New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-22

England may be involved, the Government Oh
the United States should adopt the principe'
which England has prOfessed with regard "
the Alabama, has evidently been taken i"'o
consideration. We quoted, few days "sO, .,
article of The Saturday Rerie0, paper "u'o
has never concealed its hostility to the OH'on'
but which, on this occasion, Warneu Ito 'VU",
trymen not 70 e,tablisb dangerous precedent
by failing to prevent the fitting out O' Pi'VS'
teers. The Saturday Rsrp'7 s'anoS D! III nieanS
alone IN tbo uttsrance of such sentiments. The
Co,L F,omiuer of April 6, says that 1t believes
Tho South nust wiz, and ought to win, but
+bs+ :, tbis ouestiOn it agrees with The Star,
which considers the arrest OF the gun
bo.t Alexandra as an event OF exceedingly
GOOD omen, and suggests that the builders
sbooId be prosecuted under the Foreign En-
Istment Act in order to prevent recurrence
of the same Ofense."
The same sentiments which caused Tie Satur-
dan Rerisp and The Cork Examiner to speak
for once in our behalf, have evidently operated
mon the mind of Earl Russell. He surprised
thousands in England and America by the liberal
aud cOnciliatOry explanation Of the principle
involved in the Peterboff case. And now he
causes still greater surprise by ordering the
arrest of gunboat, on the suspicion that 1t Is
intended for the use of the COnfederates. The
evidence. on which this resolution has been
taken, is not yet known; but from all we can
learn from the English papers, 1t is considered
probable that it is by no means stronger than
that which was produced in the case of the
Alabama eight days before her escape. In
deed, it is probable that the condition of the
Alexandra was less suspicious than that Of the
Alabama, for though the latter had no guns,
she certainly had powder on beard and the
dispositions laid before the English Government
left no doubt that British subjects had been
hired to serve in her against the United
States. We cannot, therefore, but assume
that the British Government, in ordering the
arrest of the Alexandra, recedes from the
pOsition taken in the case Of the Alabama, and
especially it abandOns the ground assumed by
the Solicitor.General in his recent speech, that
neutral governments owe no sort OF duty, and
are under no sort Of obligation to either of the
belgerents.
1t is reported that the British Government
has resolved TO take further and more efficient
steps for preventing the fitting out of priva-
teers. and that orders have been given to de-
tain every vessel when the circumstances are
so suspicious as to require the advice Of the
Law officers of the Crown. Some of the En-
gsh papers further report that the great es-
Enlistment of Laird & Brothers at Birken-
head the builders of both the Alabama and
the Florida is to be put under kind of sur
Vsillance. There is reason, therefore, to hope
that the aid hitherto furnished to the Rebel
cause, from England is at an end so far as
navy is concerned. Every success Of our arms
upon the field of war; and the progress, no
less, which we are making in the art of ship
bui lding is likely to promote and to confirm
the conversion of our British friends.