, 1861-11-22

Z a6 ENk1x5a hDLE%
We hare no need to 60 back to the
older writers on the Law Of Nations, to
establish our right to seize the dispatches
borne On the British steamer Trent nor
iced We argue that if dispatches we're
contrabands, the bearers, Mason and Sill
dell were liable to arrest We have the |
authority Of the Queen herself, promulga-
ted within seven years past, for the
complete justification Of Commodore
Wilkes's action. In March, 1854, during
the Crimean War, remarkable declara- |
ton 1as Issued by the British Government,
BY the Queen. We quote such parts Of it
as are pertinent to our purpose:
J., DEeIARA71ox.-Her Majesty the Queen Of
1tlsrd, having been compelled to take up
arms IN support Of an ally, Is desirous Of rcnd-
esirg tie var as A,t.e onerons as possible t.
he Ro~s1s Thom che remains at peace.
It Is impossible for her Majesty to torego the
exercise Of her 1iglt OF SEEING articles contra
band Of war, AID Of neutrals from BEAR
ING TEE ENEMY'S DISPATCHES, aa7 she
mutt maiIt tsiu the right Of belIigcrent, to
prevent neutrslk from breaking any effective
blockade ~hich may be est4bishe3 with an
adequate force against the enem5' Is harbora,
ports CT coasta
This Was, as We have said, in 1854. Its
validity and authority do not depend upon
the black-letter velumes with which our
libraries are crammed. 1t is .hexeliber2te
sFn1es1ina nj Cke ulntureu opls.,1,ue 81 the
English Government, by the Queen herself,
during the last decade-the rule Of action
to Thicl she has subjected Us, and by
which, unless war with the United States,
in the interest Of Human Slavery, is her
desire, her OWL conduct in the case now
under discussion, will be regulated.
The questions now to be determined are
these:
!. We're the papers taken from sudel1
and Mason, Dispatcher
Il Are the bearers Of dispatches contra
band Of war liable to arrest, on neutral
deck?
| The Queens Declaration which We hsye
cited, Is complete answer to the first
query, and the action Of the British Gov
ernment IN case in point, il the trium.
plant reply ts the latter. We state it in
the language of an English journal Of the
! period. quoted in the New York Times:
EARLY ia September LAST, Ut Henry Lauren
was tsken Prise e By The British fdgste Testal
ard il now csn1l1ed IN the Tower Of Loadoa. .
correspondent at Portsmouth, Erslaud, gives tn,
Gives The folerlng account OF his capture: "Mr
as e oess s osps1a q aasds Ct shs a & eatS
snip ThieA carried Ar. Lau7eaas, Itt President O
; The A0n+icaa Congress- II zr1s q Dutch retse4
lod<a se;M tobacco and doand for Raltaad 4,
boat make up to the ves sci in which he was, lt
threw the boz that contained his letters aver
p1osing Insufficient for aiaktng It immediately
& eysr S IL. ths 6esi sad Eept it saoat q q
IL. 4ausvn< ga. 6oand 10 aauand so.h .h aeg9nnts Il
sio:J7uza TIE Congress, and the tenor Of bis husi
e hosss Rat1ss es ne: I
ard the States {Ho!laAd}, Il this accident had 10
interrened 70 protect us against this further mis-
6s shove a1e fg q hs s1Sn atest e.a
tntiress Nth he state,. and ful1 description 9
| corretpsrdeIee Is sstd IL be discovered betHce
~ n1smte:e Of 1ae Congrens md certain great Il
hah1tants Of E. gland. bns We do not mention thi
o'dxnd hfo1ite desice ot d1&sppofnted Mi1iste
2 70 lht1Euste the imTutat1on Of treason agaiai
a tlote men who hare the fortitude to discuss
steacy opposition to his me:sutes. GoveEames
have sent word thst HI. .Lanrene should be brouei
:, 70 Losdan n1 de1 strong guard. They have
ss ~. .9s to 9sSs soa s h o ri
is to be disposed Of IL Is Jet donht With tue *
: mlniftratiea. 1A<v o7& tn a puzzis srAe1aer
. should Be rfceited s1iy os an 4Mericda cap{tre
t u sent to At@1dte as re6n.'"
+ Mr.. Lau1ens YVES committed to Ii
5 Tower Oh the 9Th Of October, 1880. Til
r commitment By the three Secretaries {
| State, ran thus:
l 'fhese are in His NA}esty's name, to suthosi,
{ou t. receive into y6ur castody tic person .
= he then te deh1e1e1 o9 due course of hF; for
'2ss psfta Il Rsssas zfss xs's hs .a Of oc 1885,
r. HILLsBo ROUGH,
# To CHAR1ts Earl Corn~snts, Constable Of t
:. Tower OF Landoa, or his Deputy-''
- The circumstances Of Mr.. Laurens' COZ
= mitment are thus related in the Ne
Jereey Gazette, Of Dec. 20, 1880:
"Oa his arzissl Ia E1s1sns he Was attended
/ the Secretaries of ssatn, who hfter informing Il
4 OF their rank and character. asked him, Is 70
x nsms 1sms Henri Lsuseasf, Il L., Az yoa.
is amertesa coasrtass' sm ~ .We eses 70 osdes q
i b, tAe King aud Council te examine You. and hs
" IetHn 4nest.ona to propose to your *5e
n lo1as6aps mAy a8ve Yorteelres ths trouble of
:. tmis sattsn, sa think 1t my place to answer
10 lnssuofs you put. Sir, sc6 drs directed to co
TO dstsnd.'" " '~1
:, With this declaration and this procede
II II before us, to assist in the formation of
E proper opinion Of the case in dispute, ,
4 need Lave no hesi;&tion- If they expire
=, - .he law and the Acta, every foot of Il
]. continent must be ploughed up With c.
Is t. pon balls before Mason and sliaen q
L. given up.