Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-14
THE ENGLISH PRESS ON THE MAs0N-sLI-
DELL AFFAIR

DELL AR I A1ISs
In another place we print an editorial OF the
London Times on the seizure OF Mason and
Slidell. A few of our readers have seen il
already in the New York daiies. We give
them all an opportunity to real it, because, in
our Judgment it expresses what was thought
and felt by the sensible and considerate people
in Great Britain, who usually control puDHc
opinion there, and because the subject is likely
to have large share of attention in both coun-
tries. The London Times admits reluctantly
that Great Britain has established precedehtS
that more than justify what was done by capt
Wilkes, but thinks he will not be allowed lhe
benefit of them. Perhaps not; but, II Johh buii
capatford to set aside his own doctrine and prac-
tice, and deliberately rule them out for all the
future, by insisting on a rule which wou re-
quire us to give up the captured rebel comms-
sioners, we shall soon know it. The tone ot
the London Times leads US to believe that he
will not. That journal is not friendly to us,
as all tile world knows, and if ii did not see
plainly that what Capt Wilkes did is fully
justified by international law, and much more
than excused by the practice of Great Britain,
its tone would be different.
The loud and seemingly belligerent tone OF
the London News is readily understood, when
we remember that the News is an organ OF the
present admins ration in Great Britain. That
journal has been friendly 10 our government.
Its articles on the 'contedsrates' and their re
bellion have usually been just. 1t has spoken
of our rebels as they deserve. But it can not
afford to allow the tories, now out Of power, to
manage this question in such way as to get
in their control, for political uses, the popular
clamor that may be raised by certain interests
in that country. Therefore the News thunders
in fine style, but its thunder will be harmless.
The London Herald, the tory organ, will have
nothing to gain by a similar tone. The ques'
ton will be discussed, and the more it is dis
cussed the more will excitement and clamor
give place to reason. The London News can
lower its tone and grow calm, when it no long
er has occasion TO fear trouble TO its party,
through any sinister Outcry OF the tories. Inc
government which that paper represents Is
nowise likely to initiate the toneit has assum-
ed, and as our government is sure to be mild
and reasonable in the diplomatic correspond
ence that must take place. the issue will be
peaceful.
The London Star, a journal very friendly TO
our government and to all free institutions,
and with no administration to support or par
ty organization to care for, fully vindicates the
act of Capt. Wilkes, and states that the gov
ernment expecting something of the kind,
has sought the opinion OF the law officers of
the crown, which fully Justides it. The Star
saws, 'undoubtedly the confederate commits
sioners and their dispatches do not come under
the primary definition OF contraband, but there
will be found in books on international law
chapters on 'quasi-contraband, dispatches, pas
sengers,'" and proceeds to show that Mason
and Slidell were not travelling on private bust
ness nor in a private capacity, but were noto-
riously in the service OF the "contsderate gov
ernment" In Great Britain the discussion
of this question will not be all on one side,
even if the government should decide to he
unreasonably hostile. The next arrivals will
show us more clearly what direction public
opinion is likely TO take in England.
One circumstance is fortunate. The officers
of the British mail steamer who reported in
England what had taken place, stated explicit
ly that Mason and Slidell were known to them
to be accredited commissioners of the confed
crate states,'' that they had dispatches with
them, and that these dispatches were carried
to England by the British vessel La Plata.
These officers betray much ignorance OF inter
national law, for one of them did not know
that it would not have been allowable to search
British or any other man of war, as the Trent
was searched and they all seem unconscious
of the offence they committed in carrying reb-
ell dispatches. Their admissions will be used
in the correspondence between the two -overn-
ments. 1t is not now necessary to prove what
those men were, nor that they carried despatch
es; and the principle that forbids a neutral
vessel to aid either of two belligerents, torbids
the British government to complain seriously
in this case, for that government has officially
notified ours that Great Britain recognizes our
confederate traitors as ga belligerent power"