New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-06

evidently destined for war. But 1t was very well
said by the hon. member for Birkenhead that you
cannot draw distinction between ships hat may
evidently be built for warke purpose, and those
that may be eventually applied to wc.rke purposes
He has mentioned what everybody knows, thai
when we came to consider Jur means OF naval
defense we found great number Of mercantile
steamers in our ports, which might, IN u
short time and at sma.i expense, be converted into
ships of war, and made available for the defense OF
the country. Take what has happened. One OF
the ships employed in the service OF tne Coh'eue
rates to prey on the commerce OF the Unonlsts Was
the Nashville. Now, what was INC vas. liz,
SUPPOSE she had been built in tins eouatry, VIVA.
possibility had we under the Foreign Enlistment Acy
of preventing her from leaving this country
wen, on board the Nashville In southampton Doohe
She was steamer very much like those that 90 ny ~
down the Thames with glass room built on ue.h,
and furnished below with great number OF berths
for passengers. But they put guns on p1a" a1,'
being able 10 steam with great rapldy, 'no va s,
Vile could easily capture and destroy any ni. - ~
man. In the same way ship misn. DC ou,' sh;n Of
country capabe of being converted INTO sup Vi
war but with respect TO which, While pulldlhg'
| il would be perfectly impoesloie 10 prove
by anv legal construction that enc was III
tended for ship-of-war,, ana therefore 'ia n,
rlaned that the Government have not exercised the
vigilance incumbent Oh them In such matter,
and that they have relied entirely on receiVhb
information from the Minister OF the United States
but tDat 1e not lnt IuCls iuo h"'
ployed al the means that could with proprlety De
used and in some cases complaints have been made
that they have employed more stringent means thsn
/ they ought to DO We are not IN the habit IN ms
country OF employing that system OF spies which Is
resored TO in other countries; STILL the Government
have thought il their duty 10 employ people openly
and legimaely to Obtain information. With regard
10 the Alabama an explanation has been given ny
the Hon. member for Dirkenhead. With regard 70
the Alexandra, the attention OF the Government
having been called TO the construction OF tue vessel
s.e,s were taken 10 stop and seze her. The trial
came off but the Judgment OF the Court was Hgaiis,
the Government the Court deciding that, under the
Foreign Enlistment Act, the Government had 10
right TO stop her. Exceptions have been pun III 10
that rulng but | ON afraid the question canno De
decided until next November. | really think there
10 no ground on which either honorable gentlemen
or the Federal Government can found Il complain.
that her Majesty government have not done all
that the Municipal law entities them TO 90 IN
regard TO tie fitting out Of chips IN this
c1uutry There il a further difficulty.
will suppose ship built OF such character that
we NIGH, safely say II was built for waflihe pug
roses. Then you must prove VINO II 10 INTENDED ior'
The honorable gentleman assumes that parties may
be H. combination 10 eyade the law but IN That case
nothing can be easier than 10 show that chip lr MOI
intended for the particular State for which she is
supposed to be built. The honorable gentleman
/ suggests that we ought to amend the Foreign En-
hsfu,ent net and add the word " building, ne well
as armed and equipped" But that goes beyond
the ships OF war. You Pot al end TO branch OF
trsde-he building of ship1 Of commerce Tor foreign
States Hear. Nou would thus 20 beyond what
even the honorable gentleman oontemplhtes. Say
nothing about tue question Of altering your law to
sui, The convenience OF any foreign Government, or
at any particular moment. We undertook change
in tie law come years ago, not 10 Difference TO any
demand from a foreign Government, but became we
: thought ss gentlemen and men OF honor, the Gov
ernrnen, and Parliament Of this country were bound
? do hot we urouOsedtO yrOtect allied Sow
ereign from the personal danger 10 which lie was
exposed from coDspirators IN this country We did
IL spontaneously, but such principle applies 10
THIS case for TO pursue the course the hon. gentle
man recommends would lie lettering our own legiti-
mate industry and commerce, and do not think tbs
House would a-1ee to such change. 1 tbins tbat
we ought endeeyor 10 enforce our law IA Tar AS
we can, and that wherever we learn that there are
Sims being built presumably for belligerent be-
tween which land other belhgerents we profess TO
be neutral we ought 10 enforce our law ~ far ~
e courts OF justice enable US. That will be the
course pursued by the Government. AS regards one
NJ the irou.c ads 10 wbicn my hon. friend has re-
ferred AIN informed that the French Consul claims
, il for the Emperor of the French Mr.. Golden
rnuox MS head How that 10 / cannot say.
ENGLAND AND THE CONFEDERATE STATES.
, Richmond Correspondence Of he London Times.
In NV lac, letter, in which | detailed the circum
stances accompanying the revocation OF the exeqGa-
tur Of Mr. Moore, her Majestys Consul al Richmond,
mentioned that henceiorward il Is the detennina-
ton of the President and the Confederate Govern.
uent that no communication shall be permitted be-.
tween British Cousuls resident in the COn'ederacy
and Lord Lyons, the Munster accredited by the
British Government, 20 Washington the seat of gov.
/. eminent Of tie CODfederacys bitter enemy. Ihe
ACCOMMODATING dispatch from Mr.. Benjamin 20 Mr..
Mason will explain the motives Of this action on the
part Of the Confederate Government. II is possible
that this step may be severely censured IN England,
but 1t lie doubtful whether after 20 months OF patient
endurance, Mr.. Dayis is not justified In demanding
that Bntish Consuls residing in the ConfederacY
shs communicate only with the Home Government,
and no longer with the Minister accredited 10 an
alen enemy.
la oons6nauce with this policy Mr.. Cridand,
, who lately succeeded Mr.. Mageo Ms Acting Brish
Consul at Mobile, aud exhibited authority from
Lord Lyons ne his title 10 act at Mobile. has been
forbidden by the Confederate Government 30 TO aci,
and hea been requested " in order 10 avoid mscon-
structioD," 10 select at this moment rome place as
his residence other than the State of Alabama. IL
il obyiously the design Of the Confederate Govern
meDt that Groat Britain shall henceiorward have no
fresh COnsus in the Confederate States who derive
their au bority from Washington, and are forbidden
except 1t were, under protest. 10 show respect
courtesy TO the de tdcl0 authorities OF Richmond.
England must make up her mind to forego many Of
her Consular fuucoBGries In Secessia, 10 derive
for her future COusuls hero power 20 act from the
only authority which exercises sway in Secessia-
ia other words from President Davis.
The Inconvenience TO which British subjects in
Richmond might in the absence OF Mr.. Moore, VINO
btdftcu LOT w washington tWo uhHb hBoi DC c@pOtcbJ
will be mihgated through the agency Of Mr.. Gusta-
yus Myers gentleman OF high character aud stand
ing in this city, universally esteemed in the Gov
eminent departments, who has consented 10 act 40
adviser to British subjects, aud TO stand TO them III
something OF the relation OF an 0WcNs carg1. There
Is little reason 10 doubt that in all where Bit
ish subjects possess Legitimate claims 20 exemption
Mr.. Myers will be enabled TO REQ them rigbted.
The creates, disposition has hitherto been shown by
the War Department here since Mr. MoOre's exc
quntur wss revoked, to act honoIaby ind uprightly
In Its dealings with foreigners
LETTER FROM SECRETARY WELLEs.