The New York herald., 1861-12-07
THE sLIDELL AND MASON AFFAIR

From the Charleston Mercury, Nov. 2s.l
Long before anything which may be said this side
Of the Atlantic on the seizure of commissioners tho
high from tho British packet shall reach England
the British government will have taken its position as to
oomcd up with those terrific proportions which will in
evtably be developed by time the British government
will hnd in tho laws Of nations, quite sufficient ground
for very impressive demand for reparston from the
government Of the United States. II, the contrary
the sufferers, prospective and immediate, OF deficiency
Of cotton, shall have been stupidity Indifferent to their
fate and meet destitution and starvation with passive
resignation the government Of Great Bratn nsay treat the
seizure Of commissioners as only indeicate tar
eciting polite discldin. Of any Intention Offend .ciU
close the matter Which course Great Britain will
quiesced in blockade clearly illegal according to the
declarations Of her Ministers in Parliament is beyond
dispute. How much further she will be prepared ac-
quesce in the insoent legates Of the United States
will be shown by time; but satisfied that ono re.
suit will take place from the seizure Of commissioners
from the deck Of British packet-an immense i'm
pulse cu be gve the Of the Confederate STATES
Great Britain. Let the British government construe
the laws Of nations as peases with respect to this act
rage-a national insult and ndignity. A man may
have q guest in his house, who may be amenabe
TO some government inc %inquiston, yet i he is seized
from his house, he must be indignant His sympa-
thies will be with his guest Our commissioners
under tho British flag. Their errand was an crrand Of
peace and good will towards the people of England They
were the bearers q probably the most magnificent offers
of friendly and lucrative intercourse which have ever
Passing from neutral port to another neutral port in
British packet, the packet made TO to- under
the guns of United States frgatc, the packet is
searched, and the commissioners seized and forci
bly, carried OF Such an act every true Briton will
sent. With or without law he will feel that it is an in
suit which convenient law Of nations, varying
suit the prctcntons Of the strong, alay pa
In its effect in promoting the Of the Confede
States in Europe 1t will be equal to battle gained
and commissioners iciH do better soice cortiue
than Ministers at the Courts TO which they were
credited
From the New Orleans Delta.
II Is idle for our journals to assume the vicarious
province of expressing indignation at this insult to the
British Hag and this outrage upon British neutrality II
Great Britain weak Power struggling against odds
TO maintain her rightful position among the community
OF nations might we'll be indignant this blow to
her rights and her honor and would be called upon to
offer her sympathy. But Great Britain s perfectly
able to take Of herself She is strong enough in
actual power resent this insult cectuay and summa
rily IL chooses and she may think she is strong
enough prestige and character to be able to submit to
it, temporary policy dictates such COURSE without
detrment her honor or her interests is time that
the South should leave England and other European Popers
10 settle 1sir oon queso' h the North, and shall proceed