Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-21
9aiIg appeal,
TIE CAPTURE OF MEssRs. MASON
AND SLIDEEE.
elninion. Of fhe E.ress.

contain some able and instructive comments
upon the recent arrest of the Confederate com
missioners, from which we extract as follows:
The Trlc Dolta says
The late moment when we saw the telegraphic
announcement Of the seizure Of Messrs. Mason
and Slidel on an English steamer on the high
seas, and their removal thence to Fortress Mon
roe, as prisoners, prevents our doing more at
present than TO express the opinion that more
outrageous OF Uniustifable proceeding-one
more Geiant Of the opinion Of the civilized
w0Ill-has not occurred since the abduction
from neutral territory of the Duke d'Engheln,
by order OF Napoleon Bonaparte. The parallel
only wants the execution OF Mason ana Shdeu
to make It complete, and this, msyhap, will fol-
low. Il remains to be seen what course Great
Britain viii now pursue to vindicate the honor
Of her flag, thus disgraeed and outraged
Aud the BuljetiA, in the same connection says:
The above information was received early last
evening and created much excitement in our
community, most of our citizens who heard of 1t
expressing the opinion that the arrest -four com
luiss.ouers while travelling on the high seas in a
British steamer, would be considered by the
British government and people as a gross insult
% the British flag, and would be resented as
such. This we hope and believe viii be the
case.
The Bee lays It on tc-sely, asserting that 81 8
dis-raced government, wretched in the accumu-
laticn of defeat, dishonor, and Of bafied hopes,
and desperate in the foresight Of still greater dis
asters-blinded with rage at the departure Of
Coniederate ministers from one Of our ports, and
IneIlened at the proof it gave of the inetficiency
OF Its own blockade, has perpetrated an act that
has not its parallel in the history Of the world "
The same paper continues:
That was the official act Of the Lincoln gov
ornmeut, that the step was gravely considered
and deliberately resolved upon in cabinet coun-
ciI. and that the San Jacinto was sent out upon
the highway of ocean travel with explicit in
s.rlcti6us 60 overhaul the mail packet at al haz-
ards violate the flag of Great Britain and snatch
from the protection Of its neutrality the men it
feared so much, there IS not a room for a doubt.
No naval officer would have dared to assume
such responsibility, nor would Lincoln other
wise have cast the prisoners into the dungeons Of
Fortress Monroe. Whatever has been done,
zhough prompted in the blindness Of passion,
was tle result neither Of ignorance nor Of aeci-
deE.
What the consequences of this outrage may
DE. time win soon determine. The British gov
eminent is not noted for allowing insults to its
flag TO pass uunoticed, nor win it want for pre-
cedeuts. IN the course of that power which now
defas it, % demand the EXTREMIST TepaTation.
il has no continental wars TO tie its hands it
Tas no possession within reach of the United
States except the sparsely populated Cansdas
it has a navy equal to the task Of obtaining re-
dress. and the traffic il would lose would be far
more than c1mpeusatel by the reOpening Of the
cotton supply. But the serious consideration OF
this affair in IFS various bearings, We leave for
O. #.. I'm
It pains us % think of the suffsrings which
lave fallen to the lot Of the gentlemen and their
families vh0 are now immUred at Fortress
N9uro. The Hon J. n. Mason and his secre-
iart Mr.. Mcfarland, were, we believe, unac-
eonl-auicl but the Hon. John Slidell had his
lyie and two daughters, and his secretary, the
Hon George Eustis }vas accompanied by hls
wife Dr. Lomat of this city, and several other
soutle.n gentlemen, were in the party. There
isu0 probability, we fear, Of their release du-
riu- the present war, as the Lincoln dynasty
must anticipate such demand from England
and BE- resolved 70 refuse il, or they would not
Ia8 placed themselves in such a position.
The Crescent in It's '' talk on Change, says
The talk ceu.sred on theintelligence Of the ar
y..sf of lfessrs. SIdell and Mason on the high
seas. Many of the habitues of the flags, as well
as the aore retired tIequenters, would not give
,.-s7eu.se 20 the advices We regret to have TO
saw tIiat Eye believe the accounts are too true.
OG the ARRIVAL Of Messrs. Sidel and Mason IN
Havana. -liat arch ingTate. Consul Shufsl3t, the
causlI-gaueral Of the defIuct Union, sent imme-
dlata-v for the steamer san Jacinto 70 come 10
Havana 30 watch any vessel on which or OoHl-
missiouers might embark. The result Is now
known Tive or three weeks since, the safety
af our Commissioners was Questioned, even IN
de- the British fzE. based on the following ez-
tract from Wheatol's eleIh5uts Of International
law:
rThe limits assigned TO the operations Of war
against ambassadors by writers on public lsw
are. tLIat the beilgeTent may exercise his right
Of war against them wherever the character %
hostility eXlsts-le may stop the ambassador o.
his enemy on his passage"
The Crescent says editorially that the news
c.ea.ed intense excitement in the city, and the
expression of regret over the mishsp was uni
versaI. and adds:
S8eesi latous as to the probable course Of
Great Britain in regard 20 the gross outrage upon
Le- flag were iuaumerabie Nearly every one
iial a theory Of his own, but a large majority Of
1he theories conveyed 70 one Point-that Eng
land would bring the Gorilla" government to
"a severe account for the Insult For our part, !
1ye have seen 10 reason 10 change the views
hlahy expressed yesterday. John Bull vii
either gar into towering rage and demand inn !
mediate ana ample satisfaction, OF else be VIII
say comparatively nothing because Of a little /
private understanding that has existed al along
-i-a tle Lincoln administration. But, no mat |
Ger F zen aIternativs r taken, it VIII be no ey-
5encs Of friendship on The part Of England to /
the people or government Of the Confederate /
i5-ltes.
The government Of England has expressed !
y q
Ilelt " support, express OF implied, TO since
our declaration Of independence On the con /
trary, tic weight Of her influence. when exer- /
ris-l 81 al, has been thrown IN favor Ct the 1
North. Size has departed from a fixed, wcll-es- 4
talshel rBle In one case. When a party, in /
soIue beggarly, ignorant South or Central Amer 4
Jean Stat, OF two OF three hundred thousand 1
i-alable Inhabitants establishes q ne fret0 gov
eminent England at once recognizes t. Such /
EaE been the IAFauabie custom for more thau I
slls-lhi1i Of 70 century But, when millions of /
united. Intelligent brave and wealthy southern
ers declare their independence with one accord, /
establish q free government, aDd maintain their
position VIGOROUSLY Tor months, giving Hnmis- 4
taxable assurance Of ability 10 DO 50 for al time
o. come, this English government, for some /
cause or other, cannot, or At least Wiil not DO |
unto us as she has frequently done unto others. 1
who lad no claims either 70 respectabiiity. in- |
taligence, strength, OF commercial Importance.
However, betnis as 10 may and it is possible |
the tuture may afford some reasonable explana- |
zion % that which appears iaexplieable now |
one tuug Is evident: We shall never achieve our 1
independence Of the North by foreign aid Nor |
ought we 10 expect it. Our own strong arms /
aul uBguailing heaIia must accomplish that OBJ /
iecL Weiaye no other safe. earthly reliance. !
Let us win a ts,g more such feils as Manassas, |
Oak HiI, LersbuTg. Belmlnt etc, ssal our abo |
Euou Toes Eill De right glad 90 acknowledge iEat I
ye are as we Of right OuEAi TO be, inaccOTdance /
NitH the principles Of truth and Justice, free and
independent States, clothed with al the attributes
Of government, and entitled 70 al respect a.
such Then, foreign nations viii BE- more glad
90 treat ,s rs equals than they now ars FelHc-
-aut -0 esteszi tue barren courtesy Of b formal
ecoeaiuou. wl,ch, while it could do us no sub
-l.utial good. wou-l only TeuleF their course
consistent LIT them <. 'heir own ways. We
slFplcaia noiliug ir0m tAem ptYeT have and
Hr-er shall, but Tcly entirely upon tia1 bravery
aaa ParTia,.sn OF as noble q people as th. suE
ose. sGoue upon.
of course we would be delighted r John Bull
would take & into his head to make the inguIt
offered Bis flag preteXt fOF iuAieting coudign
punishment upon Linc0lus ocean hOrdes But
.}o.u will not do anything Of the sort unless lac
g forced 90 it, or sees that he can make a great
deaf q money by IL. just now the cotton fam
ne in Manchester, ETC., is becoming oppressive.
and n q few weeks viii become terrible. Tie
.0ug manufacturing pole NAV stir un the old fsI
u. s-s