New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-18
MASON AND sLIDELL.


Whatever complications may arise from the
arrest on board q British ship of the Lord
High Commissioners of Secession to the Great
Powers of Western Europe, it is certain tha'
the faces Of loyal Americans broadened INTO
universal grin at the intelligence of their cap
ture II was the fit conclusion OF a week OF
rood news-the best that we have had since
Treason broke out into Rebellion. OF all the
arch. traitors, there are no two-nOt even floyd
and JEFF. Davis-wbOse appearance among US
as prisoners would have dfused more general
and hearty satisfaction. If there be one man
who, more than any other, has schemed and
plotted for years to bring the country to its
present condition, that man is John sliden of
Louisiana. lie was one of the most pernicious
advisers of Gen. Pierce and the very evil genius
of Buchanan's Administration, causing him to
break faith with Gov. II. J. Walker of Kansas,
and very nearly bringing the country then into the
desoating civil war which he has OF last TO-
mented. He meant to have had the Govern
ment on the side Of Slavery in the contest; he
missed his mark, and having set out to figure
in the grand saloons of Europe as the leading
Plenipotentiary Of Cottondom, ne finds himself
landed in the loyal States an arrested and
strictly. guarded traitor.
His colleague, Mason, is not SO bad man,
though he ia as bad as be knows how TO be.
Had he half as much sense as pride and POM
posity. he would have been twice the traitor
no is. He has done his worst, however. to
plunge the country into an abyss OF blood ana
crime, aud viii worthily grace the cell IN
which his career has reached its fitting con-
summation.
But what will Great Britain say to the
taking of these two would.be ENJOYS by force
from one Of her merchant vessels We do not
know, and do not greatly care. We shall en-.
deayor to say nothing on the law Of the case
that may even seem calculated to forestall or
embarrass the action Of our Government. If
Great Britain demands the liberation of these
gentlemen, and reparation for their capture,
we propose to sustain such response as our
Government shall see fit to make For it is
not possible to make such demand without in
substance coniessiDg that tie Right to Search
American vessels for British seamen, and to
take away those who are adjudged such
which was the principal cause of the War of
1Sl2-has no foundation in public law. II,
then, the British Government sees BIZ TO con-
fess that it was utterly wrong in the collisions
which eDgendered our last War-was wrong
in every instance wherein she searched our
merchant ships for those claimed as native,
born subjects Of the British Crown--we trust
our Government will stand ready 70 deal
wisely ard generously with the venerable peni-
tent She need not admit that she was wrong
in particularly fragrant instances, such as the
attack Of the Leopard on the Chesapeake in
1908, and the burning of the CaroAne at
Schlosser Zone Of our docks in the Niagara
River, in 1898. IF she is ready now to cstab-
lish and abide by any doctrine on The general
subject, We trust her proders will be received
with distinguished consideration. Bat j she
chooses to be satisfied with British preceaents
for the case Immediately in hand, she can be
supplied with them to her hearts content.
In either case, the energy and decision OF
Com. Wilkes has secured a substantial triumph
to our country.