New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-11-17
THE HEIZURE or THE REBEL
RAMS IN THE MERsEY.

question:, tntIv IL HO lOIlpti io"H WI """oe '""'
they are earnestly intent on preventing the
sailing of any more vessels Of war for the Rebel
service. Two gunboats have been placed in the
Merscy, opposite Mr.. Laird's yaM, to prevent
the escape of the iron-clad rams. More than
this, the workmen employed by the McssrS.
Laird in completing the I'll Toussalnt have been
orccred to desst, and both rams taken posses-
sion Of by the Government authorities in the
R,kcnhcad Docks, while the gunboats guard
| the entrance and exit.
There can b. no installing the meaning of
subj measures. They have dspelled the lnger-
ing hopes Of tho Rebel sympathizers that the
Government would continue to collide with
thm in supporting,hc Southern Rebellion. The
natural result has been an open war between the
friends aid especially the paid agents OF the ke-
bells aud the Ministry. The war i carried on IN
public addresses and tho columns of the Eng
lish newspapers, with great acrimony and, as
| il reveals both the basepess and the constcna-
ton Of tho champions of the South is full OF in
terest.
| The chief spokesman thus far Of the Southern
ers has been Mr.. Laird, II. p, and father of the
builders Of the Alabama, who made recently q
very remarkable speech or the national defenses
Of England at Brkenhead. Mr.. Laird frankly
acknowledged that tho Alabama was built by
his sons for the Rebel service. He clearly init
mated that il was his or his firms design TO
eyade the English law. lIc did not deny that
the two rams now building in the Mersey had
the same destination. and by his silence con.
frmei The universal belief that these vessels
were intended 10 follow tie Alabama. Yet he
complained tha, the Government had taken
measures to make the English law efficient.
According 10 Mr.. Laird, every English merchant
would 40 well ia eyadc the Englsh law in order
TO aid the Souiherncrs and the Ministry should
conniyc a, the ornny schemes q the English
merchants. and rejoice with them that Tia letter
Of the Enelis a law had not proved OF any adyan-
tagc ~ the Yankee. Thee views find many
warm supporters in the commercial claV, and
Mr. Laird and his compeers are ready to join
issue on them with the Ministry in the House Of
Commons
Mr.. Lindsay. who some time ago stultihcd
himself by the account he gave Of his interview
with che Emperor Of France, ha, furnished a
new proof Of his Astonishing Ignorance in mat
,ers Of international law. In two Letters adj
dressed 10 The TINS be complains that the
English ,hp munitions Of war 10 a fabu-
lous extent" 70 the North, while they refuse
10 supply ships TO the South. Mr.. Lind
sar does not know or does not choose to
acknowledge that the one act is unques-
,onnbly legal, and is admitted on all hands
throughout Europe as anording no ground of
complaint, while the legality Of the other has
been O, least doubted by the first legal author-
ties OF England. He will join Mr.. Laird in the
House of Commons in demanding an untram-
mcled right for English merchandise build ships
IL war for the Rebels and setting international
law at defiance.
The contest between the Government, which,
from prudential reasons, if no Others, would
like 10 avoid any further cause Of irritation, and
that portion Of the aristocrntc party which de-
mands that the English law be no bar to the
vigorous support of the Rebels, may yet become
very serious. The case of the Alexandra was
TO come of for final decision on the 9TH Of No
yembcr, and IL was generally expected that the
opinion Of tho former Judge, who decided
against the Government, would not be reversed.
II this expectation should provo correct, the
British Ministry will have the grave alternative
Lot q t,,s.
national law to be violated in favor Of the Rcb-
els or Of bringing the ease before the House of
Commons.
Their conduct during the last few weeks, and
the language of most Of their organs, seem to
indicate TINT they will follow the latter course.
We may then expect most interesting debate
in the British Parliament In anticipation of
such II contingency, and il Interior consc-
quences, Liberal papers like The Spectator
earnestly warn the aristocracy that war into
which half the population is dragged against rs
will, aral still larger part reluctantly, would
BECOME unpopular az soon as the burdens which
it would entail began 10 press, and that public
indignation would fall on those who, not by
open dealing, but by tricks and contriyances,
had involved England in policy which, as II
nation, she rcpudated and condemned.
The masses of the English people have rcceIt-
ly given unmisiakable proofs Of their ardent
sympathy with our cause, and We sincerely be-
cye that a war forced upon US by the English
Isympathizers with tho saycholdmg Rebels,
would hasten in England a conflict between
aristocracy and democracy, and deal fatal