The New York herald., 1863-09-07

for the new iron-clads lately built in England
are to be despatched from that port, and the
mails to and from Rebellion go out and in
there, and yet our blockaders are rendered
powerless by the lack Of sufficient force of
vessels.
ACTIVITY OF THE REBEL AGENTS ABROAD
The rebels are working like beavers in the
foreign courts to advance the interests Of tho
confederacy. Their agents are industriously
employed in every oountry Of Europe, rot
alone in diplomatic missions, but in the con-
struction OF iron-clads, the purchase OF arms,
and the disposal of Southern bonds. In sddi-
ton to the regular military and naval agents
scattered thickly all over the continent, there
are numerous representatives Of tho rebel
interest engaged in furthering the cause of the
Confederate government. The pirate Florida
recently landed three of these parties at Cork,
that one Of them was Alex. II. Stephens II is
not very probable, however. that Mr.. Stephens
WAS one Of the party. His recent movements
here would not indicate that be was
passenger on the Florida, az he would
scarcely have had time since bis last ap-
pearance in public to accomplish European
voyage in the rebel privateer Besides, his
name Is not among those mentioned by our cor
respondent as one Of the three gentlemen landed
from the Florida; nor is it likely that Mr..
Stephens would conceal his name, which would
be needless, as bis person would be we'll known
to most Americans in Europe. But whether
the Vice President Of the rebel government has
gone to Europe or not, it is certain that its
agents are to be found everywhere abroad,
working industriously in behalf Of treason. 1t
is said that r. M. T. Hunter is about proceed
ing to Mexico, to represent the South with
the new government there. Nor are these
agents idle One of the rams recently built in
the English dockyards is now on her way to
our shores, and it has just been discovered that
several gunboats for the rebels are being fitted
out in the ports of France.
Thus, while our armies are putting down the
rebellion at home, 1t is evident that there Is
trouble brewing on the sea, and that the integ-
rity of the United States may havc to be main
tanned upon the ocean as well as upon land.
Therefore 1t will not do for Mr.. Secretary
Welles to stroke his long beard complacently
in the ONCE Of the Navy Department, or to
pay flying visits to the navy yards and take q
survey Of our war ships from quarter deck to
foreoastle, and return to Washington, knowing
az much about the condition of the navy as
when he started on his tour. He must be vigor-
GUS and prompt to meet the impending emer-
gency. There Is danger on the ocean and dam
ger on our coasts and in our hsrbors. which
must be provided against by the speedy equip
ment of all our naval force now in the ship
yards and the active occupation of the vessels
afioat, as well as the protection Of our coast
defences. We cautioned the government be-
fore upon the proceedings going on in the
dockyards Of Europe. We warn them now,
and especially Mr.. Welles, to be prepared for
approaching trouble. and not to be caught nap
ping when events demand that they should be
wide awake.
DISCIPLINE OF Our ARMY.-No one who has
observed the soldierly bearing of the troops
who have been encamped in and around the
city for the last three weeks can fail to have
been struck with the contrast presented by them
to the raw levies, brave but undisciplined, vino
responded to their countrys call two years ago.
Then our volunteer regiments were little better
than an arm mob. Now they are trained
regular as clockwork. One Of these old war
worn regiments, with tattered banner, marched
past our Office yesterday. 1t was the First
Minnesota regiment that lost all its field
officers at Gettysbure-and, although the men
were in heavy marching order, they moved
with an elasticity, regularity and a soldierly
bearing that would have elected praise from
the strictest martinez And it is so with oil our
army. Two years Of war on a magnificent
scale have given to our population martial at
tributes and wrought us into the foremost mill
tary nation Of the earth. When the day comes
as we trust it will come before long-that the
army Of the Union and the army of the
"confederacy" shall march under the same
banner, then those nations that have
mocked at us in our calamity, and sought to
degrade and injure US, may well quake for fear
of the coming retribution. We shall at least
claim to be predominant on this continent, and
our claim will hardly be contested. ag
DEsERTIoSs FROM THE ARxY.-We notice,
with satisfaction, an order from the War De-
partment which will correct a grievance that
has not been unfrequent of late. Men belong
ing to regiments that have been mustered out
Of the service have in several instances been
taken up and tried for desertion. To spare our
brave veterans the humiliation of such an
ordeal, the order directs that a military COM
mission of from one 10 three officers detailed
by the officer under whose command the alleged
offender is held in confinement, shall be ap.
pointed to investigate his case. II the facts are
an atated ahove the nenaltv of dascrtion n In