Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-11-21
CHE Rntlaua Nerala.
THURSDAY MORNING, NOV. p, 1861.
THE ARREST OF MESSRS MASON
AND SLIDELL.


AND SLIDELL.
Tie news of the capture of Mason and
Slidell, and which We brify referred to yes
terday, has caused a sensation throughout the
country which a "frst class" victory in the
field would hardly surpass. The only draw
back to the general joy seemed to be the fear
that the news would prove untrue. But lat
er dispatches fully confirm the fact of the ar
rest, and for once, the details, even were all
essentially correct,-so that the Geographic
dispatches published by US yesterday en-
brace all the material facts in the case. And
now the two next questions which seem to
agitate the public mind are, 1st what is to
be done with them ? and 2ndly by what au-
thority of law could they be taken, as they
were, from the British vessel sailing under
the English colors The first question is
easily answered. The prisoners will for the
present be domiciled. and comfortably and
atentiyely watched over, and cared for, IN
one of the National Hotels" Fort Lafay-
cite or Warren. As prisoners we are bound
to believe they are likely to serve the gov
eminent OF the United States tar better than
they have ever done before. With them as
prisoners Of war, or State, we opine that We
shall cease to hear the blatant threats of
secessia in relation to the hanging Of Col.
Corcoran, or any other OF our men, prison
ers in their hands. With Mason and Slidell
their admitted two most able men, in our
hands, we think this game is played out"
In regard to the other question--as to the
rights of United States vessel to make such
an arrest on board that Of one Of a neutral
power-so ready an answer, we are free TO
admit, cannot be given. This precise ques-
tsn-that of search or seizuro r. contra
bands of war on neutral yesses-is an old
one and one that has been discussed by the
ablest iurIsts Of this country, England and
France since the time when mans memory
runneth not TO TIE contrary, and yet, to the
present day, we believe the question to be
Just as unsettled as it was fifty years ago -
There is, however, one fact in the present
case that will place the matter in some
what novel light, should trouble or dispute
with England come of it, and that is this
While England has always strenuously in
sisted upon this right, the United States gov
eminent has always, with equal pertinacity
and with equal sIenousness denied it. Even
within the past few months when the I'm
ion was in the throes OF dissolution our read
ers will all remember the acrimony which
sprung up between the then Government of
the United States and that Of England in re-
gard to the boarding OF our ships by vessels
of the latter nation IN pursuit OF slavers.
But we shall leave the discussion of this
question to wiser heads than ours. We shall
points of international law bearing upon this
question. Vatell, Kent, Marshall, Story,
and all the lights of the past age, together
with the (perhaps) more luminous rays of
those Of the present day - from the abest
statesman and jurist to the smallest village
attorney-brought TO bear upon the subject
afresh-and it is quite possible that through
this important arrest, this vexed question of
international law may forever be set at rest.
And our only hope in the matter now is, that,
having secured our prisoners, no fresh com,
plicauons may grow out Of it. And this we
do not expect. In civil jurisprudence pos
session is, and has ever been, regarded as
" nine points in law - and having in the
present instance Jagged our game" we
shall expect to hold it-Peaceably ii We can
--torcibIy if we must.