Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-28
The New York Herald produces seyersl authorities TO
usain the action of Cant Wilkes and adds.


Belew HcMsDus forciby taken from al American
ship, tho brig n d. Ohas Of Boston, under protest Of
the officers in the habor Of Cork, where he had take1
shelter under the stars and stripes at time tco after
she had cleared the por! end virtually on her voy-
ago. having been lying of the harbor six days, waiting
for a favorable wind. But II ia evident Ccmuodore
wilkes authorized TO make the arrests on board
Of British ship, ard "a more than probable the Gov
ernneut will disavow the proceeding apologize for IL
promising never 10 do it again. and perhaps rspimand
he naval ofer for permitting his zeal TO oustrip his
discretion. This is all we think the English Goverrmtlt
can fairly demand II Il does riake any demand o.
ihs sr'j jet The Enelisi papers VII probably ske
great noise about IT, and PaIerston and Russell viii o.
terribly embarrassed But as for giving Up Mason and
Sdel now that they are in the hands of our Govern
men that il another affair." and altogether out Of the
question.
The Philadelphia Ledger argues that the arrest Of
Nesirs Mason and Sde does not involve the principle
Of the fright Of search, and then remarks:
The 'right of search" in time Of war II right acknow
lodged by every civilized government necessary bel
ysrent right and both Fubut to IL, and exccrciso
t in turn in time OF war; without either dispute hest
taion The rght Of search, then ia not the question
presented In this Of Sde and hisons arrest. The
oaly question presented is have we right to board
tisn ms ste.ner or such appears to be the cbarsc
Of TIE veese from British port and seize upon two
passengers as prsosers OF wal?
II auy doubt exist any right under international
law act 10 this way that doubt is entirely removed by
the conduct OF Great Britain herself in similar case,
which Is precedent GDda rule sufficiently jusiyiLg
Com. Wilkes act, and the sanction and acknowledgment
of il by our goyerament. In 1911, Lucsp Bopapar;e
then ia ay, desired 20 tse United States TO in
duge in quiet the sudious tastes TO which he inclined
lie was assisted in the design by huTat, Kirg OF
Naples, aud with tie aid of the latter, he sn.
gagged passage in vessel trading TO that part o. the
country from the United Stairs. The vessel toe
Hercules commanded by Capt. Edward West of Salem,
Massachusetts, and she departed With Lucien from
port in Sardinia Lucien getting sick on the passage,
desired TO be put ashore at port in the Mediterranean
An Engish man-ofgar hearing Of his arrival, sent an
armed boat took him of the vessel prisoGer, aud car
ried him England, where he continued reside for
long time. This act never regarded by our gov
ernment that heard Of a violation Of any OF
our national or commercial rights and Great Britain
never disavowed Il that advised Of With this
case 20 identical 10 its features with the arrest OF Sdel
and Mason, Great Britain certainly will be the last to
complain of tho violation OF any righ.of hers under
rule which she has so tgnally set.a
The New York. Tribune remarks:
But what will Great Britain say the taking Of these
two wondbe enyoys by force from OF her merchant
vessels? We do not know and do not greatly care.-
We shall endeayor say nothing the law OF the
that NAV even calculated TO fores;a embarTa's
tho action OF government II Great Britain &C.
mands the liberation Of these gentlemen and repsraiion
for their capture propose TO sustain such response
our government shall t TO make For is pos
sbe TO make such demand without in substance comics
sny that the right TO search American vessels for British
seamen and to take away those who a(ju1g9d such
which the principal cauS ofthe war OF 1912 has
no foundation in public law. IT. then, the British gov
ernmant fit confess that 1t utterly wrong in
the collisions which engendered last warwas wrong
in every instance wherein she searched perc AT
ships for those claimed natve-born ctiz of the
British Crown-we trust our government withstand resdy
10 deal wisely and generously with tho venerable pen
tent Che need not admit that she wrong in partic
uary fragrant instances srch the attack Of the Loop
ard on the Chesapeake In $685. and the burning Of tie
Caroline at schosser lone of our Socks in the Niagara
river in 1888 Ishe is ready TO establish and abide
by any doctrine the general subject trust her
prcfrs will be received with distinguished consideration
But if she chooses be satisfied with British precedcnts
for the case Immediately in band, she be supplied
with them TO her hearts content
The New York Journal of Commerce essys:
From the reports received it appears tha. the Trent
received board two civilians, special ambassadors TO
Europe on errRnd 10 procure aid for the Southern
beligerens aud carrying dispatches Of the utmost i'm
portance to that belgerent In the present Wheh
er the Captain Of the British vessel knew what he
doing is unimportaut Thelaw supposes that shipmas
ter or his owner fregh knows his 4dng and knows
the character Of all dispatches his snip. In the pres
ent instance there Ia little doubt that the captain knew
the whole story He had been warned by his Qieen,
that il he violated the neutrality of England by carrying
dispatches msry men, otherwise serving either BEL
gerent North or South, in America, he liable TO
/
risk, and With open eyes.
II thi, view Of u ease be the correct cne II was
pure act Of mercy tEat the American commander did
not bring bis chip and cargo into our ports, and con-
demn them in an Admiralty Court in America. The
right TO do this implies the right To take Of her the
dispatches and their bearers well any soldiers
civilians found on board in the service Of enemy
Il is purely Of grace that the British merchantmen has
been allowed to go to England, and 1t s fer from likely
that England will bother herself with any comp ANT from
her captain who escaped with his vessel and cargo from
the fate of which the Qlcens proclamation warned him.
The New York Times reviews the subject ct length,
and concludes:
Not only then have the owners of the British vessel
no ground Of compint but on the contrary they have
every reason to be atefu TO the commander Of the
San acino for his leniency In not bringing their vessel
into United States port where she might have been
condemned and sold as a lawful prize for the dlgrant
breach of neutrality OF which she had been guilty.
There will probably be, usual little growing and
grumbng the part Of the English press, but VIC ap.
prehend that in view OF the language OF their own
statesmen and judges and the terms Of the proclma.
tion of neutrality this interruption to Messe. Mason
and Sidells European tour vii not be madc matter OF
complaint by the English government and viii not tend
in the least to disturb the friendly relations between the
two countries.
Speaking of the incidents that transpred when the
arrests were made the Washington correspondent Of
the Philadelphia Press writes:
Vixen forty miles OF MstaDzls, in the old Bahama
channel the Trent hove in eight, and the two vessels
were soon within hailing distance. Commodore Wilkes
sen, sho. across tho bows of the Trent To this 10
attention was paid when another was directed near the
how This brought the steamer to- Lieut. Fairfax, to
whom both of the Confederate passengers person.
sy kno.n was sent board in boat, supported With
two more boats filed With marines. Lieut.. Fairfax went
on deck and called for Messrs. Mason aud Slde who
soon appeared Lieut.. Fairfax politely informed them
of the object Of his mission, aud asked them TO go on
board his boat To this they OH cted, Mason remark
ing that they had paid their passage to Europe to the
British Consul at Havana who acts as agent for tho mail
steamship line and he would not leave without force.
Lieutenant Fairfax. pointing his marines drawn up
the dccks of the British STEAMER said You Sec sir,
have the force if that h what you require Then you
must use It." replied Mason. With this Lieut. Pafax
placed his hand upon the Senators shoulder aud pressed
him to the gangsay. Atths Jincure the passengers
rushed forward somewhIt exced aad attempted to In