The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-01-26
THE REBEL STEAMER RIPARIAN
MOCK.
From the Liverpool (Eng) Courier.


The Admiralty, it appears, wanting room in oul
docks, determined to SELL, by public auction, a
number of stout steam sloops, exactly the thing
| the Confederates wanted. -Four of these vessels
were offered for sale about six weeks SINCE and
. were readily bought up. They proved, on exami.
nation to be sound, serviceabe vessels, of excel
| lent construction. One of these, the Victor, of
eight guns, suddenly enters the port of Calais,
der Confederate colors, and bearing the significant
| name of the Rappahannock. The Confederates
had cleverly bought the four ships, aud set about
repairing them. The Rappahannock was full of
carpenters and artisans, who worked at her "with
a will " in the smooth waters Of Calais. The
French custom officers seized the ship at once, but
released her i'll twenty four hours. Orders had
been telegraphed from Paris to permit the captain
of the Rappahannock to depart when he pleased.
If we understand this phrase rightly, the Emperor
of the French thus gives the Confederate captain
full permission to prepare the ship for war, and
to depart when he peases in the track of the Ala
bama.
Here is "a mess" as Lord Cowley said of the
Emperors speech. What is to be done now. Tire
Prince Consort cannot be sent to seize the vessel
and carry her off from a French port. That is not
not to be thought of; for France is powerful, and
quick at resenting an in jury. Are to blockade
Calais and wait until the Confederate Captain
pleases to put to sea? That cannot be done either;
for the ship was fairly sold to the highest bidder,
and, rs she is regularly commissioned, she is as
safe from as is the Alabama. The Rappahan-
mock must be left to her own sweet will but what
storm will this transaction raise at New York !
How MIR Seward will rage, and Mr. Adams The
escape of the Alabama was nothing to this
The British Admiralty would have been delight
ed if the Emperor of the French had seized and
detained the ship until the war was over. He
would have saved them from shocking difficulty.
But the Emperor is rather irritated at present.
England has refused to join the Congress, aud VIC
must say that the manner in which Earl Russell
'sent apology is discourteous and exasperating.
Louis Napoleon, moreover, is fond of making mis-.
chief when he do so safely He seized the
Rappahannock when he thought her to be pri-
vate vessel but the moment he discovered that
six weeks since she of Her Britanic Ma
jesty's feet reported eft for service and that
she was sold by the Admiralty themselves TO Con-
federate agents. he took off the detainer and with
the most pleasing urbanity informed the Confed-
crate Captain that he might depart "when be
pleased"
The case, however, illustrates the absurdity of
the proceedings of the Government against the
builders of the steam rams. If the Government
can legally and innocently sell any actual ship Of
war to the highest bidder, why should not a pri-
vate shipbuilder possess the same right? Why
should not Mr., Sillem be permitted to sell the
Alexandra to anybody he pleased, when Lord
Clarence Paget himself sells her .Majesty's ship
Victor, to the highest bidder, without asking a
single question respecting her future destination?