The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-29 00:00:00

(From. the Horning Post.)

When we yesterday announced the forcible
seizure by the Commander of the San Jacinto of
Messrs. Slidell and Mason from on board the Trent,
we gave it as our opinion that " this proceeding was
not in accordance with international law," and we
stated that the facts of the case had been laid before
the legal advisers of the Crown.
Our opinion has proved correct, for it has been
decided that the action of Captain Wilks, of the San
Jacinto, was unjustifiable. He had no right to
arrest peaceful passengers sailing under the British
flag, and the deed he has committed amounts to a
flagrant violation of the code of nations and a direct
insult to this country.

Under these circumstances, we need hardly point
out that the Gevernment will lose no time in seek-
ing for the prompt and complete reparation which
it is its duty to require. In this course it will
assuredly receive the unanimous approbation of
public opinion. In a question such as this, where
our feelings of hospitality and our national dignity
are so wantonly attacked, men of all parties will
unite to support the Government in the vindication
of legal right and the honour of England.

Wo are unwilling to place the worst construction
upon the outrage committed by Captain Wilks,
and to look upon it as an intentional affront on the
part of the Government of the United States. We
yet hope that that Government will at once dis-
avow the act of their officer, make suitable apologies
for it, restore the persons of the gentlemen arrested,
and, in fact, make every compensation in their power.
Wild as aro the words, written and spoken, of
Mr. Seward, and reckless as American policy not
unfrequently is, we can hardly suppose that the
Northern States are seriously disposed to accept a
war with England.
We have in the American waters, what with the
Mexican expedition and the ships already there, a
force amounting to not far short of one thousand
guns, which we could largely increase with the
greatest ease and rapidity. In one month we could
sweep all the San Jacintos from the seas, blockade
the Northern ports and turn to a direct and speedy
issue the tide of the war now raging. This is so
obvious that we find it almost impossible to sup-
pose that the Cabinet of Washington can commit
an act so madly suicidal as to reject our earnest and
positive demands. However humiliating to the
arrogance, and displeasing to the vanity, of some
sections of politicians, the people of the Northern
States must see that there is no other course open
to their Government, or consistent with a really
honourable national character, than to comply
with the requirements of this country and of
justice.

(From the Manchester Guardian.)

It is clear that the American Government are de-
termined to test to the utmost the truth of the adage
that it takes two to make a quarrel. Were England
only a tenth part as desirous to break the blockade
of the cotton ports as it is asserted to be by the
mendacious press of the United States, we need not
fear to be long without a case which, in ordinary
circumstances, would be amply sufficient for excuse,
if not for justification. Matters progress at such a
rate that the vague apprehensions of yesterday as to
the provocative disposition of President Lincoln and
his advisers become simple realities to-day. Less
than a week ago it was reported that a Federal ship
of war had recently been lurking about the British
Channel for the purpose of arresting on board the
West Indian mail steamer a couple of American
passengers, assumed to be coming to this country on
a political mission obnoxious to the Government of
Washington. The first danger of our having to
deal with so extraordinary an offence was alleged
to have been happily avoided by the fact that
the mail steamer, which, by the way, was wholly
innocent of carrying the freight imputed to her,
had slipped unperceived past the James Adger,
and got into port unmolested. Nevertheless, we
were told that the design had not been abandoned,
and that an attempt would probably be made
to execute it upon the La Plata, which was due
et Southampton on the 28th or 29th of this
month. It is necessary to recall these reports in
order to perceive that the story which appeared
almost too wild to be credited a few days ago is sub-
stantially verified by events which had already
happened. The La Plata has arrived without fall-
ing in with any vessel disposed to question her
right to an uninterrupted passage across the high
seas. She has not had the perilous honour of bring-
ing Messrs. Slidell and Mason, commissioners from
the Confederate States of North America to Eng-
land and France ; but she brings news of them,
showing that the determination of the United
States' Government to cut short their voyage, by
fair means or foul, had been rightly augured, and
that the contemplated aggression upon the British
flag has been executed with entire success.
The intelligence of this remarkable proceeding
has been read ere this throughout the length and
which indigna-
upper hand. It
of the American
bit
si roednaudae tnht oft the
Ee
contemptnmgalalinc di
so with
forethought
lee
ete
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oonurggts
hhi
ten
Government, or to the thorough knowledge of his
business shown by their representative, the com-
mander of the San Jacinto, to acknowledge that
nothing which could add to the insulting character
of the outrage appears to have been omitted.
Such are the circumstances which Lord Palmer-
ston's Government will now have to consider with
due reference to the requirements of the national
dignity and the acknowledged principles of public
law. We refrain from attempting to pronounce
on the delicate question whether the established
right of a belligerent to search neutral vessels sus-
pected on good grounds of conveying contraband
of war to the enemy can be extended to include a
similar power over vessels in which diplomatic
agents are believed to have taken passage. The
Queen's proclamation warns her subjeets, under fear
of the penalties of the Foreign Enlistment Act,
against " carrying officers, soldiers, despatches,
arms, military stores, or materials for the use
or service of either of the contending par-
ties." It is observable, however, that the de-
spatches of Messrs. Slidell and Mason, even
if they could be supposed to contain any secrets
of interest—which is manifestly unlikely—do
not seem even to have been asked for, for we are
told that all the papers belonging to them have
been brought on by the La Plata. The problem is,
therefore, narrowed down to the question whether
the Southern Commissioners themselves, coming on
board a vehicle of public conveyance, like any ordi-
nary beings, fall within the category of articles
which expose the vessel conveying them to the risk