The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-19
AY, DECEMBER 10, lS6l-TR1PLE SHEET,
NTT'N YORK HERALD THURSDAY, DE

HERALD, THURSDAY,
this fratrcIdal steY why should tho North and South
not separate peaceabyf Mr. Bright throughout Thought
there insurmouniable geographical Obstacles Y
separation as well as strong political obloots ieg
Northern states done what some newspaper writer's
advised and had allowed tho South 20 withdraw from
the Union without making any effort TO retain them,
should have been told That democracy was
failure, that the Northern government was guilty Of
cowardce and worthy only OF unmeasrred contempt
These candid friends tell us American fredom Is gone
the Habeas Corpus act has been suspended and other
laws and liberties have been endangered But had not
suspended the Habcas Corpus during the Irish rebel
Non OF lS4s, and an rsurgent army cncamred with
in sight Of London what regard would government have
for tho personal liberty OF tho subject IN any measures
they took for securing the safety OF the Slater We are
told that II would be better for If the United States
were divided and Sir Edward Lytton had predicted that
there would ultimately be four Ave separate nations
.eaeta'ohs me former no considered mean argu
ment and, as for the latter. he would rather see tho
whole OF that vast continent combined in great fcde
ration Of States whcro there would be custom houses
but freedom everywhere, equality everywhere, law
everywhere, and room for tho expanding energies Of
Referring the seizure Of the Confederate
commissioners he said he considered the act both im-
polite ma bad but might turn out to be wholly
authorized by the American government, and in this
case there was no doubt they would make ample repa
to be guided by wise and moderate counses in the
strucon OF cases under the maritime law II said
the part Of the North There would be irritating acoi
dents in the course Of this struggle. Let ns be calm
Recollect how dragged into tho Russian war;
we drfed into It, II cost fi00 900 COO II cost the
lives Of 10000 Engshmen. 1t injured trade; it
doubled the armies of Europe, and it did
plish single thing that was promised. Statesmen
now said, in exculpa,ion, "what could we do in the
frenzy OF the public mind at that timer Don't let
them add to the frenzy, and don't let us be
driven. Mr.. Bright then read extract from General
Scotts letter, which loudly cheered and concluded
by reminding the meeting of the large number Of Eng.
sh people who have engratcd during tho last fifteen
years TO the States. Only Misrepresentation tho most
gross or calumny the most wicked could involve in war
a people p with such close ties In a few years the
even SO 600 600 lie prayed il might said among
them that in their darkest hour OF need tho English peo
pie, from whom they sprung, had looked with icy cold
ness on the riss and saerRgs of their terrible struggle
Mr.. Bright resumed his seat amid loud cheering, and
the meeting shortly afterwards broke up.
The Latest Opinions Of the London Times.
from the London Times Dec. 81
General Scott denies that il in direct obedience to
instructions from the government at Washington that
Commodore Wilkes perperated tie outrage upon our flag
50 far we'll General Scott however has only denied
what ever believed Our special correspondent at
Washington had, by anticipation fortified us against
giving eredence to any such fabrication He had already
told US that the act Of The captain Of the san acnto was
his own and that he had under this enterprise as
means Of distinguishing himself II is not however re-
assuring to lind that General Scott like his countrynen
is rather inclined TO disayow the conception OF this act
than 10 repudiate now thai u has been done, He
wishes to look upon il IA very small affair aud he
does not seem to be able % that the question what
II coDraband OF cannot be lawfully determined
by n naval officer at by an international prize
court lie thinks that after public Insult has been Of
fered by the officer Of country the flag of another
the first thing follow il, complete restitution but
argument between the ministers of the Two countries
whether what has been done in violence might might
not have been legally effected In peaceful manner
General scott grievousy mistakes the feeling this coun
try he believes that good relations between America
and England TO be ed by any such suggestions
these. We have sent To Washington not to omen n
controversy but TO demand restitution. When that
has been done we shall be happy to discuss the other
questions at issue at any length the Americans may
please.
AT present however tho only question open for discus
sion Is the right Of officer Of beiligerent Power 10
take by force and away the passengers and cargo of
neutral ship. We do the Americans the Justice 10
say that they have seen This difficulty and have made
some clumsy attempts to meet it, or course it cannot
be argued upon principle. The consequences or such
rule would be universal piracy 1t is attempted there
fore, by some writers, and even by who ought to
know better aud who do know better, Justify What has
been done by Commodore Wkcs--for we cautiously alb
stain from treating this act Of the federal States
until thoy nave formally adopted it-by showing that
similar things have been done before One gentleman al
Boston, who is we presume, near relative OF Senator
summer, ana who is said 10 write under his Inspiration
an envoy from the nsnrse II pgnt whers m b.
land was captured OH board Dutch ship, and
mitted 10 the Tower traitor. Mr. George Sumner is
entirely mistaken as 10 the one important fact in his
case for the ship OF board which Mr. faurcns cap
Lured was not Dutch but American: but he il equally
mistaken he thinks that, his parallel
that The Trent oil IL crcnms ances il would be allow
ed or by France by Russia by Spain by any
civilized maritime nation, to have any bearing upon the
question rs TO what is the law Of nations Al the present
day A hundred wrongs will not make right The |
pages OF history as far back history be read
speckled with deeds Of violence and crime but these
not cited by moralsts proofs that such deeds
now constitute virtues.
II the Cabinet 81 Washington propose contend that
must Ia the year 1861 subnit to endure the hands
Of their cruisers cyory indignty which ancestors
have NJ any time Inflicted upon neutral flag then
we understand what Will be the issue between rs II
they do propose TO this length these resuscatios
Of buried 0iTcNtue irrelevant
thcmssy,e errfsssion OF weakness. There is nothing
which could rot 10 proved by such precedens as these
In the yrar 1904 Tho then government Of France
with artillery the frontier of neutral
state, aud there seized refugee brought him 10 france,
tried him by court martial and shot him. This is a
precedent which the world is never likely to forget
for the name Of the victim the Due B'Enghien.
The French however would DC little surprised il the
Americans were 20 think themselves justified by this pre-
cedcnt in landing near Havre and carrying off some cap
tain Of Confederate craft So, at date so late June
1885, an American captain, IN the harbor of Smyrna,
undertook 70 demand possession OF Hungarian refugee
whom the commander Of the Austrian ship ofwar lssaro
had kidnapped from the shore. The American cleared
for action and proposed to fight the Austrian in lie har
Dor for the possession Of person who had claim
on America than on England. The Americans, how
would scarcely hold this precedent justify the
captain Of an English frgate in Selling the streets OF
New York English subject accused Of treason against
the Of England would they ised 10
see substantial justice done against the English frigate
by French shp.ofwar which should open is
ports and fire broadsde into her in New York harbor
Again the federal Americans only the other day seized
upon some travellers from California, the ground of
their being suspected OF "Southern procliyrs y and
carried them prisoners through the territory
of New Granada laughing to the protests Of the
neutral State and the opposition Of the small force which
that State able to produce Will the Cabinet Of
Washington be willing that we should. the first oc
casion, appeal t0this precen rule of international
laus viii Napoleon III. the Emperor OF Aus
tria be justified in sci2ing French Austrian
refugee in, let us say, Canada, and bringing him
through the federal states down New York for
embarcation? We give tho Americans plenty more
OF these precedents If they DESTROYS OF them and
doubt not that they produce considerable num-
Der against We not more immaculate than other
people Whom were at strong and passionate we
sometimes did unjustiaablc things. Having done them
we generally fought our way ont Of the difficulty but We
never claimed TO make precedents Of them, were
other nations ever willing to accept them such.
Nothing but wilfal ignorance presumption could pre-
tend to draw justification from precedent of wrong
International law rests, indeed upon prccedcnts but it
deduces It's rules from precedcnis Of done with The
general concurrence Of all nations "Just consequences
drawn from natural principles says Grotius sds-
cover TO the law Of nature: universal consent
discovers TO MS tho law OF natons.' The modern
deeds or violence have almost ny ariably been committed
upon weak nations aud have met only with the general
disapprobation Of mankind The Americans safely VIC
lated the territorial rights OF Turkey or the petty State
of New Granada and there were means Of testing nv
war what the opinion OF other nations was. We how
ever pressed extreme rights against the powerful az
well the weak and the very which tho Boston
would adoDt