The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-08 00:00:00

as responsible. But for their temporising—
, but for the Foreign Secretary's hesitating, shiny-
shal/y policy in the earlier stages of these ransac-
ions and negotiaticns—the Federals would have
been spared a sore amount of temptation to inso-
lence and temerity in their treatment of our flag.
While we ourselves would, in consequence, have
been guarded then—had Lord RUSSELL but spoken
or written, that is to say, at first, with the
firmness he only made up his mind to display at
last—we ourselves would then in consequence have
been spared many insults and mach irritation, that
nothing whatever ca❑ justify on the part of the
Federals, and that we English cannot very easily
lose the painful remembrance of,

Last night, on the second reading of the Prison
Ministers Bill, Mr. LONG moved as an amendment
that it be read a second time that day six months,
which was negatived by a majority of thirty-one.
It was a pity that the bon: member did not allow
the house to ratify the decision it had come to on
the question the first time it was discussed. These.
• religious arguments seldom do any good ; they
embitter the mind and rouse angry feelings. In the
excitement of discussion and the irritation of
debate, more is said on the spur of the moment
than would be written in a calmer hour of delibe-
ration. Mr. LONG said in the course of his speech,
that according to the spirit of this bill they would
be bound to provide or pay for a chaplain of the
Mormonite persuasion if the prisoners requested
them to do so. Sir L. PALK seconded the motion.
He said that Mr. DISRAELI treated this bill as one
of great principle and civil and religions
liberty, bat he could not see in the bill any
principle of progression in that direction.
He objected to the measure, because "he
thought it was a miserable compromise, and
would create ill-feeling, contention, and dispute in
a court wholly unqualified for these discussions.''
Mr. MORRUT made his first speech on this occasion.
He said that the arguments he had heard on this
occasion were most inconclusive. He thought it was
because people were wicked they required priests ;
and as to the remarks about Mormons, the power
was under the control of the magistracy, and
therefore it was not probable that such
an appointment would be made. Mr. MOR-
RITT made some remarks on the importance
of allowing these prisoners who were on the verge
of eternity, for what they knew, the opportunity of
receiving religious instruction. He concluded his
impressive address by stating that he should support
the measure. Mr. -KENDALL went so far as to call the
bill the mistake of the session. Sir J. PAKINGTON
made one of his sensible speeches on this subject
and vindicated his party from the imputation that
had been cast upon it, of supporting this measure
from political motives. He truly said, that it
" there was one principle of the Church of England
which more than another tended to strengthen its
hold on the affections of the people, it was the prin-
ciple of toleration." This is strictly true, and the
whole tone of the right hon. baronet's speech
reflects great credit upon him. Mr. WHALLEY
made one of his violent diatribes against
the bill. Major HAMILTON made a most extraordi-
nary speech, which was interrupted with loud
laughter. He said that if they adopted this plan,
" a party of thieves and blackguards would
find their way into prison to secure a sum
of money to one of their pals." We have
all heard of " honour among thieves," but
not of such devoted friendship as to be im-
mured in a dungeon that their associates may gain
a small stipend annually. Besides, in his excite-
ment, Major HAMILTON forgot he was including
the Catholic ministers among the community
he abused. Mr. DISRAELI made a few
remarks in committee on the imputa-
tions that had been n.ade against his party, and
declared that no one had a right to do so, without
evidence. He defied any one to say that he made
the Church of England the means of advancing the
objects of a party, and concluded by saying that
the strength of that Church consisted in its
ability to perform just offices, while it suffered the
complete development of civil and religious liberty.
Mr. NEWDEGATE, with singular bad taste, contra-
dicted the remarks of Mr.DIsRaELI, and this vexa-
tious debate was adjourned, the chairman reporting
progress.

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1863.

A very able correspondent of our chief morning
contemporary has this day in that journal
as sensible an argument as we have anywhere
yet seen in regard to the wretched, fltgrant
case of the Peterhoff. M. Y.'s letter to the
Times, in fact, takes the weole question involved
in that seizure into consideration. He (the writer)
discusses it, moreover, quite coolly and dis-
passionately, in its relation to international law as
affecting blockade. He observes midway in his
communication—almost it seems to us, however,
superfluously, for the fact immediately hereafter
mentioned in his own words may be said to
be tolerably self - evident : " The study
of international law more especially as
applied to blockades has been for years the
duty and occupation of the writer of this
letter." Among the conclusions arrived at by him
as the result of this mature and deliberate study of
international law, particularly as applied to blockade,
is the conviction that, more frequently than any
other law, it is both ill-defined and more liable to
forced interpretations. It is irksome, in its ope-
ration, to neutrals. It is unsatisfactory to belli-
gerents, by reason of the restrictions inevitable from
its application. "If," as this anonymous juriscon-
suit very judiciously remarks, "the evils that the
usages of blockade inflict were such as to be re-
sented before steam navigation became general,
they are much aggravated noW." Not a doubt of it.
And, in effect—that it should be so, was just simply
inevitable. Would that our responsible administra-
tors themselves could sooner have seen, have rea-
lised and have acted upon, the reflections that imme-
diately afterwards follow—viz., that "Because
some doubtful points will unavoidably give rise
to disputes, it behoves us to be the more careful
in strictly defining and holding to such rules as
are indisputable, and not allow them to be lost
sight of by any lashes of our own." Too late
is any such saving reflection as that, however, in
regard to this unfortunate case of the Peterhoff.
The ladies cannot be avoided now in that instance !
Have we not blundered, in point of fact, through
the inopportune admission of ber MAJESTY'S Se-
cretary of State for Foreign Affairs ? Where, in
that most indiscreet letter of his, the noble
Earl would really seem to admit that, under
certain circumstances, a Neutral Vessel bound for a It is no great matter of rejoicing to Reformers
Neutral Port may be regarded as liable to temporary that the House of Lords has passed the Corrupt
capture—that is to say, because of some excusable Practices at Elections Bill. Its pretentious severity,
mistake on the part of the interfering belli - its elaborate clauses, and careful precautions have,
gerent. When, in reality, international maritime no doubt, been framed with the best possible in-
law admits of no such contingency whatever. Under tentions, but are as likely to prevent bribery aced
no conceivable circamstance can a neutral ship, as corruption as a house built without foundations is to
the writer whose argument has just now recalled stand the test of time. It is by no means the first
our attention to the case of the Peterhoff observes, experiment or the first device for the cure of the
most advisedly and unanswerably—under no circum- greatest evil attending Parliamentary represen ta-
stance in any way conceivable, can a r entre' ship tion—an evil which all parties agree in deprecating
on her passage from one neutral seaport to another but which all parties refuse to deal with in the onl3
be legally captured and condemned. Yet as he efficacious manner. It is easy to denounce bribery
adds Earl RUSSELL'S injudicious letter in regard to easy to appoint committees, and disfranchise un for-
the Peterhoff does really bear the construction (he tunate scapegoats, who are made to represent the
is ready to admir, perhaps the forced construction) purity of English electoral principle, while their
" that such vessel, on a legitimate voyage, is liable fellows who have very probably come into their
to temporary capture—certainly to detention and seats on much the serve terms, are happily
search—by the belligerent, like any other vessel exempt from such unpleasant consequences.
suspected, justly or not, of intending to break the The old couplet respecting treason is not
blockade established by that belligerent." Interns.- without its parallel in modern times, Open and
tional maritime law, however, is so distinctly de- detected bribery is a disgrace to the constitution,
claratory of the absolute fact of there being no such and a fair subject for the denunciations of all
power of detention and search, much less of cap parties. But who shall say bow much both sides
tare and condemnation, accorded to either of the would lose if every election which had been owed to
belligerents, in their action towards a Neutral local interest or other indirect influences were de-
trading between neutral ports, that it becomes in Glared null and void ? Yet, as some members must
the utmost degree important that the earliest oppor- be returned to Parliament, and the political views
tnnity should be taken by Earl RUSSELL for dis- of the present day admit of no -very wide
claiming any such meaning as the one hinted at as divergence, would it not be as well to make
lying perdu in his ambiguous remarks. Once the experiment of that measure which has been
prove—as this well-grounded student in the science persistently maintained by its advocates during
of International Law very pointedly intimates— many years, which has been abused, argued against,
but once prove " the bona fide destination to aJ denounced as un-English, ridiculed and decried in
but never subjected to
neutral port," that is, on the part of any neutral , every way, the test of expo.
vessel under suspicion, that instant there lemonthedefenders of the
and from • t It is asserted by
does not exist any " shadow of a right of further Ballot, among whom we have ranked ourselves.
detention." As to the. mere possibility of there being for many long years, that the cure would be speedy,
any reasonable suspicion entertained in regard to the s' le andeffective. It is a measure totally Ms: Veterhoff,boundasshe wastoMatare e
oras,heobserves tinct from universal suffrage, payment of members,
and, as we think, quite uanswerably, see, contra- or any of those extreme Radical theories, whose
band goocs could possibly have been found on board want of practical possibility in the present frame
mant
the Peterhoff, when proceeding to Mate
goods as may be prohibited by the
a, of society at once strikes the least observing. It is a
except such
measuretartl that can be easily introduced without and
Mexican Government : and it is for that Govern- s
change or sudden overthrow of time-
ment to enforce their own fiscal laws against smug- wornicnegnociations, The most enthusiastic lover of
Who possibly can gainsay this ? Any m old s
than—that the Federal Government, as represented I barely s and sights, and old privileges, w‘-'uld
'reg et the turmoil and dim-tier of
a contested elect'
by a Federal man-of-war, has nothing whatever, in
every other proposed solution
difficulties attending
election,
such a case to do with the Peterhoff
one who has given the
ution of the problem must
Firmness, decision, promptitude in the display be manifest to any
of those qualities, if but manifested throughout least attention to the question. Earl RUSSELL
these miserable transactions by our authorities, last night admitted that he had know
acabsee
from the Foreign Secretary downwards, could not where an agent had declared his servienes to possibly, we are persuaded, but have saved both gratuitous, but had received the day after the else
the English people and the citizens of the tion a gift of
.£560 as a testimony of the gratitude
Northern States of the American Union (that is, felt by the successful candidate for his disinterested
of the American dis-Ucion), from en immenea services. The subject is hedged round with diffi
amount of the very bitterest of heart-bcrnings. culties, but the greatest obstacle of all in the pall,
For the sharp, hold words lately uttered in the of improvement is the reluctance of' all parties to
Rouse of Commons by Mr. ROEBUCK, and again a give up their present comfortable monopoly.
little while afterwards by Mr. itOR3I4IN, we dis- Both sides of the House would probably unite in
tilletlY 1144 itrafisLt, and his subordinateo-ciog4l7 deacAlugliq suoil an amnion) but if iucla