, 1861-12-17
4 WAR WITH ENGLAND.

Ike the shock OF an earthquake. The in
teligencc from England by the previous
steamer had calmed public apprehension
and led people to suppose that Great Bri-
lain would be guided by the principles Of
international law, as laid down by herself,
in relation to the rights Of neutrals and bel
1igr1cnts. But the news By the Europa in
t;;cates that she intends to lay down ace1
ia". and repudiatc her Owl preccdcnts, and
10 force quarrel with the United States if
si'vll Il thing be possible. That the law is
+ On our side in the case Of heseizure Of the
lchcl1'cm1nissioners, is fully and ul1eluiyo-
tally conceded by the British ThuudeTcr.'
In It's leader Of the 2Sth ult., the
Times declares that: {: Cniee7c0,ae as
tic truth may BE-, II is zeuertheles7 Il
t'2M that fes huEs ourseZrcs established
c system ef International zaw 4s1isa
7.rr tells against us :s We have
sIways been the strenuous assertcrs Of
tEe rights Of belligcrcnts over ncutra1s,
::nl the decisions Of our Courts Of Law, IS
ti!ry must now be cited by our Law Off
GERS have been in confirmation Of these
Claims =
Owing to these facts, the authorities uhicz
sHcy 's cited on thi. question arc too nume-
7eas and too ua!f form as to tie right Of
s<orch BY 6czligerent ships Of ecar ooer raeu-
3ra@ merchant eess>zs to 1e disputed" After
citing the opinion Of Lord Stowell, "whose
Judgment on Ibis subject says the Times,
is tue storchouse Of all the English law
Oh this subject that journal remarks that,
80 far US the authorities go, The testimony
''of International law writer's is all one
"feay that q 1eUigerent uar cruiser has TIL
"77ght to stop aud rdsit aud search aug mer-
s'ehon' sessel upon the High seas.''
Other influential organs Of English opin-
lon held similar language and arrived at
:lr same conclusions. But the next intel
I li.cnce VIC get is, that !" it has been decided
lily the law officers cf the Crown" saws
Tic I"Sf, that the action Of Capt Wilkes
'was unjustihable, and fragrant violation
soi the code CT nations, aud direct insult
'to this country, and il is the duty Of the
'Goycrnment 10 demand prompt Tepara-
ion. And "should this just demand
'':lo' he complied with" says the Times,
I've cannot doubt Lord Lyons will he
withdrawn from Washington" The o.
s.Ter. d ministerial Journal, sta;cs that :: a
~spccial messenger by The Europa carried
"a demand from the British Government
Ito Lord Lyons insisting on an oooz2gy
sard restoration. to tic B45tiM .Hag ef lE4-
"eoa and SsaeAs'
THUS stands the afair st the date Of the
sailing Of the steamer. The grave qucs-
tim now arises, whit course shall the
American Government pursue in the event
that "thc British Government insists on an
"apoiogy and restoration to the British flag
Of the rebel Commissioners? What course
do honor and the great interests at stake,
l'"lui1e? Never before, in viiew Of existing
emergencies, has our Government faced SO
grave question is this; never before were
1aoleration .nd wisdom, coupled with re.
sniu.inn and fir1nEess. SO essential to right
decision and to right action The first and
most natur;l impulse Is 10 bid the Govern
mcnt Of Great Britain defiance, and take
the Consequences Of an additional war upon
t;: lIluds. From the 7e1y beginning Of thii
rebellion the hereditary aristocracy Of that
= rountry ha%eided with the Confederates. 1ts
syr1rathies have been wholly with the slave
l:"'ding Nligacchy in its efforts to over
throw the Government, Il hates RcpubE
s"ni=m a= it hates anything else that i
inherently antagonistic to its own constitu
liun aud nature: and it Is doubtless cage
GrA prcte1t to reduce these sympatl,ies AMI
these hates to action. This fact makes Us 4
people. more Testle:s and excltable unde
1:-uyoca:ious from that source, than #
would be we're another power tonlake ID
same demand upon US. 1t is the more i'm
Inr,ant therefore, that Wc exercise dclibt
ration and weigh well every word and az
HAT n1ay have = bearing upon the questio
1t issue We cannot afford tc violate th
Principles cf right and Justice in our intc
tus,rsy with other nations, nor can II
afford tia, others violatc them with inp'
,;;,y in their dealings with us. What
/ Necessary, therefore, is that oEr Cover
mrnt RISE above all passion and resentmea
end determine what its action shall be fro!
/ i correct appreciation Of the question
t. concede whatever justice may reqal
i, our l,ands-if, indeed, it requires an
thing-to demand, and, if need be, enfor
lie same measure Of justice that We 3
willing to accord. But whatever disaste
auay Ike apprehcndcd from war wi
Great Britain while engaged in quelli1
rebellion at home-whateycr the adYa
/ tages Of maintaining friendly rclatio
with that power while our internal disse
- tinns continue, the Government CAM
II afford 10 put itself in the wrong to esca
the one or to secure the other. IF war
tween these two great Christian and K
t!cd nations is to result, and the civil;
lion Of the world set back, be the VITO
/ and the injustice which precede and p
I woke it all on the side Of Great Rrita
/ LIT our record be unpoi1uted by the ia
CT even the suspicion Of wrong--let 1t a
NJ, he hlackened By the disgrace OF 81
nlittingto unjust demands.
II vet remains to be learned in vi
Hummer tic demands of Great Britain ?
/ I've rrcsscd-whcthcr they will be N:
I Internationally and without giving Il
! !:'r discussion, or whether they Will
/ e'uplcd with proposition to submit
/ matter in dispute 10 the arbitration Of so
I impartial neutral power. If the forr
/ course should be PURSUED, it is easy to
| 1e11nirc what the result will be. We m
!"It. But if she should incline to
| l,'tcr policy, then NC presume our 6
| ..::u,c,n will meet her on amicablc grou
| Slid abide by the decision, whatever |
| 1Eay be.
| But willie this grave subject is engae
thc attention Of Government, We car
/ loo earnestly commend to the Presi{
y and TO Congress the importance Of pr
| cutting the Wat actually On our hands
| Increased vigor We shall make no II
| complaints Of the apathy and tue ten
,:'ss manifested towards traitors, vi
i;7c thus far characterized the va
t!'m Ills time forward earnestness 6
nalk its prosecution, and if III the mi
| '!cwed by The usages Of civilized nat
I shall lie taken advantage Of to break
luck Of the rebellion Had sue
1H.]irv l,ecn followed fcr,,, +1,a hapin,