New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-16
A CASE OF HUMILIATION.

We learn from very good authority that
British man-of-war has recently entered q
Southern port, and on her departure took on
board for England number of passengers and
q mail. We learn alec that the Secretary of
State has complained in a diplomatic circular
at Washington of this act Of the British vessel
as one Of discourtesy toward the Federal Gov
eminent. II is difficult to form an opinion
upon such transaction without a full nc
quaintance with all the circumstances; but if
the fact complained OF is simply that British
man-of.war brought away passengers and let
tiers from Southern port, the ground OF COM
plant is not obvious. Ii the blockade OF the
South is meant to apply only to trading YES
sells, and men-of-waF are understood TO have
the right Of entry, then we msy expect,
in accordance with Her Majesty's proclams-
ton Of neutrality, that such vessels viii
do precisely as they weuld in loyal
ports IL is certainly an unusual thing
but the captain OF such vessel might he
moved, by the peculiar circumstances OF the
ease, TO extend such courtesy to a few friends
and consider that he committed 40 violation OF
neutrality, inasmueh as both passengers ard
letters are taken in English vessels TO and
from Northern ports, where there is no block
ade Nor does it alter the case ii no such
privilege Of entering Southern ports is accorded
to war yessels, as in that event they simply
enter any port they please where they and no
blockade existing. Ii they forced the blockade,
it would be- Of course, 3 cause Of war; but
merely disregarding paper blockade can
hardly be resented even as an act of diseour-
tesy When once in the port the captain Of
the vessel would be governed by precisely the
same motives that would move him were it
Northeruers and not Soutberners with whom
he is dealing. His sovereign has commanded
him TO know 10 difference between them.
Nevertheless we cannot but regard it as a
humiliation that a British man of.war has
entered a Southern port and taken thence pas
,engers and mail to Engand and il is only
tho more Notifying that we have no official
right to complain of i, or If We do, that we
uay be laughed az for complaining where we
are not al liberty 70 resent II seems to us,
however, that tie modification is one which
we brought upon ourselves, The last Congress
authorized the closing OF Southern ports as
ports of entry, but Tor some reason which we
do not pretend TO understand the AdministFa>
tion at Washington has thOught best TO disre.
gard the law and trust solely 10 tie blockade
That the blockade thus far has been Inefficient
we have had evidence enough, and possibly
some Of it might have been wanting had the
defense of tue letter Of the law been resorted
to as well as blockading force. Certainly IN
the ease before us we should have been IN a
very different position had the port Of entry
been closed, Tor had this British p.an.ofwar
gone into Southern port, which had been de-
clared by proclamation not port Of entry, and
there performed to a certain degree the fune,
tiOns Of trading vessel our position as com,
plainant would be digni6ed one and we
should have the right to demand an explaAa,
ton Of Great Britain As il is, it seems h
us, we ere decidedly at q disadvantage, ana
May put up with the indignty as We best can
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