The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-13
The Msson and Slidell Affair in England.


The news brought by the recent arrival of the
steamship Hansa of the reception of the intelli-
genco in England of the arrest by Capt. Wilkes
of the rebel emissaries, Mason and Sldell, is of
sufficient importance, although by no means
even Indicative Of what action the British Coz
eminent will finally take in the matter, to
warrant considerable sensation in this country
a brief resume, however, of tho somewhat con-
dieting opinions of the English may lead us to
at least wait without any great apprehension
OF an immediate war with England, till we got
official adviccs from that Government
The Indignation meeting held at Liverpool
was evidently in the cotton interest. 1t was
called to meet in the Cotton Sales Room,'
and we may fairly presume was animated more
by a desire for cotton than any regard for the
honor Of the British Flag. But even that meet
ing struck out of the resolution as originally
proposed, that part which called upon the Brit
ish Government to demand prompt reparation
for the Outrage; aud the merchants very gener-
ally express the opinion lat the action taken
by the meeting was hasty and premature.
The London Tins moderately discusses the
question |. takes advantage Of the position Of
our Government, that the rebels are not bel
ligercnt power, to make point against us, but
evidently gives but little weight to that, mas.
much as Eng land has recognized the rebels az
belligerents. 1t frankly admits that England
In former times, when hard pressed, has estab
llshed precedents that justify this seizure but
she wouldn't do such things, nor allow Others
TO do them, now.
The Times objects to Capt. Wilkes deciding
'he question VIII Their Mason and Slidell were Ii
able 10 capture, but thinks he might have cap
turoa the ship and taken it into port for adju
dication
II advise; ca'Inncss in discussion, and appeal
to our government not 10 capture any NOR
gebcl commissioners in that way as it may pro
yoke war. On the whole the gentleness of tn
Times is quite significant Of peaceful conclu
sion to this capture.
The London Daily Ne,os' bluster is eyidentl,
in the same vein as the Liverpo olmecting, thoug1
that paper admits that Capt. Wilkes might hav
ocen justified by the law of nations in capturing
the dispatches of the rebel emissarics. Its ar
gument, however, SO far as it uses reason at all
seems to abandon the English position that tn
>--etels are belligercnt power, and proceeds o
the assumption Of our Government that Maso
and Slidel were only rebels, and could no MOI
be removed by force from British ship, tina
any criminal could be taken under similar eli
cumstances. 1t doesn't, however, choose to di
cuss the question whether England in this ma
ter is disposed to treat the JEFF Davis Govern
ment as only rebellion, or whether it will col
linue as it has heretofore done to treat it as
bcligerent Power.
The London Star reterates the statemel
which we published some days since from Il
Edinburgh Scotsman that the law officers of t
crown had given an opinion recently in the ma
ter of the james Adyer, which fully justified t
act Of Capt. likes ; and this same stateme
was also made at the Liverpool meeting.
From all this budget of news, we think
concern need be felt Of any collision with FL
land on account Of Mason and Slidell. I
policy Of our Government Is, of course, sett
in avowing and justifying the act of Ca
Wilkes. Congress has thanked him, and Sec
tary w elies has approved tho seizure. 7
Government can take no back track, and
English Government will be slow, under 8,