The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-30 00:00:00

capacities of the North—in the capabilities for yet
running up again into a flood of victory, still thought
by som., to be latent in the hitherto ebbing, and
ebbing, end ebbing out of the good fortunes of the
Federal Government.

Last night Mr. PEACOCKE moved for the papers
touching the proceedings of the American navy in
reference to the seizure of British vessels. The
motion was negatived. It is most unsatisfactory
that these obstacles and hindrances are constantly
thrown in the way of information being afforded to
the public. If all is straightforward and strictly
in accordance with the principles of national law,
why should there be this constant hesitation
regarding explanations, this backwardness in
revealing all past transactions. Mr. PEACOCKE
truly stated that if affairs went on like they were
at present conducted the trade v, ith Matamoras
would be transferred to the ships of another nation.
Mr. FITZGERALD made an able speech on the ques-
tion. He said that the legitimate trade with Ma-
tamoras had been interfered with in a most unjusti-
fiable manner. He showed that the condemnations
were opposed to the opinion of some learned judges,
and he drew attention to the striking difference that
had characterised the conduct of the Government
in the two cases of the Brazils and the Federal
Government. This was bringing home the charge
in a direct style, and indeed it must be apparent to
the most superficial and careless observer of foreign
affairs how strangely inconsistent is the course that
our Ministers persist in pursuing. Lord R. CECIL
very forcibly declared that the decisions of the United
States Prize Courts under the present circumstances
were not worthy of the same consideration that they
once possessed, and correctly deduced from the
foregoing events the conclusion that our interests
were being sacrificed to suit the partiality of the
Foreign Office for the United States Government.
Although no decided result has attended this dis-
cussion it is es well that it should have taken place,
for it is some satisfaction that the Ministers should
be told publicly of their derelictions even if they
will not heed the warning. It is really disgrace-
ful that British commerce should be tampered with
to such a considerable extent, and for what ? To
please the fancy of those who are incapable of guard-
ing their own interests. No one now living will wit-
ness America free from the effects of this devastat-
ing and disastrous war, why then shoaid cur Go-
vernment use every means and strain every nerve
that our interests should be identical with those of
the Federals. From the outset of the contest this
has invariably been the case. Protests have been
unavailing, complaints unheeded, and advice disre-
garded. The Ministers are determined that we
shall have full cause to rue the day when the great
model Republic went to war, but they should
take heed lest a disappointed people and
injured interests do not also lament that
more efficient hands did not steer the
vessel of our State during the momentous epoch,
and that our welfare was not entrusted to safer
keeping. Patience may be tried too far, and it is too
late in the day to attempt to silence complaints,
by stating what, at the best, are embroidered
facts. The Solicitor-General stated that the Go-
vernment applied to the United States the same
principles that had actuated former wars. In for-
mer wars England was considered the Queen of
the Sea, and her flag was not dishonoured as it
has been repeatedly since this Government has
undertaken to guard the interests of the Ameri-
cans at every turn. Unless some change for the
better is made in our foreign policy, a re-
action will take place in the sentiments of the
people of this country, and they will declare
Their opinions in a manner that Ministers will
not like. It is insulting the common sense of the
nation to say that they are acting impartially, and
it would be more consistent to explain why they
are adopting this extraordinary course than to per-
sist in denying that they are proceeding in the
direction which, it is patent to the world, that they
took long ago, and have ever since unflinchingly
persevered in, through good and evil report.

General MOURAVIEFF'S orders for the establish-
ment of a military and civil administrative tribunal
in the Governments of Wilna, and other places, do
not appear very hopeful to the cause of peace. The
most arbitrary rules are laid down, and there seems
no quarter to b 3 expected on any side. "A war police
council, from whose decision there is to be no appeal,
shall be nominated in every circle." This state-
ment aptly prefigures those that govern in the long
race of hand-and-hand measures. Every one of
every rank is to be under the dominion of these
officials. The occupation of each person is to be
put down, and the degree of confidence reposed in
him likewise marked out. On the roads there are
to be mounted patrols, who are to exercise the most
vigilant watch, they are to supervise all persons
going to and fro, and to allow no one to pass with-
out a permit signed by the captain of the circle.
All weapons that ere found in the towns and the
country are to be immediately confiscated to whom-
soever they may belong, and they are to be at once
handed over to the military authorities, who will
then equip the militia. Nor are these orders con-
sidered sufficiently stringent, but additions are in-
troduced to render assurance doubly sure. Those
districts where disarmament has already taken
place are to be examined again, and all permits to
keep arms that may hitherto have been given, are
from henceforth to be considered as cancelled. The
shortest time is to be allowed for the inhabi-
tants of any place to deliver up their arms,
and whoever fails to comply within the
prescribed period is to be arrested and
delivered up to the tribunals. Members of
the nobility and of the clergy who are supposed to
be disaffected to the Government are to be ex-
pelled. Thou, persons who are guilty of breach of
their oath arc to be handed over to the authorities
to be dealt with according to martial law, and the
circle-chiefs will be considered responsible for any
leniency that is shown to any one in this respect.
General MOURAVIEFF does not consider these
harsh laws sufficient, he goes on to enumerate an
endless set of rules, various in degree, but uniform
in kind. Any stranger to the state of things might
well exclaim and be bewildered at the great extent
to which he has gone in devising the means for
crushing down the rebellious and headstrong nation
he is determined to subdue. These rules have one
paragraph especially set aside for the priests, in
which the most vehement denunciations are made
against all
of their order who participate in any
way in the rebellion. It is expressly stated that no
quarter will be given
to them, and that no excuses
o' having been compelled to join
will be listened to
the ranks of the insurgents.
To explain this it is
said, " that priests who
serve the altar are least of
all justified in allowing themselves to be terrified
by threats." This comes very curiously from one
who has just been threatening them to the utmost
of his power. When he goes on to say that those
priests who fail to obey his orders shall be conei.
doubly
severest
a s
punishment as examples to the rest,
and also that the superiors of the Catholic councils
if they offend will fall under the jurisdiction of the
military tribunals, it is evident that the last influ-
ences which generally retain any hold upon men
who are savage or severe in their warfare are put