The Express.
London, England, 1862-01-03 00:00:00

runs the hazard of disappointing the popular
sentiment of oar loyal States. But a tittle re-
flection will satisfy every intelligent mind of the
wisdom of deferring a final settlement with Eng-
land until we shall have made an end of this
Southern rebellion. There have been Doane con-
jectures that arbitration may be resorted to ; but
it is better gracefully to yield to the exigencies
of the crisis, and promptly reliefs England of
her convenient' pretext for a %unreel, without
the intervention of any third party. Let our
government, then, most the requisitions of Lord
Lyons, in the restitution of Mason and Slidell
to British protection, and in as acknowledge-
ment that, while Captain Wilkes would have
been right in seizing the Trent steamer and in
bringing her before a prize court for adjudica-
tion, he was wrong in limiting his proceeding to
the seizure of his prisoners ; and that we regret
that his controlling considerations of international
courtesy and leniency should have resulted in the
very offence which it was his particular object to
avoid.
An explanation of this character, we presume,
will be considered amply satisfactory as an atona-
ment to the insulted flag of England. It may
be painful and humiliating to us. But
who will reproach the surprised traveller
for yielding to the demand of " Tour money or
your life," with the highwayman's pistol at his
head ? Our government will be amply justified,
in this reparation by the public opinion of our
loyal States, considering the rejoicings of our
rebellious States at the prospect of securing
the aid of England's fleets and armies in the
enter-wise of the occupation of Washington. We
are called upon now toeihibit the virtues of patience
and moderation towards a domineering foreign
power, and to submit to its arrogant demands and
pretensions, in order to grapple the more effectively
with an insolent domestic seamy beleaguering oar
national capital. But as Reuse remembered
Carthage from the invasion of Hannibal, and as
France remembers St. Helena, so will the people of
the United States ren.ember and treasure up for
the future this little affair of the,Trent.

Nor do we suppose that the pacific solu-
tion of this difficulty upon the basis of Eng-
land's offensive ultimatum, will be without equi-
valent or compensation. We expect that it will
secure a more deoent regard hereafter for Eng-
land's professions of • neutrality that she has
heretofore exhibitcd ; that such scandalous neutral
hospitalities as those lately extended to the
piratical steamer Nashville, at Southampton,
will not be repeated ; and that such com-
mercial ventures as that of the steamer Bermuda
to Savannah will cease to be made by British
subjects from English ports, under the oonni-
vance of her Majesty's government. Granted
that these demands of England La this matter of
Mason and Slidell were framed for war and not
for peace, we have the right to call for a faith-
ful adherence to this pesos which has been con-
ceded where war was expected and designed.
But, we are asked, why these humiliating conces-
sions upon • quibble and a pretext 1 If
England's purpose is war, will she not find
some other pretext upon which there can
be no concession 1 We answer, that by yield-
ing to the arrogant demands of England upon this
pretext of to-day we shall have reduced her to
bonds of peace from which she cannot escape except
as a reckless filibuster, liable to be outlawed by
every other European Power.
Meantime, with the re-establishment of our

peaceable relations with Krugland, we shall be
at liberty to bring our whole military power to
bear by land and sea upon this domestic rebel-
lion. We hope, too, that, admonisksl by the
restless impatience of England and France for
cotton, Predident Lincoln and his cabinet will
vigorously push forward the movements of our
fiesta and armies, and put an end to all European
notions of as inevitable Southern confederacy
by the speedy overthrow of the spurious
revolutionary league of Dav;a and his con-
federates. Then, with this rebellion suppressed,
with our revolted States restored, with an
army of a million of men in the field, with a
powerful navy, including a good proportion of
iron-plated ships, and with our seacoast and
frontier defences upon a war footing, we shall
have the power to settle, not only our outstanding
accounts against England, but the power to pre-
scribe the extent and the limitations of European
authority on this continent.
(From the Nem York Sue, Dee. 21.)

So far as official declarations are coneerued
this matter still remains in abeyance, but suffi-
cient has transpired for ns to state that no se-
rious difficulties are likely to ensue. Interviews
have taken place between Lord Lyons and
Secretary Seward, as also between the British
Minister and the President, at which the matter
has been brought up, and placed upon such fair
and equitable grounds, that the British envoy
doubtless feels called upon to take no other
than usual diplomatic action, until his advices can
be received and considered by the home govern-
ment.