Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-20
the MASON AND sLIDELL AT
FAIR IN ENGLAND.
VIEWS OF THE BRITISH PRESS.


had they been mandsrins of China. -Four American
citizens have been dragged from the shelter Of the Bril-
d'h flag, charged with purely political offence. How
much further the patience Of the country to goy The
Trent 10 royal mail steamer. It had on board her
n,,stys agent. Il took Aessrs S ie and Mason, with
their secretaries passengers 1, fred upon and
boarded by Federal man-of war the British standard
sss nsssl sith contempt and four persons under the
the protection Of national ensign, were made priso-
nsrey because the broadside Of the San Js"nto
threatened immediate destruction 70 the Trent W. mis-
taks coxntrymsn il they piH submit 70 srecsssion
Of these ostragss The Fed raj lieu'erant cannot plead
that he heard no protest. Before he consummated bis
bucsnssrng enterprise Commander Williams had sol.
emily Invoked the Law Of against 20" an 'gl
act IL violation Of international aw-sn act Of wanton
pirley." Had there been armament In the steamer
he said tbs Americans would not have dared to ptrpe-
trate the cssardy and insolent crue-for crime IL
Gas, to challenge llbood between naioas a'd insult
power vhicb for years pss has treated the 6sg,ars
the North only too lsnisnty 10 point OF fact the very
passengers would have fought had they pofs ssed weap-
ous. Bat de arrest Of two Comnissionsrs on Btin'h
DICK must not 90 undpsnged appeals TO the spirit OF
every Eogibm,n II we tolerate this sort OF freeboot
ng 20 shall next have these sckboo Of the North ov.
erhauling our men.ofwar. And what the pretence
for the felony committed by Liutenant Fairfax He
alleged that the Commissioners Of the Confederate Gov
ernment we're board the royal mail steamer Trent
Granted that they and what them Suppose "a
Austrian gate had captured and ransacked the vessel
vhich brought Louis Koeu.h 10 Southampton. thrill
could have passed through the kingdom. Suppose the
South victorious and President Lincoln on hs way 70 our
shores 10 an ocean steamer intercepted by Copeder
ate brig Set it In whatever light you y, The assault
10 unsndwable and Englshmen must now ask to be
protected by their government II Is full time that per-
smptory measures we're adopted. II We tolerate this
blow struck at our Gag, shall speedily receive anoth.
er for Il Ia evident that the cacne, at Washington Is
without ecruple or policy. Abraham Lincoln, whose
accession to power generally welcomed this eide
Of the Atlantic has proved himself feeble, confused,
and le.mnded meoiocriy; Mr. Seward the frbrand
1t bis elbow, Is eIeriiOg himself to provoke quarrel
sih oil Europe, 10 that spirit OF sensees egotm which
induces the Americans, with their divert f1et ard
,hapeess mass Of incohsrent sou,ds which they call
an army to faucy themselves tie equss OF France by
land and Of Great Britain by II The Federal
States could be rid Of these two mischief mixers,
II might ye. redeem itelf In the sight OF The Wnrd
bu, While they stsgger at the head Of rfds, their
opy chance Of fame consists ia the probability that lbs
nsves Of Eugand will blow out Of the water their block
sdpg squadronP and teach them how TO respect tig OF
Q mghtier supremacy beyond the Atlantic. The key
aot. BOUNDED to day let u: res, S'n ASSURED oIt hs
prelude TO storm # public Indignation We have bad
our ctz,ns arrested have had strangers torn from
the decks Of ships under law except that Of tho
black fay; have been practically outraged il tbs TO
60 on forevs'r fso We may as well set up as uni.
ver,.is peace party. Sir William Armstrong need 10.
Champion his gunneryf an American ncusepant 10 TO Co,
With npuniiy what the four great powers Of the col
nent combined would no, dare to do with tee tumbcs
weasel, under British colors tia: aoa the European
seas
Iron th, London ohrol.eIs, Nor ssi
The excitement which prevailed In the city and IA el
parts Of London ysserdsy the announcement Of the
outrage committed oy the Federal ship ofwsr vas Eos.
innss The newspapers containing accounts 0. the pro-
ceedings sere purchased With aVtity ard groups per
collected In the streets rad the startling by tho
gh, Of the street lamps 10 anxious listeners w1o rad
rot been able TO obtain copies for themselves On the
Stock Exchange and It's negbbcrhood mary copies ofths
early editions of the evening papers were sold at shh
ling and half each. One MINERAL fssilHg
ofihdqnaton prevailed at ne conduct of s cfesrs If
The Federal Government In thus daring 20 violate the re-
curiy afforded by the British Gag Late in The evening 70
pors very generally prevailed that fis passports Ia
ben sent to tho American Mnister-'hs orde b. bsen
issued for the immediate se:zare Of sl AEercln si-s
Ia our ports-snd variety Of ohar rimors With It
was impossible to trace to any reliable source o.
matter Of much imporSncs the government WILL Of
ccurs act only after due SossiSeraon In hVerp'o,
-r.l ,ue same feelings OF indignation. Immediately az
the receipt Of the news PER Ii Plata of the South.
Commissioners having been foicbly tsken from on
board the Trent Br ish NAL seame notice w,s post
ed at the Liverpool Exchange Rooms Of public meet.
ing at three o'clock In the Cotton Saeroous to sr,ress
the indignation Of British subj cs at the gross insult Of
fered to the British flag.
From the London Post Of the 2s,h Now
The Post hinstsrsI siys it has been decid,d BY the
the Law officers Of tina that the action Of can,sn
Wilkes, Of the San J,cinto. urjps ia bio H. h.d
no right to peaceful passengers sailing under Ire
British w. and the deed be has com rt,ed amounts 10
figrsnt violation OF the cod, of nations ard direc,
nsult 10 this country. Under these c.fcumsances ro
need hardly point out that the Government will ose no
time In seeking Tor complete PREPARATION, which Il Is is
duty TO require In this case II will assuredly receive
the unanimous appreciation Of public Opinion We are
unwilling 10 place the worst construction on the outrage
committed by Capt. Wilkes and to look On |, as an n.
janitorial sfont on tho part Of the Government of the
United States
We hope the Government. will az once disavov the
act OF their c,er and make eniahle sp log and re-
sore the persons Of the gentlemen arrested and IN
fact make every compensation in their power wfdas
are the words written and spoken BY Secretary Seward
and reckless NJ the American policy not unfrso,.n,Iy
Is We can hardly suppose that the Northern Sites ars
seriously dfposed 70 accept war with y 1gla,d
We bave In the American wsters, includnp The Mex.
lean expedition AID ships already there force ,mount
Ing to no. far short OF one thousand guns vb;ch va
could largely Increase with the greatest ess, and ras
ity In one month zoe eou'd snap all ne ~ Lan.;r,o,
from the seas, blockade all tie Northern art, o5 49,,
10 direct and steady iss s TIDE Of say ne,o yao.o
This Is so Obvious tina. find Il almost iupo.sibs 70
suppose tbat ne 'Ceonet OF Washington commit an
20. 10 msdy suicidal to rec, our earnest and pos.
live demsnds
'cu.hsrpton letter II London feler.paI
I, Il stated that the Americana while on board tina
mail steamer Trent, behaved In very violent manor,
No authent, reformation has, however, been received
to eophrm this statement which more particularly re
tons that while NJ Slidel In bis cabin with Nrs
Sdel arranging bis pr'ae papers &, the rs; lieutenant
Of the Ban Jscnto erdcarored to force the cabin door,
Hiss Hide at tho cabin door, pro'scine arr intru
sion upon her father, and Leuec ant F,rax then en-
desvored to iorcity remove her, whercupos kiss sde
slapped him n the face. Lieutenant Fairfax then orSer
cd ons Of The marines to charge he's with op,n bsyone
which command was imumedistfly obeyed, and would
have doubt resulted seriously Miss Siiell taipot
Commander Williams struck The marine and bis bayoaet
{, the ground ard protected the young lady.
The Purser Of the Tnnt In published account Of Tho
snir, Gays: s.
This done, and III, gentleman retired 20 their cab.
irs to arragc come few changes Of co:thg fnost
heart repdns scene took place b-txeen kr side,l
his eldest daughter, noble gill devoted 20 her father
ard the lieutenant. Il would require fer mere ebis