Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-19
WHAT WILL ENGLAND DO T.:


WHAT WILL ENGLAND Do:
Since the capture Of Messrs. Mason and Slidell
many persons have been anxiously enquiring
what will England do? What she will do is un-
certain, but what she ought to do is very sure
The British Government should direct Lord
Lyons to return the thanks of her Majesty to
the CGitsd States Government for its forbear-
ance ia net having seized the Steamer Trent,
brought her into port and oonfscated ship and
cargo for dn open fragrant breach of interna-
tional law in suffering the agents of enemies
ut war with the United States to come on
board, and for carrying official papers and de-
spatches Of the enemies of the United States
BY all writers and jurists the conveyance of
hostile dispatches ia regarded as an illegal
assistance afforded TO a beIIigerent of the most
injurious hostile and noxious character; as an
act that subjects to just condemnation both
ship and cargo.
This principle has been enforced by the
British Government for nearly a hundred
years with infeIible severity against every
maritime power. Carrying the enemy's de-
spatches has often been declared by that gov
eminent as an act Of the most noxious and
hostile character, q service to the enemy in
fnitsly beyond the effect of any eontraband
that can be conveyed, compared to which two
or three cargoes of stores is but limited as
sistsnce; and by the highest British tribunals
the High Court Of Admiralty and the House Of
Lords, the principle has time and again been
affirmed, that carrying the dispatches of the
enemy brings on the confseat,on of the
vshiefs 80 employed. The right of seizure and
eonfsca.ion for that act has been enforced by
Great Britain against the Dutch, Danes, Prus-
slams. and against the United States in repeat
ID instances occurring in 1895, 1902, 1903, 1907
1905, and in short during the whole course Of
the French wars. Ever since the present re-
bellion broke out Ii is notorious that the Brit
lab packets have been the vehicles of the
rebels. British consuls have been their agents
and 1t Is strongly suspected that even Lord
Lyons has on more than one occasion afforded
Sacilities for rebel communication. During
ths war with Denmark British statesman
said, In references to report that the Ameri-
can Minister would transmit Danish despatch
-. that she could not bring himself to believe
that the accredited Minister of a country In
Amity with this, would so far lend himself 70
che purposes Of the enemy as to be the private
instrument Of conveying the dispatches of the
sosuy's government to their agent" During
ne same war, on another occasion, il was said
that ''the prsctise of American vessels to con
wy the enemies dispatches was a practise O.
which they would do we'll, for various reason
affecting their own safety and convenience, to
be more abstemious in D."
By the Quee2's Proclamation, in May last.
the British Government acknowledged the
fsbsl States to be BeIligsrents, to wit, enemies
Of the United States Government, making war
upon it. The hour that proclamation was
made, British ships, by their own principles Of
International law were bound under penalty
Of seizure and confssstion to abstain from car
rying dispatches or doing any act that favored
the Csnfederates, because in time of war such
cot would be noxiOus and hostile to this Gov
srSment. But instead of Observing such con-
duat, British vessels have become the daily
vehicles Of Confederate communication 1t
was time iar an end to be put to this unneu-
trail conduct. What will our Government do
Its duty is plain. The British Government
should be forthwith LSotified that the practises
Of their ships and packets In becoming the
vehicles of enemies of the UniSsd Slater is re-
g,rded as an unfriendly act, in PLAZA violation
of neutral duty, and that hereafter the Bellig-
srsnt right to seize and confscate all ships
found with enemies dispatches On board or
transporting the>sgents and representatives of
the rebel authorities will be enforced In the
meantime Slidell and Mason should be held in
rigid custody until they can be tried and pun
ished for their crimes against the Government
Of the United States. Their sham character Of
Ambassadors affords no protection. 1t is a
lawful right of Belligerent to seize an Am
bassador as soon as any other person if he can
be caught at sea. The Minister appointed by
the Continental Congress to Holland, Henry
Laurens was captured on the Sd CT Septem-
her, 1850, by British frigate on his passage
10 Holland, near New Foundland, was taken
70 England, and after examination by the
privy counsel, was committed close prison
o. In the tower Of London, on a charge of high
treason. Indulgence would be thrown away
ppon arch traitors like Slidell and Mason