New-York daily tribune., 1861-12-30

ward George w. in his manifesto Of Jan. 9,
1913, reviewing carefully the grounds Of the
existing war with this country, declared this
right of impressment an undoubted" one,
(tbough we had for dozen years been earn.
estly disputipg it), pronounced its existence
essential to the support Of her [Britain's]
maritime power" and cooly observed that if
"partial mistakes and occasional abuse"-in
other words, the impressment 'of native Amer
icans-sOmetimes occurred under it, because OF
the identity of race and language between
Britains and Americans, "the same circum.
stances make it also a right, with the eI.
ercise of which in regard to such [American]
vessels, it is more difficult to dispense"
V. Though we had been suffering from this
British practice of impressment from our ves-
sells through at least ten years-the particular
instances of it brought TO the notice Of
our Government having amounted to several
hundreds-and though we had been officially
representing, complaining, protesting, remon.
strating throughout that long period-we have
the Prince Regents testimony that, down TO
the outbreak of war in 1872, we had never
threatened Great Britain with hostilities be-
cause of this wholesale and persistent violation
of what We regarded as our vital maritime
rights. And we once, during this long aud
angry controversy, made treaty with Great
Britain-that of Erskine in ls09-by which, in
consideration of Great Britain's cOnsenting to
remove our other grievances, our Government
consented to pass over the subject of impress
ment altogether.
vi. Even on the return of Peace, after
Napoleon bad been dethroned and all Europe
restored to smity with Great Britain, her
Government peremptorily refused to stipulate
that she would not in future resort to Impress
ment from our merchant vessels whenever she
should be at war and judge such impressment
essential This "ancient right of Great
q" Britain" so vital to her " maritime strength,
was in no manner dsavOwed or reDOuDced by
her, nor has it been TO this day, unless in the
peremptory demand made by her that Mason
and Slide native.born Americans, taken by us
from one of her merchant vessels, should be
surrendered to her, and their capture apollo
gized for After this, should British cruiser
ever venture TO stop an American merchant
vessel in quest Of Brtish.born seamen,
even though deserters from her service,
we cannot say that the attempt would be
promptly and sterDly ressnted-for II might DO
made at a time when it would be impossible TO
give that practical effect to our just indlgna-
ton; but it would constitute an outrage 80
fragrant that all but those who fancy whatever
she deems essential to her maritime ascendency
is her uDdoubted right, would cry shame up.
on her. We hold therefore that the capture
and release Of Mason and Slidell has brought
Great Britain herself TO acknowledge, after sixty
years OF confident denial or of obstinate silence,
that in her aggressions on neutral maritime rights
which drove us into the war Of 1912, she was
aagrantly obstinately wrong.
Let none imagine that We object to the
release OF the Rebel Commissioners, or to the
manner in which Gov. Seward has conducted
the discussion on our part On the contrary
We heartily approve both the fact and the
terms of our Governments compliance with the
British demand. We thoroughly agree with the
general spirit both Of Gov Stewards and of
NJ. Thouyeners suggestions that it i'll becomes
the United States, after their honorable strug.
ges and sacrifices in behalf OF the Freedom OF
the Seas, TO be even accused Of unfaithfulDess
to that great principle. If we are ever again
TO be brought into hostile collision
ta;, matt trvn 1ttn
or claimed as involving, the Maritime Rights
OF Neutrals, we insist that our flag shall b.
unfurlsd and upheld, as hitherto, in accord
ance with all our National instincts and
traditions, on the side of the recognition, the
establishment, or even the enlargement Of
those rights-never on the other. II Great
Britain should tomorrow object TO the treat.
ment Of anything whatever as contrabahd Of
war. except in the case Of a vessel violating,
or intending TO violate, blockade we hope
our Goyetnmen.-at whatever present incon-
venience will at once assent to the new
: doctrine thus asserted-new, at all events, from
that quarter.
We beg those who have been so loudly as
serting that Mason and Slidell could not be
surrepdered-that "the lower 0rders or
a. mob ruled in this country, and would
never permit such surrender-to take note OF
the fulfment or failure Of their prophecies.
We believe the Administration is stronger with
the People to-day than If Mason and Slidell
had never been captured or their surrender
bad been refused And, if the lower orders
of our people do not evnce more sagaclty than