The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-26
The AnglO.Rebel Iron Rams..Earl
kussel1's Reply to the Memorial
for their Detention.

| The following is Earl Russell's reply to
the memorial of the Emancipation Society
| relative to the steam rams in the Mersey:
FOREIGN OFFICE, Aug. -, 1868.
have received your letter,
calling attention to a subject of very grave
out or equipping two powerful rams, which
am informed, are intended to commit hos
tilities against the Government and people
of the United States.
My attention has long been directed to
these SUBJECTS. Both the Treasury and the
Home Departments have, at my request,
made most anxious inquiries upon the sub
that by the Foreign Enlistment Act, ship
is liable to be detained, and the owners are
subject to penalty, when the ship is arm
ed or equipped for purposes of war, and
the owners intend to use her against some
State or community in friendship with Her
Majesty.
1t is necessary to prove both the equipment
and the Intention. 1t is necessary for con-
viction in public court, in justice, to have
the evidence of creditable witness.
l was in hopes, when l began to read
your memorial that you would propose to
furnish me with evidence to prove that the
steam rams in question, were intended to
carry on hostilittes against the Government
and people of the United States; but you
have made no proposal of the sort, aud only
tell me that you are informed that SO and so,
and 1t is believed that so and so.
You must be aware, however, that ac-
eording to British law, prosecutions cannot
be set on foot upon the ground of violation
of the Foreign Enlistment Act without the
affidavits of creditable witnesses, as in other
cases of misdemeanor and crimes. Such
likewise, is the law in use.
10 ...f Yours, &C., RUSSELL.
HOPE THAT THE RAMS MAY BE DETAINED.
From the London Times, Sept IL
The question of the Confederate steamers
Is becoming both serious and urgent; we wish
we could add that it is also becoming more
clear. Unfortunately, at is full of the gravest
lishman in ten would be under any uncer-
tainty as to what he would wish to see
done, it is by no means certain that the
power of action exists. Common belief as
well as current report, assigns to the SER
vice of the Confederate Government two
powerful irOn-clad vessels now approach
ing completion in well known ward on
the Mersey. That these ships are war ships,
and Of the most formidable kind, can not
be disputed. They are plated with Al inch |
armor, they have turrets for mounting |
heavy guns, and their stems are SO con-
structed that they may be used as rams
On this point, therefore, no question can be
raised. But our builders are constantly
ships of war for foreign gov
and it is only on the presump-
ion that these particular vessels are in
ended for a belligerent power that the law
illness of their destination can be ques-
Toned at all. Such presumption, how
ever, undoubtedly prevails. The ships
as stated in orr Intelligence
not only bear French or Aige-
ian names, but are distinctly alleged to be
quilt on French account, and one Of them
carries the French flag. Neverthe-
ess, people persist in believing that, soon
II or later, aud, in fact, very soon, indeed,
hey will hoist Confederate colors, and