Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-28
THE MASON sLIDELL AFFAIn.
Opinions OF the British Press.
From The Constitution. Norembsr s.

From the Constitution, November So.
A free flag does not cover free goods-a neutral
bottom does not make neutral cargo. This is the
lesson we learn from the outrage we think it must
be pronounced, of the American man of-war on the
British mail steamer. Had there been a Queens
ship st hand, would regret that she sunk the
MArsuder as deeply as the Nashville sunk the Har-
vey Birch. Unless maritime law be very different
from what we suppose it, the San Jacinto had ne
more right to stop the Trent and take out her pas
ssugers than her commander had to enter the
Thames and set fire to the shipping. The question
is, what is to be The insOlence of the Federal
Government has proceeded too fer. Forbearance
is good and should be carried to the utmost extent
of reasonable endurance, but if deeds of this kind
are to be borne with, there is no security for Brit
sh property for once the confidence in the ability
and the readiness of the British Government to pro
tect them is gone, the ocean is no longer the high
way it has been to them.
An E1glishman's ship should be as much his cas-
tie as his house but if she is to be broken into By
any belligerent that chooses TO intercept her. where
is the security or the inVolabiity We are wont to
BOAST of? Government have shown indulgence as
far as the most pRtieat could demand-farther in
deed than appears to have been safe but we should
not wonder if this insult would raise an outcry thst
would leave it longer in their power to be either
polite or peaceful and that would compel them TO
resort to measures which would contribute materi
ally to abridge the hostihties between North and
South" They have done what they could to avoid
war but if war be forced upon them the RESPONSE
blity will not be theirs.
From the Ldlnburg Eoot:hman.
strange yet true story-showing how near this
country has been and perhaps is, to rupture with
the United States, or at least how very well dis,
posed our American friends 70 bring about such
an event-reaches us to day from sources to be
thoroughly relied en-. The week before last our
government received information that United
States war steamer had brought up in Southampton
water, ostensibly for the purpose Of refttDg, but
under circumstances WarrsntiDg the suspicion that
she had some other object in view. Subsequently,
various circumstances, including the conversation
with some Of her crew who had come ashore, led
to the discovery of the fact that her real object
the seizure of the West India mail steamer then
due.
The United States cruiser had been dispatched in
pursuit of the Nashville the vessel conveying the
Confederate delegates sent to this country, which
had eiuded the blockade. The delegates had sue
ceeded in reaching Cuba, and there got themselves
conveyed on board one of the British mail steam,
ers Their movements became known to the CONS
mander of the pursuing vessel who took the re-
marksbe s.eI of running straghtover tothe British
coast with the intention Of waylaying the mail
steamer, and making capture of her as a neutral
vessel, carrying, in the delegates and their creden
tials, "coutraband of war"
1t csunst be necessary to point out the w2nton
offsnsveness and danger of the course understood
to have been adopted 10 this and perhaps similar
Government is entitled to do all in its power TO pre-
vent egress or ingsess at its own ports and the
ports of the Confedsrates; but to leave these not
half guarded, and come across to British waters,
on a rowing commission, to seize q British mail
steamer which had taken on board, at a British
port, two American passengers and their port
nsnteaus, is an act easy to be understood and no
easy to be endured. 1t indicates desire not so
much to prevent the movements Of American
rebels" ss to insult and provoke the Government
sud people Of this country.