The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-07

AptEle NE9E.
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w.CAMEEoN q Co.Publisher-.
THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. q, 1864
The war vessels I'm Process OF con
structIon at BOrdeaux-One of
them nearly Ready for LAUNCH
Ias-Are they for the stebeIs!-The
HspPahaRnoek as alaIs-PFOtsst
by mr.. Dayton against Her being
Fitted OuL
Pans, Dec. is, 1868.
The position of affairs &C present IN
regard 10 Confederate ships in French
ports is, as | understand il, this: When
the American Minister bad obtained and
presented to the French Government pos
tive proofs that the SIX vessels being
built by Messrs. Armsa q Voruz for the
Emperor OF China were in fact for the
Confedera,es, The authorization for the
building OF the ships was Withdrawn,
and The labor on them discontinued
Since then the labor on one or more of
these vessels has been resumed, and
when the American Minister demanded
explanations, it Was replied that one or
more Of The vessels had been sold by
N. Armah 70 the Prassiaa Government,
and that il Was on this vessel, or these
vessels only, that work had been. resu-
med. When Is was represented TO the
Government that the sale to the Pfussian
Minister might be 3 fictitious one, and
that positive proof Of snch a sale ought
10 be and might easily be furnished, il
was replied that such proof had been
promised, and would in due time be fur
nished. Phtrs the matter rests for the
present.
s---.tsvvrvTn On the steamers, a
friend, an American gentleman residing
ct Bordeaux, who watches daily the
movements in regard TO these vessels,
writes me that 80 far IS be can see, only
one vessel is being completed, but on this
vessel q very large number Of hands are
now employed, and the vessel is now
about ready to launch. A few days ago
be observed por -holes in the vessel, and
subsequently be found these holes closed
and completely disguised-a circum-
stance which recalls that stipulation Of
the contract which requires that the yes
sells, although built to carry the mail be-
tween Shanghai aud San Francisco, shall
yet be 80 built IS to be easily conVerti-
bic into vessels Of war.
As regards the Rappahannock, the
Confederate vessel which la ely escaped
from an EaRlisb port and took refuge IN
the port Of Calais in France, the follow
ing are the facts in regard to her. Sac
escaped, as you already know, only >
few hours before an order arrived from
the Admiralty to retain her, and the
person having her in charge evidently
knew that the order to seize had been
issued; for when the vessel arrived at
Calais her deck was in the utmost con-
fasiOr-RothiDg was finished, nothing
was in its place, aud the wonder was
how, In such 4 plight, she had managed
tD cross safely tie bOisterous channel.
Since her arrival in the port Of Calais, q
new q1estion in the neutrality law has
arisen and been discussed between the
American Minister and the French Gov
eminent. The vessel, while lying in q
French port, and 10 which port she aid
not fly from stress Of weather, but in
order TO finish her equipment, has at
tempted 10 procure 3bese equipments |
frem England and TO put them in their
place IN board the ship Oae day last |
waek a hundred aud forty boxes con-
tanning equipments of all kinds, from |
cordages down TO kitchen utensils, were
sent from England to fictitious address
1t Calais, destined for the Rsppahan-
mock. Thus, although the Confederate |
agents avoid bringing what they need in |
the French ports, they make use Of that |
port TO finish their vessels, and against /
this evident violation Of neutrality law |
Mr.. Dayton has energetically protested. |
The French Foreign Secretary, be ieye, |
has admitted the point Of q violation, but
as the case was a new one, be demanded |
time to confer with the Minister of Ma |
Tine.
In all these transactions in regard to
Confederate vessels, the American Min |
lister has jUdicious Y put every thing into
writing, and be has declared 10 the /
French Government that it is as much to /
their interest as to the interest of the |
Government of the United States that
no unjust presidents should now be- es-
tAbiished, for that the decisions Ia every
one of these cases should be held as pre-
eedents for future action So that there
is not much danger but that the French
will do its duty in the mat
ter. | may add that l have reason TO
know that the Government is sOrely vex-
ed over these constant discussions on the
neutrality lave, and would be glad to be
delivered from them.
After the decision in the Alexandra
,sse last winter, thsC Oonfedsrates sup
posed that they were going TO be able 10
get out any number Of ships, and il was
in fact resolved on at Richmond 20 obtain
> large feet, not only as men of-wAr bat
rs privaieers. Since then naval officers
have been constantly fltering through
the blockade TO come and take charge Of 4
these vessels, until now we have quite a
arge number Of them at Paris, aud there
are no doubt as many more in England.