AMERICAN INTRIGUES IN ENGLAND.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 79, 7 August 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

AMERICAN INTRIGUES IN ENGLAND.

(From the Times ) In the recent discussion in the House of Commons On the proceedings connected with the Alabama, Mr Laird gave a slight sketch of the activity of the Federal agents in England. He read lists of their purchases of arms and ammunition on account of the Federal Government, and mentioned the names of the firms through whom they had been exported. He added the fact that the yard at Birkenhead in which the Alabama was built had for a long period been constantly watched by American detectives, and that some of the persons connected with theestablisment had been so cons a tly dogged and followed by members of this secret police that they might be described as gardes a vnc. The result rather forcibly proved the uselessness of the vigilence, but the system is still in full vigor. The description given by Mr Laird has since been confirmed, with considerable additions, if some communications sent to a Liverpool journal may be relied on. They are published as "an exposure of the tactics of the Federal Government and its adherents in this country.'* They are 1 illiterate enough to be genuine, and ! contain some discrepancies of opinion that indicate the work of diffcient hands. And if the details are authentic, they mako a full set-off against the construction of the Alabama, leaving a heavy balance of advantage, of the same kind, on the Federal side. In the first place; one part of the instructions given to the agents of the [ North was to take storage in Liverpool | for 40,000 rifles and 1200 cavalry I sabres, to be bought for cash, and shipped as soon as possible, as they j woule be wanted by the middle of January. Next , having full command of funds, they were to " outbuy any I agents of the South," especially in the j purchase of ships under 1000 tons register. They re charged to "watch and find out'' the persons with whom Lieutenant Maury corresponded, and it is suggested tli^it a steamer called the Venture should he bought, armed, and fitted. The purchase of arms and ships is the material part of the business, but it is to be accompanied by a political agitation, conducted by all ihe approved methods of an American party contest. The poor of Lancashire are to be ex- ; cited in iavor of the North by speeches,

pamphlets, and even by sermons. \ oV/j masses are to be moved J by the process -i of "Wire pulling/' and individuals to be'kept under surveillance by an extensive employment of. detectives. These seem., to be divided into out-of-door * ; vigilaots," and ppies for the domestic interior, as the opinions and tendencies of families are to be ascertained. The agents ,for "family- use" are to be selected from tbe .two professions in which most confidence is placed, the , medical and legal. Two of these spies had already been appointed in one locality, it wculd seem, and "every effort was to be made to introduce them into families having Southern tendencies. All agents of the South are to be watched and their actions daily re- " ported. Information to be got of their movements at any cost/' Again, it is asserted that the North has such agents "in all the professions — divinity, law, and physic. 1 ' One communication describes the Southerners against whom this silent war is waged ".a poor and imbecile set," and another asserts that " they are too parsimonious . 'to employ-, a staff sufficiently extensive and " cute to discover much." But from a third -"v quarter there is a testimony to the ; "great skill they display" in all their movements^ It 4s,* in fact, a great game between both- sides, in which no " intervention" is possible, even on our own soil, as long as the players commit no breach of the peace; England is also a battle-ground for Federal and J Confederate, and they must be left to | fight it out by money and intrigue in the I midst of a strict neutrality. That the 1 North, which complains so loudly of | construction of the Alabama, was quite | ready to buy her had it been possible, appears from these documents. It is | also prepared to build. One letter, J dated from Washington, expressly says, | " If possible, get the parties who' supply the Alabama. Bribe right and left." Tbe last injunction has a true Washington ■ ring. " Gold will bo required, and that j with no needy hand." "JNFiggard* 1 is j the word we meant, we presume, but '> the intention is evident. " Men risking i a venture must be well backed,'' but : the agent is " happy to say they can make the most brilliant offers." Jnfor- \ mation particularly must be obtained >! "at any price." With this command 1 of money'^nd readiness to spend it in I any direction, — ships, cavalry sabres, I sermoDs, or pamphlets, — the only wou- \ der is that the North has not a score of ' Alabamas on the sea, instead of being 1 terrified by one. Bothsidesareexpending | their means profusely for the purposes of j the war. The only difference is that | the South seems to have spent the most 1 effectively. It has turned into a strong 1 and swift ship of war the funds -the North has wasted in hunting out opinions and tendencies, and other kinds of political shadow catching.