Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-12-07
SATURDAY, DECEMBER =, 1861.
Are We to have . War with England

Are We to have War with Englandi
by the late telegram We receive a con6r1na-
ton Of the capture Of Messrs. Mason and Sir
d II, who were on board of British steamer,
on their way to England and France as min
listers to those powers fro,a the rebel States.
1t appears that the British steamer F;mgal
was overtaken and boarded by some twenty
er thirty armed men from one Of our armed
vesscls--thc San .]acint0-who singled out
those traitors from the crew and passengers,
and conveyed them by force on board our
vessel, and then permitted the steamer to go
on her way without further molestation.
The late news from the East represents that
this act of our Government is likely to pro-
woke war with England; and we anticipate
that such papers as the Portland Adrertiser
will be disposed to treat it as a just cause Of
war, and condemn our Government for thus
outraging the laws of nations.
They will undoubtedly insist that our Gov
eminent has acted in palpablc violation Of
long established principles; and they will also
show that We have in this instance done to
them the very thing we went to war with
Great Britain for having done to us.
We propose to review the history Of the
last war, so far as connected with this fright
Of Search" and to consider the probabilities
of our being involved in . war with England
for having exercised this right claimed by
Great Britain, and which she has not yet
abandoned, notwithstanding our Government
has persistently demanded it.
II will be remembered that during the reign
OF Napoleon Bonaparte in France, England
was struggling against his mighty power for
heir national independence, and were driven
the necessity of rcsorting to impressment
,aon in order to man their navy, and were
-. ,.e habit of boarding our vessels wherever
they .ouud them, taking from under our flag
their subjects who had emigrated to the Uni
ted States, and who had signi6ed their inten.
ton of becoming citizens Of the Republic.
This act Of theirs was very properly resisted
by our Government, not because they had
boarded our vessels and taken from them their
owx cihiscns, but because they had taken from
under our flag citizens Of the United States,
who had right to it's protection. We think
it may be safely asserted that if they had re-
Trained from taking any from our vessels
but those who were bona .1ide subjects Of the
~.o~,,,, .vI ,,,Io hnJ .Jo.n-xnJ xl,,:. o.. .,,J
who were engaged in giving aid, or on their
ray to aid, their enemies, our Government
would not have considered it cause of war,
but would have excused, on the ground Of
necessity, what would under other circum-
stances have been treated AZ an insult, and a
just cause for war.
We assert that Great Britain has never yet
surrendered her right to board on the high
seas al vessels. when, in the judgment of the
commanders Of their cruisers there Is good
reason to believe they may be engaged in H.
Lett commerce. and more especially in time Of
VA, to prevent aid and comfort from being
given the enemy. Did they not exercise this
right very recently in the Gulf Of Mexico. on
suspicion that ON Gag vas prstituted to the
protection Of the slave trade! And did our
Govesnmeat make that q cause for war
lid they not. On the occasion of the late Can
sdian rebellion come upon our soi with an
arned force, Kill a. Americas eih-ez, and
CT loose from our shore IN American steam
e. and ssnd her over the falki Did our Gov.
esuurnt mike tAal sulicieut Cane for war
In IN these eases. and others that might bs
aasned. we have submitted to nominal indig
sisies an the great Plsa Of necessity. which
under circumstances AZ peace and quiet
woald have bssn tssaAsd - mpardonablr in
sults. and made The cause fur q declaration o.
var against the Engiish Government.
The case Of the burning If the CaraGse, i
very analogous to the case now under consid
erection. Il boarding IN English steamer ana
taking from a board two men Who wer
known TO the whole civilized world a bein,
not only guilty of the capital crime If higl
treason. but who VEN bound on m sryant
70 - - sa'sulaasf 70 Prstmct the prcssu
: sssihlswr.F 4 did not result in the over
tiiov a our Government. 1t was know,
that Rs;tish steamer that was required b.,
their Government TO observe the strirtcs