The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-18 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18.

THE news recently received from America no
doubt appears at first sight less favourable to
peace than many in this country had anticipated
would be the case. And in the present excited
state of the public mind, combined with the gene-
ral want of information as to the exact functions
and mutual relations of the popular and execu-
tive branches of the Federal Constitution, it is
not surprising that the meaning of these apparently
uufavourable symptoms should have been mis-
taken, and their real importance immensely
exaggerated. The two adverse facts on which
public attention has been fixed, are the vote of
thanks to Captain W item adopted by the House
of Representatives, and the paragraph approving
of his conduct, inserted in the report just issued
by the Secretary of the Federal Navy. The
vote was a rash and impolitic proceeding, but,
while allowing this to the fullest extent, it would
be the greatest mistake in the world to imagine
that it is of any authority on the question in dis-
pute. Many persons erroneously suppose that the
American House of Representatives, like the House
of COIIIIIIOII6 in this country, exercises some direct
control over the executive action of the Govern-
ment. But in truth there is no such analogy between
the powers of the two assemblies. The functions
of the House of Representatives are comparatively
few and unimportant, and the Executive Govern-
ment is wholly independent of its support. But
even if this were not the case, it is tolerably clear
that a vote like that passed tie other day, so far
from indicating the policy of the Federal Govern-
ment on the question in dispute, is not even de-
signed to influence its decision.

The House of Representatives is a popular
avoidably, and it reflects the prevalent feeling of
the moment the more freely and decisively from
the consciousness that its resolutions are in no
sense judicial. Captain WILIUMI is popular in the
lttates just now for hie sailor-like promptitude
and honesty of intention, but admiration of the
man does not necessarily involve any decision on
the disputed points of internatiooal law raised by
his act. The House of Representatives reflects
the popular feeling both in thanking the com-
mender of the San Jacinto, and in leaving the
legal question to be decided by the Federal Go-
vernment. Nor can any special importance be
fairly attached to the obnoxious paragraph in
the Naval Secretary's Report. Many persons in
this country, looking on this possess through
the distorting medium of a false analogy, are
disposed to regard it as a portentous
omen. They imagine that the Secretary of the
Federal Navy must be, like the First Lord of the
Admiralty here, an authoritative exponent of Go-
vernment policy. No mistake, however, could
well be greater. Mr. GIDION WULca, the Naval
Secretary, is simply the heed of a special depart-
ment of the Executive, and his business in that
capacity is to report the proceedings of his depart-
ment to the Government. This official document
is an outline of facts which may or may not be
coloured by the opinions of the asommit, amend-
Big to the judgment and discretion of the writer,
his superiors isn't), interfering unless the views
incidentally expressed are directly opposed to those
of the Government. But the oMcial Report of
the department is in no sense an authentic ex-
pression of Government policy. As yet we do
not know what that policy will be. It is of course
possible that the decision of the American
Government may confirm the extreme views
most hostile to our just claims. But
at present we have no ground whatever for any
such assertion or belief. The PRZPiIt,EIII, who
bee so framed his Message as to mark his resolu-
tion to reserve this question, is not bound either
by the vote of the Lower House or the Naval Re-
port, even had these been directly opposed to our
claims, which assuredly they are not. And until
we are formally assured to the contrary, we are
bound by every law of oontesey, hamar, and
public duty to believe that the Federal Govern-
ment will not refuse to us jollies, and thus avert
the inexpressible calamity at a sanguinary war be-
tween the two countries.

So far, indeed, from there being really anything
in the latest news to forbid such a belief, there
are strong and positive indications in its favour.
The tone of the New York press, for example, is
decidedly pacific, and more than one influential
journal is already preparing the way for that
friendly action of the Government in the matter
which is evidently anticipated. The New York
Times in particular emphatically denies that the
vote of thank, passed by the House of Represer-
tatives prejudices in any degree the action of the
Government in the matter. " Congress has sig-
" nalised its first sitting by pegging a vote of
" thanks to Captain NS' ILK= for the seizure of
" Messrs. Alvsos and SLIDELL. Nothing is more
" natural than that that which is uppermost in the
" public mind should leap to expression through
" the voice of the people's regresentativen In
" thus putting on record a formal approval of
" an act which has called forth universal public
" satisfaction there is of course no intention to
" prejudge a case on which neither our own nor
"the British Government has as yet pronounced
" an opinion, and which is now properly a matter
"of diplomacy alone. We all liked the bold deed,
" and we liked it all the better because
" it seemed to be perfectly justified by the prin-
" ciples and precedents of international law.
" Should it nut be so justified, there climb* no
" hesitation as to the course to be pursued. How-
" ever gratifying the seizure of the rebel Ambas-
" sailors may hare been, it is not worth the sacri-

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