New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-13

powere of Europe. We bope, therefore, that our
people will rot meet this provocs,ion WIN an on,,
burst of passion, or rush 10 reseh.neh. "i'"VS III
Other hand, we appeal TO the reasonable men OF the
Federal Ststes-aud they have some reasonable men
among them--Dot TO provoke war ny snoh aS's "s
these II H. and il elways has BEEN vslu 10 appei
TO old foliOs and bygODe authorities III Jnsncalioh Va
acts which every EnglsLnms- and every Freuehman
cannot bur feel to be IN uIous and insulting. EFeh
Mr.. Sc ard himself must know THAI the voices OF
hese Southern Conmi souers, sounding from Their
captiyiLy are a thousand times more eloquent III
London ADD 10 Paris than they would have been II
beard at st. Jamess and the Tuileries. Questions
# this kind in countries where the people exercise
power pass but too quickly ont of the bands OF law
yers and states men, AID give Irresistible power 10
leither the wisost nor the most peaceiJyiDe nem-
bere Of community.
EDITORIAL OF THE LONDON STAR, Nov. %.
Tie affair If he Nashville has been superseded by
one of far superior interest and importance. If Fed.
eralsts and Coefede rates have not actually come 20
blows within British waters, they have drawn
swords upon the deck OF a British ship.
he Commissioners were carried OIL by force, and
unde, protest from the Captain OF the Trent aod
Commander Williams TIE latter called upon the
oil and passengers present. to take note Oi hls
declaration, as the representative OF her MaJetys
Government, that the act they had witnetsed was
nn,n g1ul and piratical But the American officer
seemed go lar DESTROYS of keeping within the strict
letter of hi, ms, sons that lac did not search for
the disnatches carried BY sLe commissioners, huo
which have, consequently, reaehec huSiaiu y TIA
La Plata.
The event has not been unauthorized twas, IN
deed expected to have come of o. this noe oi the
Atlantic. IL Is notorious that Federal ships have
left our ports 10 watch for the mail steamer, with
The deliberate intention Of taking from Der the Com
missioners. The opinion Of the law officers OF our
Crown las been taken on tie sueject and We ar'
as ured that lie clearly in favor OF the night Or
surned by the United States Government.
We do not see on what Interpretation OF the law
Of nations and the privileges OF belgerents eon-
trsry opinion could be sustained. However dsa-
greeable the arrest Of an English steamer on the
common seas, and the foreills removal from under
ber flag, against the protest OF her officers, OF gen.
Il, men who had PROBABLY made themselves very
agreeable w-yoyagers-hoHever coneonant witt
English 81 init aud usages tie declaration OF Com
maLder Willamette question oil right is hot one
10 be decided Il qnarer-deok, or under the iniiu-
enco D. irrltgted feeling.
Our Submission TO such untowsrd incidents Is only
psrt of the general pei atty exaced of civilized
tions BY us iu any psrt of the world. TIE Captain
Of fLe San Jscno did bnt act upon principles which
have always been asserted BY bis own Government,
frequently exercised by ONE, aud are paobaoiy IN
sparable from maritime warfare. The night oil Del,
lgufehts 10 search neui raj vessels FOR oontra'and
persons and Other articles is but too well esta5-
llsiied.
Undoubtedly, the Confederate Comm issioners and
tbeg dispatches do not come under the primary de-
hnition of oontrabaud, which requires that " the
destination OF the goods should be 10 "A lie port
A. no European power Ia al war with TIE tinted
States, and the Trent was bound for European
har6or, this definition certainly exemptS the mall
steamer from liability TO arrest ana search. but
there will 10 found Ia books on international law,
chapters ton "Quasi-e0n'rAband-di'ra'eAef' pas
seDgers." :. -,
Under this head Pratt remarks, in bis valuable
work on coutraband that Assistance may be rendered
20 AL enemy by neutral ia many other ways than
by the conveyance o! stores or munitions 10 hostile
port" particularly by the communication OF III
formation and orders from the belligerebt Govern
ment 10 its officers abroad, or the conveyance Of
military passengers. The conveyance Of dispatches
!. especially prohibited 10 neutral., as these are
capable OF producing the most important eonse-
quences 10 the operations OF the enemy.
An exception Is made where the dispatches are
from an ambassador in n neutral country TO Dis own
Government; but which can hardly be extended 70
the credentials and instructions OF officers proceed
ing IRON a belgereut TO Neutral port on the busl-
ness OF The belIigerent Power. TIE officers Of the
San Jacinio appear however 10 have abetained from
trtspsssing GU this somewhat debstsble ground.
They confined themselves ~ srresfing passengers
who were voysging in no morely private capacity,
nor on private businessi not escaping from the
troubles Of war, seeking home for their families
in "A neutral country; but notonously commissioned
10 procue recognition and for their Govern
meat With the utmost deire 10 put the largest 10
depreciation on the rights OF neutrals, RI only az
means OF procuring the entire abolition OF captures
Al sen We vet cannot understand the fairness Of
cludug the Unopists from such obvious resort of
belliyernt power.
Il would Be liking too much that they should stand
by and make no effort TO prevent our ships convey
ing TO and fro perous ana papers on the enemy =
service IL is ut any rate to be desired that ques-
tons Of this sort should be discussed without heat,
aud decided without haste. II II should turn ont
that tho San Jacinto has exceeded the authority
" hieh the law OF nations comedies " belligerents
over the ordinary rights Of Deutrais, We doubt lot
tue United States Government will disclam the act,
and refuse to take advantage OF its performance.
And, in any case, our own Government and people
will DO we'll 10 bear In mind the excellent advice
gwen the o, Their day by Lord Stanley: Not to show
irritation Ut casual annoyances, such as must inev-
ifsbly arise ia the OF such struggle; and 10
defend our rights, il they be attacked temperstely
ana firmly, giving time for angry passion to evspo
rate" The counsel has proved most timely, and We