The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-14

UnhOn-VRUnef0u
Walker, the Schooner Susan and the British
Fleet.
Our laundering contemporary, the Washington
Unson, in an article which we reprint in another
column has made an attempt to explain the dire
iul results that are to follow "the escape OF the
Susan" With its usual happy knack of making
things turgid, it has made the question as clear
as mud. That lucid journal has one gift in a
paramount degree, and that is the gift to err.
Like Mrs. Darlington, it never opens its mouth
but ii puts It's foot in it. And this is what it has
done in describing the terrible excitement that
will ''rouse the volunteer feeling in this coun-
try" If the coaster Susan and her cargo OF ilibus-
tiers are caught by "the British and foreign
forces in Central America" 1t complains, too,
Of the encouragement given to the filibusters in
the cotton States, and that the efforts of the GO
vernment TO carry out the laws standing upon
the statute books, (Which the cotton States have
made no effort to repeal" have not been well
sustained by public sentiment
II il not from capturing a coasting schooner
that will be illegally in foreign waters if she
goes to Central America, nor from arrest
ing Walker, who has abjured his Anne
rcan citizenship, on board a ship with
out legal clearance, that difficulties
are likely to accrue to our government.
If the schooner Susan makes her appearance in
the harbor Of San Juan or on the coast of
Nicaragua without the requisite proof that she
is an American vessel duly authorized to carry
on foreign trade, her seizure by foreign
Power does not concern us at all, and no excite
meht Of any account will be caused thereby In
the minds Of the American people. II Ii not in
the boarding or capture of runaway vessels
without papers that the American people find
cause for excitement; but it is In the overhauling
of duly cleared and legally employed vessels,
like the steamers Washington and Catbarine
Naria, that We find an infringement Of our rights;
and IL Is snch runaway coasters a. the Susan that
give an excuse to the foreign Powers for such
acts Of infringement, and prevent our govern
ment from putting a stop TO them
II is the same with Walker He has abjured
bis American citizenship, and his capture on a
foreign soil involves Us in no trouble. But
should be be taken from on board duly regis
tered American vessel by British ship, that
would be an insult to our flag which would cause
an intense feeling. Asa leader, Walker il pretty
nearly played out In this country, and his
only chance for getting up an excitement in
his favor is to get some oyer-zealous British
officer to make fool of himself and
arrest him on the high seas while I'M
der the American flag or else that some
equally simple American officer shall undertake
TO arrest him on Nicaraguan or any other foreign
soil, and send him here as a prisoner One
American commodore has already placed US in
that guandary, snd when he got Walker here
the government could do nothing but let him 20.
II the British officers are now cautious and only
arrest him after he leaves the legal protection Of
our dag, we do not care what they do with him.
II i our belief that IL the British government
once gets possession Of him Il will be in greater
quandary what 10 do With him than our own
ever was. They cannot lang him. they have no
right TO thrust him on our hands; and II they
send him to England he will end IL ten times
caicr to raise money and get of an expedition
there than he has found 1t here; for John Boil
il always more ready to put money in despc-
rate enterprise than Brother Jonathan. and he
has not half 80 stringent neutrality laws rs we
have.
a. for public sentiment in the South. the taioa
plumbers there as widely a. il docs on the other
points Of this question There are certain por-
tons of our neutrality laws that are opposed to
the principles of International law, and violate
the rights Of our citizens. These the common
sense Of the whole community rejects aud when
an over Jealous federal Judge, with passion
in his tone and insult in his language,
mounts to the times OF Edward III. Of England
to find a single precedent for his violent d.
cisions, be- stains The majesty OF law. and de-
prives Il Of power. III General Scott were To-
day to resign his commission AZ Lieutenant
General Of the American army, and accept from
The Mexican government a commission a. com
maDdcr-inchicf Of The army Of Mexico. Judge
Campbell would arrest him in New Orleans, fine
him two thousand dollars. and send him b. the
State Prison for three years, if b. could lind
jury 10 convict him. But there is the rub. No
jury will convict under such law; and ii
General Scott or President Iuarcz did not choose
TO confcss that the commission had been issued,
no Grand Jury could lind an indictment under
the law, though everybody might be morally
convinced that General Scott was going 10
Mexico a. a mighty leader
The Iason bad better give up cndcavorinr 20
explain great public questions, and stick TO IT,
pap, al least until II has cut it, teeth. What the
American people want and will insist upon is,
that no precedent for the boarding Of American
ships by British officers, or for the exercise OF
British protectoraie on this continent, shall be-
established. These sre the points that may breed
trouble with England, and not Tie catching in
foreign waters Of a coaster without papers, or Of
the foreigner walker, elsewhere than under the
American DAG