The New York herald., 1863-12-10

service should be entitled consideration adtance
70 this schooshp aud would be we'll 20 select annually
from those ost proceu at least i've 10 he transferred
TO the Naval Academy as mdshipmen. The same ship
might II Judged expeden, also answer for such gun
merry practice vessel as has bceu frequently recommended
by the Bureau OF Ordnance
PWATIoAL ROVER,
The recognition OF the rebels belgerents by tho prn
Cpdi maritime powers at the commencement OF hosti-
tics gave strength and character to the insurection
which could never have had but for that recognition
declaration OF neutrality between the begerents went
abroad from governments with which in amity,
carrying with tho semblance OF fairness but which III
its operation unjust towards this and
country The United States had an extensive commerce
which penetrated every while the rebels with
out commerce or ships The United states had navy,
and sluadrons ON almost every ocean the rebels had
not a single armed vessel at home or abroad.
With full knowledge OF these facts the principal mari
time Powers OF Europe hastened recognize tho rebels
as belligereDts, and TO declare that both the beg.
erents shoudJ be treated alike their ports that the
public armed vessels OF neither should remain more than
twentyfour hours IN their harbors receive supplies
assistance except such might be absolutely neces.
sary TO carry them home aud for three months Thereafter
they should not again receive supplies any ports
or those governments. While this proclaimed
trality did not affect single ship OF the rebels, Tor
they had not to be affected 1t excluded the naval
vessels OF the United States from the ports prnc
pal maritime Powers throughout the world except under
the restrictions enumerated.
When the Sumter, vessel stolen from merchants,
made hor escape and went abroad armed but without
recognized nationality to seize aud destroy merchant
men the high seas, she found unlike tho Agerine
crsairs refuge aud protection within the maritime
diction or the great European Powers with whom
",
after being followed by our cruisers into tho har
Dor OF Gibraltar, she was permitted by the author
tiles to remain not only twenty-four hours, but
than twelve months, aud eventually trans erred
to an Eogish purchaser, went to English port,
was reftted and lett the English shores with coutra-
band cargo aud has since the blockade carrying
plies to the rebels.
The Alabama, the Florida, the Gs,rgia, are armed
cruisers built In England have an English armament on
board. aud manned by crews VINO arc almost OK.
c!usively European Sailing sometimes under the Eng
lish aud sometimes under the rebel flag these rovers,
n thAVc anita
which they send single prize tor adjudication have
roamed the seas capturing aud destroying tho CONNER
ciai ships OF nation at peace with Great Britain and
France but yet when these needed repairs
or supplies they have experienced difficulty procur-
ing them because 1t had boen deemed expedent
the rebels belligerents Not OF many
vessels captured by these has been dcay
Condemned as legal capture wanton destruction has
been the object and purpose OF the captors who have
burned and destroyed the property OF their merchant
victims.
THIS theory recognizing rebels US besercnts 30 soon
they lit their against the government, thus
declaring them entitled 10 national privileges high
harbors Of the world although without
port or navy OF their own the of new
policy IN the history OF nations For long succession
OF years il has been an important point in the progress
Of Civilization, and particularly amons the maritime
Powers that the police OF the should be guarded
and maintained by the subecton OF captures to
udication OF tribunals administering the law OF nations
which received from the hands OF the capor his prize
into tho custody or that law 70 bs disposed OF by
rues but tue course pursued in fostering aud Civ
without a recognized national flag q port
at their Command any OF bringing their cap.
lures TO judgment are committing their predatory acts,
Is restoration OF that Alseine and 1ripotau system
which long afflicted the civilized world, but which,
under the load OF our governmelt extermnated
the early part OF the present century.
Thus far the rovefs have escaped capture, While ia
tho West indies they were protected whenever they
were enabled to lice IN u neutral port, or get
within a marine league OF the shore OF a neutral
govefnncn--a privilege that was never 10 any
quarter extended to the Mediterranean Uufortu
natey, most OF the colonial ath)ritcs. aud
siderable portion of the population of the European do
pendences influenced by the proiessei neutrality which
elevated insurgents and sought TO degrade hs national
authority to an eqoaiity with them were 10 sympathy
with tho PREDATORY r1vers and whit, lending them ad
,ni O'tei furnishing them with Information, nterposed
obstacles aud manifested untrendly eonss to the law
iu operations Of the naval forces Of tue inion
Compelled, have been, to Withdraw to a great
extent foreign suadrons in order 70 establish aud
the bockuie. the con,ncrc oof United states
spread abrlaa tpou every sea has been an.
Doyed, and often p'undefe1 ant destroyed. by these
unliccn'ei rovers, With noue OF the nobler attributes
OF gallant and darng qualities which chaacerze naval
warriors, and ar'c ary the American sailor th ESQ rob
oers OF tue sea shun naval Antagonist Iher proves
exhibits itself in pundering peaceful commerce. their
victims have been unafmed msrchantmen. Traversng
the seas az they do without country OF their to
which they resort It his been dicult to
aud thus they have with tho shelter aud
assittauce governments when them beig
ereOts and Equals, managed 70 eludeour crGisers
Their early operations were IN he West indies where
we have an extended commerce. ani where they had
coadjutors among those foreign aiventurets who
engaged IN iilc.t traffic. and sympthzers ia a large
portion OF the colonial authorities 10 protect
osts that quarter aud especially to guard the
ships IN thor transit 10 aud from Aspinwai flying
SQUADRON established IA the autumn 1867.
aud placed under the command o; Acting Rear.
Admiral Wilkes That officer by his energy an1 decision
contributed 1, break up ooe the several lines OF Illicit
traders organized to carry supplies ia ships
oscnsby bound 10 Matlmoros, Dut with cargoss having
a contingent ds sna,ion 10 Texas Whle, however, he
displayed efficiency sewing tht csss bock,ie run
ners, aud wasauccsssfu in bre,kng up OF the many
cunnineiy contrvcd arrangements he failed u capture
the Diratcal royers.
1ae department anticpatng that the Alabama and her
associates would ind II necessary 70 abandon the neigh
bo'hooi Of the Antilles and satisfied OF tue direction
they would then take, ordered the vinicrbht.
a tast steamer, on iniepen ient cruising duty,
1rst In the West Indies. aud then onward To tho
south. Tho orders 20 Commander BALDWIN. OF the Van
derbi.t, under date of January 81 1853 were Whcn
you are perfectly satisfied that the Aabima the
Gulf the West ndies and gone to some other praity
you will proceed along the BIaN Fernando
Nor Dnho and Rio lie lanero making inquiries At such
places as ,or NAV think advisable FROM RI, c1ntinue
your course 10 the Cape of Good Hone, :" &c. vc
ia derosatoa OF tuese :ne.is 'nd explicit ociers,
Acting Reir Admiral Wilkes, a.Ang ia
that vessel, and. attaching her TO hts s,ua lrol,
detained hoe In hi' possession 80 long az to defeat
tho object and purpose or the department ia III not
rccase her until the iith of June. when Commaaler
Baldwin eeiei 10 carry ont his Instructions hs
was tDo late. Ne arrived at Fernando NorJnho tho
ath of July at Pernamboo 1n the 6th AMI A, R1 IL IA
nero on the lIth thence tie proceeded the % o.
August - II Helena, instead OF gong direct TO the cape
o Good Hope The unfortunate detention o( the Wander
bit wholly defesed ths plans Of tho Department ior tho
capture OF the Alabama, Florida and Georgia They as
the Department anticipated arrived IN thoss llitude,
stead OF beng there to receive them ths department
Intended was Improperly retained ia the West laies
until after that period.
In addition 10 the Few vessels stationed abr,ai guard
our national Interests, others have from 10 time
been despatched pursuit OF the rovsrs all II which
were built IN aai have gone abroad from foreign ports
prey upon our commerce The details Of all the
which have been adopted by the department IN thus
view II Is not here TO disclose. But
OF naval vessels engaged enforcing the bockais
and without clue TO guide our independent
the trackiess ocean, they nave thus Ear bee, Unable 70
encounter these SENT prstical vessels which always
seek 10 evade naval antagonist. Wsre the probabili
ties greater than they are. however OF encounterng
them and were our public naval vessels permitted 10
enter the ports of the maritime Powers fuel and
other supplies when IN pursuit 10 would not promote tho
interests of commerce nor the welfare OF the country
relax the blockade FOR that We ehavc how ever no
excess OF seamen. sufficient supply for the mme.
date and Imperative duties that pressing upoo and
although IL would be ped ent TO public all the
means that are taken and that control the action
OF the government may not be improper 10 state that
one Of our largest ani fastest steamers destined Tor for
eisn service, has been detained months In conse
luencc OF an made iuate supply OF ma, hoe
Other vessels are also short OF their complement
The operation OF the draft has been In respects
detrimental TO the naval service. No exemption Of si
ors or mariners having beeu provided for