Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-21
The Arrest of Messrs. siideII and
Mason.

AIEeht OF MeASfas SI100kL ana
Mason.
The intelligence that Capt Wilkes, la the
San Jacinto, boarded British mail steamer off
Bermuda, and took therefrom the rebel Com
missioners, Messrs. Slidell and Mason, has
produced a profound sensation In the public
mind, and the act is commented upon as one
likely TO involve us at this time in unpleasant
controversy with England, unless it is die
avowed by the Administration at Washington.
In the discussion which has ensued, 1t seems TO
be taken for granted that the act Of the Ameri.
can commander involves the principle of the
Fright of sesrch," )" and 10 direct inirsction of
our own Interpretation of international Law in
regard to that right. But this is evidently
confounding one principle of international law
with another entirely different. The case, as
presented, does not involve any question of the
right of search at all, and especially any ques-
tion. of that right which our Government has
ever raised. The right of search which we
have questioned and denied, is the right of the
vessels Of any other nation Ia time OF peace, to
board and search our vessels to discover their
character, as the flag they carryis the evidence
of their nationality, and the authority under
which they sail. The .s'right of search" in
time Of war is right acknowledged by every
civilized Government as O necessary beIligerent
right, and we both submit to it, and exercise il
in turn In time of war, without either dispute
or hesitation. The fright Of search" then ia
not the question presented in this case of Sill
dell and Mason's arrest, The only question
presented is, have we right to board British
mail steamer Qor such appears to be the char
acter Of the vesseD, from a British port, and
seize upon two passengers as prisoners Of Wsr2
II any doubt exist as to any right under inter-
national law toact In this way, that doubt is
- II l. - &c D-.k
ain herself in a similar case, which is prece.
dent and q rule sufficiently justifying Com.
Wilkes's act, and the sanction and acknowledge.
ment OF il by our Government. In 1871, Lu-
cien Bonaparte, then in Italy, desired to go TO
the United States, to indulge In quiet the atudi-
GUS tastes TO which he inclined. He was assist
ed In the design by Murat, King of Naples, and
with the aid Of the latter he engaged pass-
age in vessel trading to that part of the coun-
| try from the United States. The vessel was
the Hercules, commanded by Captain Edward
West, OF Salem, Massachusetts, and she depart.
ed with Lucicn from pert In Sardinia. Lucien
getting sick on the passage, desired to be put
ashore at q port in the Mediterranean. An
English man.of war, hearing Of his arrival
sent an armed boat, took him off the vessel a
prisoner, and carried him to England, where he
continued to reside for q long time This act
was never regarded by our Government, that
we ever heard of, as violation of any Of our
national or commercial rights, and Great Brit
ain never disayoWed IL, that We are advised
of.
With this case 30 identical in its features
with the arrest of Slidell and Mason, Great
Britain certainly will be the last TO complain Of
the violation Of any right Of hers under rule
which she has so aignally act. The capture
appears TO have been performed BY Commodore
Il Wilkes With delicacy, and free from any inten-
tiDn or disposition TO insult. The fact will
4 chow The rebels that the blockade, which they
profess to be mere pretenseI is likely TO prove