, 1861-12-24

ENGLISH VIEWS OF THE WAR.
There is no doubt that better counsels
are prevailing abroad, and calmer tone is
manifested IL the English press that reach
us BY the last arrival From file Of late
English papers we present several extracts
today which show that the surface furry
which greeted the first intelligence Of the
seizure Of Messrs Mason and 6Hdel, mis-
represents the great mass Of the people, and
does not foreshadow or pledge in any NAL
ner the action Of the British Government.
With q spirit Of calmness and frankness
admirable in itself, and most felicitous in
the present crisis, the papers from which
we quote discuss the question Of right, dis
severed from national prejudice The
Manchester Examiner ond Times Of the 28th
gives copious citations from the highest
authorities, and closes its comments thus:
Now, VIC have to determine, not whether this
proceeding is annoying to us as Englishmen or
Hhsther it is wise On the part Of Unitad States.
the United States Government. who gave the Of
dcrs which the San Jacinto carried out, has in
doing violated the rights which are recognised as
belonging to befige1ents by International law.
This is simply point Of fact Thelaw in question
is acknowledged BY all parties. It's as express
as the laws recorded in our OWL statute book.
fret: the right OF stopping and boarding the
British Vessel, ard second a the right 9f SaR,
important, but, proaably, the more calling. It is
apt to ones blood to hear OF vessel bearing
the British flag being brought to By shot and ehe1
of armed foreigners. Yet nothing is more certain
tisn that the Americans had distinct right to do
both. II anything can be construed 1n1o an in
clamation, it IS certainly the carrying Of the dis
patches and the agents OF the Confederate Govern
ment The captain Of the Trent has has been guilty
"a rance. IL Enew he 1eai Character Il lis psssen:
gers: he took them Oh board at his own risk, and
must bear the In strict law the vessel
vas liable to forfeit ure but the American command
er forbore exercise his rights Instead of making
dognatic assertions, We have prefertea to give our
readers the aid Of one Of the highest existing
conclusions for themselves. When they shall have
carefully weighed the whole question, they will
We eonfidently anticipate, share IN our opinion
plorcd involves not the elightest violation Of IN
ternationa1 law; that the Americans have onl:
done precisely what, IN similar circumstances, vi
should have done ourselves, and that the duty 0
intelligent men is 10 do their best towards allay
ing an irrational excitement, founded on NJ
| principle, and suBtainab1e by no argument, Whic
might otherwise lead to the most ca]amitous cor
Sequences
a highly intelligent gentleman, just re
turned from sojourn Of some weeks i!
f England, gives us information, the resu]
) Of his OWL observations, sustaining TIL
; later view, that no war can grow out Of th
action Of Com Wilkes, simply becaus
r there was no infraction Of law. His onI
:, fault in these honest English eyes was
: not taking the Trent herself into son:
f Federal port for an adjudication that di
? not belong to his quarterback This is q
+ error no Federal commander will be like
r To cnnl1nit amin