The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-07-16


The career Of ~ late ,ooesair Alabama
was probably the most atupendous and
eystematic fraud on record. I. She pro-
lessed to be rebel or confederate in or2gin
and impulse. bat Was built with monev
subscribed or contributed for the purpose
by British enemies Of our Union. z She
was built - . peaceful uerchantman, be-
Ing MI the time intended for no other use
than that 70 which shewas devoted. 3
She stole out Of Liverpool, where she was
built, on pretense of making trial trip,
wholly unarmed, and with ladies on board
to cover deception. 4. A perempt0ry order
from the Government TOR her detention.
based on proof furniahsd by our Minister
and Consul Of her true character. was
trcacherously detained on the way, % 10 70
preclude its reception in season to stop her;
her managers being meantime privately
advised that she must make herself scarce.
dared enter Confederate port; never was
under the protection Of Q Confederate
shore battery; and never had . tenth part
of her crew composed Of native or even
naturalized citizens Of the Confederacy.-
She was British built with Britiah money,
Of British timber and irons armed wholly
with British guns, ard managed by Brit
ish crew, and never fred . cartridge that
was not Of British materials and manufac-
fustice and fiagrant yiolator of British
law, she has been everywhere welcomed
and feted in British ports, and has sailed
over all seas, robbing and burning our
merchant vessels by the help Of the coal,
provisions, cartridges, &C., which have
been ready for her in every British harbor.
8. Though calling herself . National ship
OF war, she has shrunk from encounters
with oil such, save when of Galveston she
decoyed the Hatteras (half her sixe) under
her guns by hoisting the British dag and
declaring herself the British gunboat Pet
rel. 9. She was in spite Of all preten-
ses, in tip-top condition, q one Of her
officers telegraphed 70 Liverpool after
tie fight, sstho Alabama was Ia iirst-rate
trlm.' 10. She was . sixth larger than the
Kearsarge q. .2oo tuns TO l,os1 had eight
men, which was at least equal and probA-
bly, superior to our number, ~ she was en-
abled to work-her guns much faster than
ours weFe fired. II. 6emmes fought the
Kearsarge only because he could not help
1t. Mr.. Dayton had protested against the
shelter and aid given 70 the cofsair in .
friendly harbor, and the French Govern
ment had felt constrained TO order him out
Of port. Yet there lay tho Kearsarge od
Alabama must fight. So she made virtue
Of nocessity, and steamed out II. She
chose her own time and distance, opening
fire first, and shortening the distance q
pleasure. IfSemmes had chosen to lay hia
vessel aboard Of the Kearsarge, the maneu-
yer would have been welcomed. But he
found It hot enough where he was. IS.
Abled and demolished, and semmes was
glad to surrender his ship 70 save his life,
and she went down with her nag struck
He escaped capture through British par
tiality, and this hour Ii rightfhlly Captain
Winslow's prisoner. The Deerhound had
NO right to steal away with part Of our
spotls Of victory. and did it by deception
a. 6emmes' pretence that Capt Winslow
tried to sink his craft or her crew after she
the Deerhound. his virtual ally. 16. And
- il he had not yet lied enough, upon
reaching England, says one Of his petty Of
6cers in statement to the Nesps
'Capt. Semmee auxiously asked what
the people Of England thought Of the
South; said that N0veyy there existed 0xs
IN nanse; and that the North and South
would never be again united"
We never heard this matched but once,
and then In Capt. Narryat's tale, when .
most inveterate and immeasurable liar was
dying, and being warned the noise he was
making W1a the death-rat&le In his throat,
gasped out-"No; have known . man
live six weeks making that noise, ,"-and
there his voice failed him forever.-N. r.
Tribune.
THE TAX on C10ARs.-The following In
formatinn from the Internal Revenue Of
fice In explanation OF the new excise law,
will BE- read with interest by cigar-makers
throughout the country:
The law requires every person, before
making any cigars, whether for himself or
for other parties, 20 procure from the As
sistant Assessor Of the district in which he
resides . permit authorizing suoh trade,
for which permit the Assessor is entitled to
. fee Of 25 cents. II such person deairss to