Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26
Hon. Caleb Gushing on the arrest of MA
son and Slidell.


reply 10 an enquiry from Fernando Wood. of
New York, IN which, with his accustomed ability,
he has given his opinion on the arres, of Mason
and Slidell. In conclusion, Mr.. Cushing OBJ
serves:-
Ny voice is tina, of political proscript or
opinions -aNe. 1t may await nothing, at this
hour. But, il | nigh, presume, at this time
10 address NV countrym2n | would exhort
them TO cease from caviinS With for, ign gov
rrnmentS Us to the hame to he given to ihi-
pro'eniouS thing, which rises terrible before
MS the awful fact Of this grca, struggle in the
heart Of the United States, on the enc hand 10
disrupt and on the other hand 10 uphold, the
integrity Of the Union II would ralreat them
TO ascend to the ma s>ty of the occn.i,n in the
legal aud political relations OF the tunes, as
they have nobly manifested ,hcir purposes TO
DO in the military ones Il would upurc them
to consider that civil war is not the less WAR;
with its rights and its duties. ON both sides, -.
wihits calamites but nevertheless its triumphs
its grandeur, its galIantry, and It's glory - |
would pray them TO Danish from their thoughts
all irpracticablc schemes revolutionary social
change, under the missppied name of he Union,
aud to look only TO the snnctity on the Consl.
tuition Il would admonish them that in such
" crisis, i, is the paramount duty Of all Inen to
rally around the President, az The necessary aud
ony possible. centre OF political order, and the
y0uhg Commandment. Chief. as the single exist
ing GENRE of military order; and | would pro-
claim 10 them that the Union is TO he rescued
from the peris which menace it. peace and hap
In ,o rastoro1 thn mt hv
any unconstitutional tampering with the sub
irct races OF the insurgeut Snte-, but by
winning bat,les-hatties in the field o. honnr
--battles OF brave meu TO encounter brave men
great battles. to pale in the brightness OF their
tame that Of the greatest and hottest days ofthc
New or the Old World That would he some
thing f, TO live for. that would be something for
Inch il would be filter still TO die. God forbid
at all cveuis, that We shond tread in that faldi
path Witch other great governments bave trod in
modem times when visited by civil war and threat
cntd with disruption that is to plunge wan
,ony into conflct with neutral government on
minor and incidental questions, as great Brit
ain AND Spain did in like circumstances, pud
so TO con>umn,a,e the dissolution Of the Union
Let US on the contrary THINK ony to keep our
selves spoltess before the world that ,hus
come what else may, our beloved ccunfry sha'
emerge purified from the fiie Of atIi, cton, sane
iliel BY suffering, with loCiier aud nonler :hfnhs
If national life than heretofore aud rya1y IT, re-
sumo. reiovi.orate the career Of r"atnoss
side By SIDE with the pyouaest . 'be Power q
Europe 70 oonc.dc. them Ia ny Judgment
the net Of Cap'ain Wilkes was ole "hch anN
aud every self respecting natcn mus and
would have done bv it, own sov-rcig g.,
and power, regardless OF cooseqa nees. Ii wa
an &C, which IT cannot be doubted, '.ea'
Britain wouid have done unde, the s;,inc civ.
cumStarccs. At the sane time, it was m act
amply j,st fed by The principles and doctrine
I of International nr'sprUt. .nce. We may well
regret that occasion Tor the ncl has occurred
aud that the seizure need, TO be cone on board
vessel and still more Il NAL packet, o. Grca'
BRITAIN. with whom, lur MI pos.lhi> reasons, We
drSirei TO continue on The too,'ng OF cord,,l
amity. But Mes>vs NlasLu aad Si'deli no,
h,vng been embarked on board Of the Trent by
the British Government. that Government, n
such. has ne, been ctf,ndea by the seizure
The Trent her officers acting on tt Cir own re-
>pouSihility, cord have no immuniy from tn,
ordinary laws Of war, which a.!3ct the vessel
ola great Power equally as OF small one
and Grea, Britain cannot fail, think, 10 per
ceve that, as on offence was Intended 10 hei
in the matter, and as the rights OF boigsrerc,
) were exercised by Capt. Wilkes in the mos
moderate form without seizure o. mails wi, hou
bringing in as prize, without injury to private
propcrly,--her national pride and her nationo
honor conspire 10 dictate the mot AMIGA ll
construction Of this inevitable act Of the sovcr
j tignsy aud belgerent right Of the United States