The New York herald., 1861-12-19

Messrs Sdell and Mason, after having claimed them -
The pretext that Messrs Mason and Sdel were seized
a scontraband Of war" could only be admitted if the
envoys OF the South had wished to make of the Trent
to introduce arms ammunition into America but they
wore the contrary leaving America for Europe, and
there were no arms board the steamer Tho emssares
agents OF agovcrnmcnt have been regarded as
scontraband Of war; consequently, there has been
manifest violation Of the English flag, and l. = 20 DC
feared that ordered by the Cabinet OF washington
in its desire to seize at all risks, the dispatches Of
which the envoys Of the South tho bearers Und
sy asanee the 1s a. e%nss@ Of sas@ ees,s
the San Jacinto e liberation Of me passengers taksn from
s Trent and an idsn or s wl .ns 10 ~ o
Of the state Of irritation which the press Of the North
keeps the population against EnglandS s therefore,
10 be feared that complications Of tho most serious
ture may arise between England and the United States,
and wo perfectly understand tho impression the news
produced on tho London Stock Exchange Reiaorcemeny
for Canada aoere alrsadyin formation and they haze
ordered BY the English government to sail forthwith"
from the Paris Constitutional, Nov. 201
The arrest Of an English mail steamer by an American
vessel OF war serious fact, that we may be justified
in believing that the officer who committed the net did
upon his responsibility or that, i he was obeying
instructions from the Cabinet Of Washington, the latter
had not sufficiently weighed the consequences.
IN either case zoe hops that the american government ,cn
make reparation and satisfy the claims Of England wo
count upon it doing in its interests, which have
always served as guide % It's policy
In fact y IS impossible that the Americans M shonld not
understand how irregular is the arrest Of NM Sde and
Mason board the Trent how contrary Is 10 tho law
Of nations and how preudics the consequences Of this
would be the conservation OF the "rigbt Of scarch
against which they have always protested, and which
waged with England in lsl2-a right Of search exercised
not only commercial vessels but ships war, for
the mail steamers royal vosscls, having on board
Lieutenant Of tho royal navy and their officers wear the
uniform Of tho British navy
BY declaring contraband OF simple passengers with
without diplomatic mission. the Americans ST. ite
tai bO against the prirges Of neutral States ,chich It'll
their Interest, than any one else 10 see respected
wise pocy-because wisdom has become the
syonym for osotsm IN @ the ., asa affairs . Of tn, the
occasion Of fortune for them # the flag does mot
passengers goods the American marine aotich is
engaged prncpapas transports loses its revenues uih The
loss OF It's inuGrLfy s, therefore, sort OF suicide
which commits in laying its hands on this privilege
which IL has violated under circumstances In no way
cusabe II they had arrested going from Europe to
America and carrying Of any kind TO their oppo
nens Of tho South this might perhaps be understood
lookiaH into the circuns OF time and place But
Messra Mason and Sdcl leaving America, and 1t
in neutral country that they took their passage
upon neutral vessel II they could be arrested there
thoy could well be arrested in Liverpool or in Havre
They were going to Europe. i Is said, to plead
the of the South at the tribunal of
diplomacy but that is not act of direct
aggression and the Cabinet at Washington had tho least
right TO give II this character when they themselves
had caused the departure, almost at the same moment
the steamer Arago, Of Mr.. Thurlow Wced charged,
IT is said, with similar mission
In shor-and this is not tho least decisive consdcra
tionho United States preserve enough Of prudence at
tho bottom of their temery enough Of wisdom, even in
the of with England at moment when the
civil war now raging is such heavy charge upon thcm
Tthy shoud sve Mis folly aciu not be only foocst
br The celdin loss of the ,chols half Of IN. UniDn al
veady separated ba ,cill end in the totai destruction Of
tAeir navy They certainly ~ not expose themselves 10 THIS
On their sde the English government has cvncea,
in the past and in the present, the utmost
circumspecton for tho Americans; it has done
everything to avoid war with these terrible children
{dnsteYie) who, although politically separated from
the bosom Of their mother yet united to her by n
probably claim for them the condo.censon as for
nerly under present circumstances. The that tho
with camness the satisfaction which Is due 70 her and
Nhich, seems to Us, mill not be withheld.
This opinion on our part seems fully justified by the
Language of the Sun. Its reflections are like anodyne.
After having established the fact that vessel regard
ed by International law extension of country and
that nothing can be donc upon her deck which could not
be done national soil also recognises that
has double character that it is transporting machine
and that IL in that quality forwards the plans OF
tho bcigerent parties, in contempt Of the neutrality
maintained by the government OF their they
stand the consequence I'VE possess II adds, very
little information be able 10 pronounce an opinion
oneway or the other 1t is for the officers of the
to docde but the Alne eicana should
have international right their side we must regard
them as capable, at least of nm act Of folly and
cation"
AT the moment whi,s we are transating these lines
from the S,M the telegraph has transmitted 10
other article from the Morning Ioa, having . semi
Official character and written with tho The
Post admits that although the Tren. mail er,
this fact does not exclude her from the category of
are strictly exempt from search It's private opinion,
therefore, that the federal government had lawful
right 10 stop the Trent and to seize contrabands war
The Post includes dispatches OF the enemy in this deni
ton but IL does not think that military passengers
be therein included. 1t concludes, like the Sun in
saying that the officers Of the crown are called upon 10
resolve the question and the insult, It thinks, is
justified by the code Of nations sit will not only be felt
but avenged as II deserves
This last menace loses great deal Of It's Importance
after the great concessions which precode H. But If
count too much on the wisdom of the American govern
m nm le hp
always to be regretted among civilized nations would
have for Europe and for America herself the compensa
ton Of promptly bringing to close condition Of things
which threatens 10 be indefinitely perpetuated. The
worst Of evils are those whose end cannot foresee
From the Paris Pays Of the 2sth November.
Wc yesterday received the serious intelligence
A Confederate vesselof war, the Nashville entered
southampton after having sacked and burnt at the very
gates Of England merchant brig carrying tho federal
flag. and the British government in allowing her be
armed and repaired in Of her ports seemed ee
Of breaking through her neutrality.
In view of fact OF snch nature abstancd
from all comment, and awaited new details before
selling England not to interfere in family quarrels
7day il istoo ldtei We learn w the telegraph that an
insult 0rde has been committed the British ag by an
Ame,con steamer that Ue do no. feel any longer disposed to
Tho federal war vessel tho San Jacinto has taken
Mcssrs Mason and s!idell BY forco from board the
English mail steamer Trent.
We know, without the necessity Of going any further
all e eror'ty # ais violation ef the ri9a.s Of nations
~ for the South, but until the affair OF the Nashville
there was reason TO suppose that she would decide
1lS behdt the Cdbanet az washington has teen struck NTH
rtgo 10 care Po,oer lcich has only oserred neutrality
TO the injury Of its material Interests.
Was the arrest of these Confederate ambassadors Of
such great Importance to the Norh that they should risk
everything to obtain 1t?
Did Mr.. Lincoln beisvo that the Southern ENJOYS con
sutod what international law calls contraband Of war;
and that therefore he would bo permitted TO seize them
even on board Of foreign vessel?
Wo DO not know in what fashion the federal govern
mont will explain this unqualified committed by the
San Jacnto, but we believe able assign the
first cause the exaggerated gentlercss Uhtch England has al
Gays mdn1este f9oards The United States of America
On all occasions ihs England, proud hdyghty b.
fore hc constitutional pocsrs en, and becomes small BE-
fore her transatlantic brethren There of insult
nhich The fderd government has nstinicted on her. and yet
these insults hare alodys ben accepted by Nth perfect
resignation.
This conduct has exalted the pride OF tho Cabinet at
Washington which has believe that it can dare
everything.
But the United States mistaken II England has
undergone much humiliation it was because shc
dreaded war which would close the American ports
against the oxporntion Of cotton; IL was because
she feared tho disturbances and interior revolutions
which would be the fatal consequences Of prolonged
stoppage of her ufactores 1t because she fear
tho ruin Of her commerce
But noo the question has changed It's face The North has
nothing moro TO ve but the sontrary everything to
receive It s the South that possesses cotton 1t rs the
South that viii have the right of debating conditions TO
England; and the United Scs cH do 10 eorret ei,
NJ