The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-12-19
The Mason and sIideil Aaair.

The Mason and Slidell Affair. t-oi
The case settled i,s Adcance.-Z Znspor-
tant Opinions of the Laso OHcers.
Of the Groom Capt. Wilkes Act
Sustained. bHnF isi.i aiI ID IoEsl
From the Edinburg Scotsman, Nov 81. So 80
A strange get true story-showing
how near this country has been, and
perhaps is, to rupture with the Uni.
ted states, or at least how very we'll
disposed our American friends are to
bring about such an event-reo chss ~
to-day. from sources to be Morou1b1,,
relied on. iHn n fHow ha- Is'sl
The soeek before last our government
receiced s',fornsatio,s that a United
States acdr steamer had brought. sfp IN
Southampton aoater, ostesasfoely for tie
purpose Of retettisag, bit ax,ader circsfm-,
stances acdrrantingssthe suspicion that
she had some object in viesc. Subse-
quently various circumstances, includ-
ing the conversation of some of her
crew who had come ashore, led to the;
discovery of the fact that her real OBJ.
iect was the seizure of the West L1sdfi0I
mail steamer then due. The United
States. cruiser had been dispatched in
pursuit of tho Nashville, the vessel con-
veying the Confederate delegates sent
to this country, which had eluded the
blockade. The delegates succeeded in
reaching Cuba, and there got themselves
cOnveyed on board one of the British
mail steamers Their movements be.
came known to the commander of the
pursuing vessel, who took the rem ark,
able step of running straight over to
the British coast, with the intention
of waylaying the mail steamer, and
making capture of her as neutral oes-
sci, carrying, an the delegates and their
credentials, 'contra5and Of soar." 5a5
Upon the assumption Of these being
the facts-an assumption, it will easily
be believed, not made and proceeded
on without inquiry and consideration
the British scar5 steamer ;fhaeto,s
acas ordered to aoatch the American,
and to protect against her any UesseL
bearing the British flag. AS it hap,
pened, the American captain, perhaps
attracted by hospitalitiss after a stormy.
voyage, remained in port for some days,
and then, putting to sea, was met by q,
severe gale on the south coast, which
forced him to anchor at Calshot. The
same cause that stopped his cruise exs
pedltsd the voyage of the mail steamer
which arrived two days before her
time, and passed into port unconscious.
of her danger. Communications then
took place between our government,
and the American Minister, in which
the latter disclainaed any such i,,tere-
ton as that imputed to the proceedings.
Of the United States steauaer--or rather,
he disclaimsa any knowledge of the;
matter. q f.--- ~. rr-or ~, Il F'giet
At the same time it was ascerta;ned
to be the opinion Of the laao officers of
the Croso'a that, according to tie inter
probation Of the laao, as laid doaon IN
former decisions, the relations of Brit
ain TO the american belligerenss, are
perhaps, such that there might haze
been fair legal gross'st,s for sAe Ameri-
can cruiser seiziny a:s mail steamer as
a prize, eUen IN Brisish soaters, If it
could haze been sho,csa that she k,lo,o-
fsagly har6ored the persons and proper
ty Of enemies Of the United States, IN
the shape Of tse delegates and their dis.
patches. f-sA H.4''NN.es ---.s9e2tA
The United States steamer has now
departed; but is supposed to be cruis-
ing off the Irish coast, for purposes
similar to those which brought her to
Southampton. sf1ed fd1roi is3a aHs
1t cannot be necessary to point out
the wanton offensiveness and dangerof
the course understood to have been
adopted in this and perhaps similar
cases by the United States Govern
ernment. That tGovernmsnti is entitled
to do all in its power to prevent sgress
or ingress at its own ports Of the Con-
fsderates but to lesvs these not half
guarded, and come across to British
waters on rowing cemmissionlto ssizo
British mail steamer which had tak.
en- on board ut o British port two Amer
ican passenger aud their portmanteauss
is an act easy to be understood and net
easy to be endured. Itindicates . de-
sire, not so much to prevent the moves
mcnts of American tsrsbels," as to in
suit and provoke the government and
people Of this country. 0sgiis4 sso45f