New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-19
ers from joining their half dozen unrecognized fellow
commissioners already in Europe.
OPINIONS OF THE FRENCH PRESS.


Partisan journals in reference to the questions|i the
arrest of the Confederate Commissioners. 1t will
he seen that most of the opinions which we cite have
been written hastily and upon a mere general survey
of the subject, without any study Of or even refer
ence to the authorities which treat precisely OF the
question Of international law now at ISSUE Ferhalr'
however, we ought specifically 10 except from 'nis
remark the opinion Expressed by the Debots which
is written in temperate and apparently WELDON
sidered tone.
l The'DSbatS Observes
alt is generally admitted thar neutrals ought not
to mix either directly indirectly m war operaliosi
THAT ey expose thens Ives TO lawful seizure when
they carry for either of the belgerents contraband
Of war, troops, officers known spies or other agents
belonging TO the service OF the armies. III Is very
uatural that the Americans should watch narrowly
the waters Of the Isle OF Cuba, and that they should
challenge all that leaves Havana, wAeDee II Is 80
easy TO gain the coast Of Florida. rs the Trent Is
but merchant vessel and az II was no: sufficiently
removed from tie American coast TO escape oil SHE
peion the Federal cruiser had the night 10 stop 1t,
aud 10 examine what was on board. lhe whole dis,
cur ion between President Lincoln and Eugand va
turn the real character which must be attributed 10
) Messrs. Mason ana Slidel. President Lincoln viii
doubtless allege that the arrested mmi.sioners
were going 10 Europe Tor war purposes, and that the
maritime code Of civilized nations, IN expressly stipu
laing for TRANSPORTS, has specified 10 similar privilege
for vessels which perform the postal service. II msy
lie that the contents Of the dispatches which Mr.
Mason and hs colleagues were 10 communicate TO
one or several European Cabinets of such nature
rs TO throw light this grave and intncat ques
lion. Unfortunately for Mr. Lincoln, Commander
Wilkes has not seized those dispatches, which have
arrived i'll England by the La Plata, and If they IT,
clude anything which may egi;iAatze the net o. the
imegic oruiser, mitigate It's CHARACTER II Is not
very likely that the only diplomatic agent of the
Southern States who is at present i'll London Will be
in any hurry to publish them.'
La Potrie, in an article signed by NJ. Cucheval de
e Chrigny, says:
, The preiext that NM. Mason and Slitell We're
e seized as 'cOnraband Of war could only be admit
ted if the ENJOYS Of tie South had wished to make
! ute Of the Trent 20 introduce arms or ammunlt0n
into America but they were, on the contrary, leav-
ing America for Europe, and there were no on
n board the steamer The enissaries or agents OF u
c government have never been regarded az contra
1 band of war Consequently there has been "A
manifest violation of the English flag, and it il to be
feared that it ordered by the Cabinet at Wash
ngton III its desire 10 seize, al all risks the dispatches
If which the ENJOYS Of the South the beaTers.
a Under any circumstances, the British Government
canno; dispense with eNacting rs a reparaton the
dismissal OF the officers of The san JacintO the hb-
Grafton Of the passengers taken from the Trent aud
an indemnity for them. Will the Cabinet al Wash
ngtOn be able TO make all these in face
Of the state OF irritation IN which the press Of the
North keeps the population against England Ii il,
therefore, 10 lie feared that complications OF the most
. serious nature may arise between England and the
United States, and perfectly understand the i'm
preston the news produced on the London stock
Cbsngc."
The Constitutional save:
"The arrest of an English mail steamer by an
American vessel of war i 80 serious fact that We
NAV be justified in believing that the officer who
committed the act did upon Liz responsibility
: or that if he was obeying instructions from the
Cabinet Of Washington, the latter had not sufficiently
. weighed the consequences.
"In either case we hope that the American Gov
eminent will make preparation and satisfy the claim.
= OF England. We count upon il doing 20 IN iis own
= interests, which have always served as guide TO
its policy. In fact, it Is impossible that the Ameri-
cans should not understand how irregular IL the ar
g rest Of Mn. Slidel and Mason on board the Trent;
how contrary il is TO the law Of nations, aud how
preudicial the consequences Of this act wond he 10
, themselves. II would be the consecruiion OF the
y right Of Search against winch they have always
protested, and which one OF the chief causes 81
: the wrr tney themselves wsged with England IN
l6l2-a right Il search exercised not only on COM
mercia vessels but on ships Of war, for the mail
steamers are Royal vessels having on board lieu
tenant OF tie Royal navy and their officers wear
: the uniform Of the Britsh navy. by declaring con-
traband of simple passengers with or without a
diplomatic mission the Americans strike "a mortal
blow against the privileges OF neutral States, which
it is to their interest than any else 10
I respected"
= The Opinion NatioHale says;
. owe perfectly understand the deep sensation this
event bar caused in London; for If the French flag
had received such an iusut the whole country would
have risen man To demand striking ratisiac-
+ ton. We have in fact, always proclaimed respeci
for neutral flag, and the national dignity would in
vincibly make exact from others the,ame respect
/ we should pay TO them We must however, admit
. that tie question is not quite simple regards
England. Great Britain has always been opposed
10 tie rights OF nentfas, and if in 1856 she made
concession from her old principles, il was solely be-
cause she found an ample compensation IN the aboli-
ton OF letters Of marque. England, regards neu
trails, il fully bound toward and all the Powers
, 1856. But the United States were not of the num-
Der. The Washington Cabinet refused TO admit the
new ma2ims proclaimed by the Paris Congress- be-
. cause the Western Governments would not 60 the
i whole length in the path Of commercial liberty by
decreeng the complete emancipation OF trading yes-
sells in time Of war; IL results from ths double stu
alton that England aud the United States have re-
NAMED In their reciprocal relations, under the en-
pire Of the ancient maritime law"
The Brussels Indfpendanoe publishes letter from
8 correspondent who was board the Trent at the
time of the seizure. His account in the main bears
out that already given except that he declares that
the commander Of the San Jacinto when on the deck
of the Trent more than used the words that he
would have the Confederate agents, dead or alive"
The Journal des DeJats reserves its opinion until
II it has studied the question more maturely.
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