The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-01 00:00:00

conclusions which mark the whole course of the
official communications. It is lamentable to reflect
upon the state to which political hesitation and
paltry concurrence with the demands of a bluster-
ing Government have reduced our Ministers, when
they stoop to play such a part before an influential
firm as that here concerned in the dispute, and
which discussion they know must eventually be-
come potent to the whole nation. What a mass of
subterfuge and double-dealing must take place in
those inner circles of correspondence by which the
wheels within wheels of official and diplomatic
occurrences are carried on. A more straightfor-
ward course than that adopted by the Messrs.
LAIRD could not have been found. Their frankness
must have been a marvel to those who dealt with
them in this very underhand transaction of the
authorities of the realm ; their moderation was
surprising, considering the severe tests to which
they were put by the shifting policy and irritating
demeanour of their opponents, and their decision
furnishes an excellent example for all who may
hereafter be placed in positions somewhat similar.
It is to be trusted that it will be long before another
instance of such unjustifiable interference with the
rights of the eubjecl, such contempt for the late.
rests of the community, and such wilful disregard
to the honour of the country takes place. At all
evente, if they cannot alter the course of events,
the public can now judge for themselves of the
details of this vexatious affair, and form an opinion
as to the inconsistency which marked the course
of conduct pursued by the Government, an incon-
sistency which never attends the actions of those
who act from definite principles and do not veer
about to suit the purposes and satisfy the demands
of arbitrary Statesmen in other lands, but firmly
maintain the course which honour, truth, and jus-
tice sanction, certify, and uphold. Could anything
have been more absurd than the excuse given for
seizing the vessels, that information received by
Government authorised them to believe "that a
forcible abduction" wouldlake place of one or both
the ironclads. It is really almost incredible that
men in such a position of importance should
stoop to such mean and paltry devices.
Only those who are ashamed of what they
are about would think of having recourse to
such expedients. The answer of the Messrs. LAIRD
is a very proper one to this ridiculous supposition,
and this one paragraph of itself is a sure and suffi-
cient denial to the extraordinary suspicion thus put
forward :—" Both vessels are incomplete and unfit
for sea going, the second vessel has not even got
masts or funnel in, and both are in the sole charge
of our own people." This in itself is a decided ree
futation of the statement made for the express pur-
pose of authorising more extreme and stringent
measures. Messrs. LAIRD also very properly sug-
gested that when the falsity of the same information
had been discovered the " vexatious restrictions,"
which were causing them such incalculable loss and
annoyance, might be removed. But a more unim•
pressiblo man could hardly be found than oar
Foreign Secretary, and what was it to him if all
kinds of disasters occurred to oar own subjects, if
only the cherished friends oil the other side of the
Atlantic were appeased. Another very discredi-
table thing was the refusal on the part of the au•
thorities to comply with the request for a trial trip
of the El Toussain being made, Such an act of
gratuitous insult is quite unparalleled. It would
appear as if throughout the whole course of these
proceedings the efforts of the Government were
directed tto effect one object, and that to
provoke and irritate the Messrs. LAIRD
into some overt act of contumacy or
opposition, which might furnish a good excuse for
taking the most decided steps and proceeding to
extremities. Such a gratification was withheld
from them by the decided demeanour and judicious
self-control of the Rallies in question. How many
there are, however, who could no`, or would not,
brook such insults patiently, and, therefore, would
be goaded to a futy which would prove fatal to
them. Another important consideration is that
suggested by Sir HUGII CAIRNS, in his memorable
speech in the debate in the House concerning these
reesels. It is that the Government have no right
to ruin the subjects of this realm by their uncalled-
for interference and vexatious delays. In this
instance it is a firm which is rich enough to sustain
the losses inflicted by Ministerial attacks that has
been selected, but the argument is the same as if it
had been one of moderate means, or struggling with
difficulties. The whole course of these proceedings
is characterised by the greatest inconsistency, and
the more we study the details the more we must
regret that English Ministers should thus violate
the spirit of the English Constitution.

The Injustice of the Income Tax,