Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-19
capture Of messrs mason ana sMaell.

Capture OF Messrs Mason ana SIIaelL.
The Yankee Government can't refrain from atu
peudous bluriers. The Chicago platform was {
blunder. The election Of LINCOLN was blunder
The proclamation Of LEGION was blunder. Al
Of these constitute series of blunders and cata
logue of crimes, following each other in rapid suc
cession, and launching the Government into the
widest excuses Of tyranny and usurpatiOn, and
eliminating in inglorious defeat anA disgrace.
But the saddest as well as the bo.dest blunder Of
al is the capture of Measrs. MASON and S11DE1L
accredited commi sioners of the Confederate States
to the Governments of England and France. by the
o. S. steamer San Jacinto, on board British mail
steamer, thus striking directly at the sovereignty Of
Great Britain and assuming the right to seize pas
sengers, make searches and to forcibly carry Of
persons, frem on board Government neutral vesN
sci, covered and protected by its flag, That this
high-handed act was forcibly done we do not
entertain doubt, since any connivance Of
the British Government would have been
physically impossible, in view of the fact
that Nessrs. MASON and SIIDEIL sailed without
its knowledge or Intervention, and as ordinary pas
sengers on a mail packet In addition to this, the
known policy of the British Government has been
that Of neutrality, in accordance with the proeIa-
nation of the Sovereign which has been cautiously
and strictly adhered to, from the commencement Of
the revolution. AMI then there is an absence of
motive for such conniVance of the British Govern.
ment, since its Ministers could amply decline to
accept the proposals Of our commissioners, after
their arrival at the Court of ST. James,
without resorting to an expedisnt which if submit
ted to- wounds its honor lowers its crest and stains
its escutcheon in the eyes of the world If the
British Government simply desires to postpone or
positively deny the recognition Of our de dco Gov
ernmen it is totally unnecessary for it to resort to
q violation of that hoptality which its flag afford
ed to our com missioners on the stormy seas,
We suppose, then, that the capture of our com
missioners was made against the protest Of the
commander of the English mail steamer, and that
the British Government will instantly demand q
dsavowal Of the act by the bastard Administration
at Washington, reprimand aad dismissal of Com
modore WnKFs and that the seized Commissioners
be placed in stGtu quo, and full repatriation be made
for the insult This is the least that can be de-
mAnded under the circumstances of the case.
If the demand should not be instantly scceded to
by the cringing despotism at Washington then there
&re certain powerful persuasives in the form Of the
West Indian feet and the British army in Canada,
which May serve 70 quicken the apprehension of
that dull blunderer, ABE LINCOLN and bring him to
feeling sense Of his impropristiez.
Blu. there win be no need for this. The same
crouching spirit that enabled Master SEWARD to
swallow the insults of the British Minister at Wash
ingtor, in the matter of the late imprisonments of
British subjects, will impel him to make virtue of
necessity and humbly beg her Nsjesty's pardon for
the indigRity thus offered TO her flag. The capture
of Messrs. Mason and SLIDEIL was, in truth merely
daring experiment, for delay, on the part of
La coin and his miserable crew. They feared
the immediate recognition of the Government Of
the Confederate States upon the arrival of our
Commissioners in England. They then determined
70 play the pirate with the mistress Of the seas and
ran the gauntlet, to escape the ordeal of war with
Great Britain. If st once challenged to an issue,
they will make an humble and disgraceful apology
for their conduct throwing the whole censure upon
the officer of the San Jacinto ard pretending that
ne violated his instructions, which were purposely
framed by SEWARD to b5sr double construction
and Justify or condemn him, as the exigency may
require. This is the whole Of it. But whether the
Government of JoHS Bull viii allow Master SEW
AED to creep out Of it, in this way, ia another
question. We would fam trust, he has at length
found a match for his cunning diplomacy );
and that the evident desire Of Engand to settle the
question of the blockade will find in this bold invsS
sion of her sovereignty fitting opportunity to work
out its ends, and free the commerce Of the world
from the unnatural and unjust restraints, thrown
around it by Yankee fanaticrsm, cupidity and re-
yenge.