Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-22

eLl-tL--i Hl fA"nr PROF.
dresses, under enr-l0p, directed to Mr. r., at the
APPEAL office, or at the Merchants Exchange
They viii assist an important government mFeS-
tigation by doing so.
THE LATE SEIZURE OF oth COW
MEsSEONERs.
The recent seizure Of Me,srs. Mason and
SlTBEIL upon the high seas by the agents OF
tbe Lincoln government. Is an incident OF the
times involving such momentous consequences
that we need not apologize for again bringing
the subject before our readers. In common with
the s3a.asn press, upon the FIRST cursory con
alteration Of the subject, we asserted with q de-
gree or pasiiveness the conviction that the out
rags furnished q casus Jeli between the British
Government and the Northern remnant Of the
United States now engaged in waging war upon
the south. The able communication which aP-
pearei in yesterdays issue Of our paper, contro-
verting our position, has induced US to examine
the subject still further, aud has somewhat
shaken our former opinion OF comparative assur-
anea o. one at least Of doubt
The general impression IN the South as eyi-
denceib by the attitude Of the press seems to be
that the affair VIII precipitate an issue Of 40 pleas-
ant character between those carPirg and jealous
nstisual powers. John BuIlaad Brother Jonathan.
President DAVIS indeed, in bis A.e message to
Congress, seems 10 intimatess much. Het thinks
the United States authorities have thus claimed
& general jurisdiction over lie seas. and by
entering a Britshship sailing under its c9unJrys
fac. have violated the rights Of embassy ior
the most part held sacred even among barba-
rans.7 lie adds with no little degree Of force:
These gentlemen were As much under the
jurisdiction Of the British government upon thar
ship and beneath It's Tag. as Ii they had been on
its SOL. aud a claim on the par of she United
States u seize them in the streets of London
wouli have been IS well founded as that 20 aP-
preheui them where they were taken. Had
they been malefsct0rs, and citizens even Of the
United States. they could not have been arrested
unless under the express provisions Of a treaty,
and according 10 the forms therein provided for
the extradition of criminals but the rights the
most sacred seem 10 have lost alb respect in
their eyes.
The Washington wigwun have no doubt
taken this view Of the matter fully into consid-
Grafton with al its consequences, and have moi
risked the step they have taken without the belief
that they would be justified by the international.
code. They win claim Of Great Britain the
right Of visitation and search, which, upon the
authority OF the most eminent English admiralty
judge. Sir WILLIAM SC0TT, is settled as in
fully conformity with usage and law
Another apology for the I~igh-lan5ed proceed
ura ail De the claimed Eghl to capture ambas-
salofs on neutral vessels on the high seas, which
is recognized by The same authority, in the fol-
lowing opinion. IRobins5u's Adm Rep. vol t.
d. 4sf.1 to-vit. The limits assigned 10 the
operations Of war against ambassadors, by
writers on public law, are, that the bell.gerent
NAV exercise his right of war against them,
wherever the character of hostility exists: he
Yaag stop IKE ambassador Of has raemy on his
patsgas: bat when be has arrived I'm the neutral
country, and taken on himself .he functions o..
his ohcc.s and has been admitted in his represeu-
tatiye character, be becomes q sort Of middle
man. entitled to peculiar privileges as set apart
for tie preservation Of the relations ofamity and
peace, in maintaining which 81 nations are, ia
some degree, Interested
tits well for us to look at this question in all
It's various aspects, uubiindel 10y prejudice and
uniuauencel bE partially There arc iorcibie
arguments on both sides, and tLeresu't, (Which
the two governments on the American continent
viii look with 10 little anxiety, is certainly
doubtful
Iuasmuch as the right Of seaTch, according TO
all legal authorities, is confined to private mer-
chant ships, and does not apply 70 public gov
erument vessels, the question viii probably tun
upon too points: FIrst, whether the British
mail teameT, upon which ihe capture was made.
viii be saudged to be PHil" government yes
rel N the sense oil INC e'.7i ana, secondly
whether thar power "li -'oA 'PoA Aes-i'- Ma
son and sLsDELL as ci'z-ls Oh Le United
States or a. members "i q DsAisIrnt govern
ment De yart0 n47peadeli AZ 90 HGhi' justice
ana truth hey are.
These are important qas'lons upon winch
the issue hangs o. ln : '-laEee' ana u i- our
belief that they VII De DECIDED as ihe prsdOmi-
uart party IN E1giaui may dictate PaTticu-
larry IS tins me ease Win ihe latter, which has
50 long been ID state Oh ageyahce' through the
polite equIYocauons OF bnlsh diplomacy This
capture may prove BOTH pToFlaenial and for
tunate, as being em.ueutly calculated 20 blng
ca the already tooiong delayed trial o. strength
between the English synPstHzsrs with the
United and Confederate states respectively
The North and tAe South both lave p~srtisans 10
that country, who are growing more batter
towards each other every day-ihe one ciamor-
ing Tor the permanent abolition Of the american
syten Of African slavery, and TIE other for the
immediate recognition Of the Conledem1e States
as zee and independent nation.