston Bysnch
Of the Southern Ciab, forwarded . menoTiaI 70
EaRi Russell relative ~ the steam rams In the Mcr
sey. &c. The memorial was 20 the effect THAI the
meirnbers Of the above club had learned with con
adorable regret that the Government bad det..r-
nlned 10 detain TWO vessels III the MeTsey; thnt ~
mere Was proof, hut only suspicion, OF the de y
tination nj those vessels, and the law declares
there must be at all times thorough, s"hei per
auason and satisfaction In respect 10 me guilt a
the marty accused, tt woald be departure from the
principle a. the Engiish Constitution the vessels
| in aues,ion 10 he detained that by deeain,fG
| ,he vessels the "wished wishes'' oil shose who
were dehiinr tOsssuhiuyate ard ~xtrpate the hSave
| people Of the South" would be ~ much complied
win ~ II the vesseis were delivered up TO them.
The ehasae Ter Of the speeches o. the New YoSk
banquet 10 the oficers of the Russian heet had In
| vokrd considerable comment IN England.
The Iondon 1Smes, In speaking q The A,nssieau
| statrmcpts In regard 20 the kpssiaM Aeet In
the American waters, rays ssthnf the RussiU
sauadson Of the Eastern ocean should winfer ID
an Americsn port 70 escape the lee ID the Dalai<
sea, and thus be nearer iis cruising souAd In shl
stance. To build spnn q such disefAl eoMse
Quenees all the world ~ have been pssdieaed h
nos AsneTtcaA. 10 u absurd. Il % % ahsufdll,
even thar ought ~ b too mild fue senUD osaluss
II viii BE obsesvedtAes The lnsaiaa snA Amsdeau
Adni,sls, who are real oGcesa an1 sailass, q -.
y belsast v Z pssssa nsnsd Walesadoss wae y