Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-03
.Gbe MLema5ls AaaeaL.
rIIu uAsoxAND snIDELL AFEAIR.
Opinion, ~ ne .YOrikcrn T'rcss.

.TIIu MASON AND sLIDELL AFFAIR.
Ophrioss n TIE .Eoriacrn Prem.
We have published the article Of the NgioHai
EatcVigcncsr, whicIrit is understood divuiges the
poll y Of the Lincoln government upon the ques-
ton that will probably lie raised as the resnit Of
the arrest Of the Confederate commissioner, and
below viii be found the opinions OF several lead
ing northern papers of influence, taking issue
with the organs position.
The New York Commsrcid .ideeriiser, a lead
ing influential Republican paper, says
The report, made public this afternoon, OF the
capture of Nessfs. Mason and Siidell, the rebel
commissioners to Europe, has very naturally
caused great excitement. From the teiegTapmc
statement, we think it clear that Capt. Wilkes
has violated International rights, and that ms
act must be ~disavowed by The government, they
being on their European voyage, and an apology
be made to the British government. National
honor, Justice and consistency would seem 10
demand this of rs. Capt. Wilkes has done
the very thing, in principle, for which we Wen
70 war with England for doing. 1t IS true thai
the right of search exists i'm a time Of war, ana
VESTS ID Il DetUWbltull Jul AhAo H'i"NAN - 3
cal prisoners when under the protection OF & neu-
tral flag. is uniusti6abIe, aud ought to be repu-
dated by the United States government. We
speak OF the case only rs the telegraph repre-
sents it.
The Albany New York; Afas and Argas, al
able Democratic paper, expressed these views
These prisoners were passengers on a British
mail steamer, bound from BeTmuda TO EngIand'
Au American man-Ot-war uyerhaulS the vessel,
and demands tie right Of visit and search. and
prepares to enforce it, in the fashion OF men-oi-
waT-a shot ahead, a shot over, and II these sIc
not needed. a shot through it. The neutral YES
sci Is boarded by an armed force, aud the two
ussseurers and their secretaries seized and car
Rcd off. and brought home for Imprisonment.
The British flag gives to a British vessel, un-
der such circumstances, all the mmunltles ana
sac-ed character Of British soil. That country
nrides itself on being the refuge OF the political
exiles of every land. 1t has never surrendered
one-not evon the c0nspiTators who plotted the
assassination of the Napoleons. Nor has any
other nation in Europe ever ventured to de-
msnd of her such surrender. HE most
that the first Napoleon and his present sue
cessor have asked. has been that England
wouId trv within its jurisdiction the plot
ters Of conspiracy and assassination "lthhA
lis borders. We, too, have held the same
tone in regard 10 the sovereignty oi our
soil and of our vessels. Indeed, our Whole MS
tory has been a long protest and struggle for the
inviolability of our soil and nag, ana against lne
nratensjons of the right OF visitation and search,
and of the seizure OF subjects on board OF neu-
trail ships. We fought for seventy years tie
battle IN favor of neutral rights, till a. last they
! have been yielded TO us. What would we have
said if an Austrian vessel had attempted to selZe
Kossuth on board Of a Collins steamer W ma
wou'd England have said to a similar act OF an
| ,boritv ON hoard of a Cunarder! Neutral soil
has been invaded by the great powers, as IN the
case of Due D'Enghien seized by Napoleon.
and executed for alleged participation IN plots OF
assassination, but we T~ecullect Of no case Ia any
degree parallel TO this.
It declares that the United States govern
ment must prevent a rupture with the British
| government at all hazards, and concludes
thus
We know how easy it Is to sueeT q; foreigI
powers and to boast of our ability % carry on
| contest with all Europe. Bat we cannot aiiOI'
in this instance to be wrong Ror 10 belle all on
own declarations Of national law, AID cast con
tempt on the nOblest chapters oil or own his
tory. We believe that our own government W!
disclsim all grounds of ofteuse IA tins act an
do it promptly and at once, and without WaluA.
for the reclamation Of the offended power. 1
NAV not be necessary to restore the s'atf gro D.
releasing the prisoners but il viii be 10 dl,
claim frankly an pretens!ous TO "a right OF scare
and seizure such as this.
The Pt,sburg CPsnu) Post, also Democrati
and strongly for q vigorous prosecution OF I'll
war, after arguing agains; the policy Of the
seizure, says:
The whole country will applaud the zeal an
MUCK of Capt. Wilkes in this transaction bl
cool and sober-minded men must nevertheless
condemn IT, lie has brought the country INTO
bad scrape, and the sooner We get out OF DC u
more Gracefully we can DO so. IL viii never Il,
to rush wrong end foremost into a quarrel WI
Great Britain fJg the sake Of a brace Of traitor
We say this, NOT because Great Britain IS po'
ertul, but because We cannot afford, especially
a time ike this, to persist III q wrong. IA
were to strike down az a blow all Information
law and comfy, and throw the whole Wof'a III
anarchy.
Sup6ose we hold on to Messrs. Mason al
8 Sis-N, we must not, cannot treatthem as tTalto
after arrestfng them in the manner VIC did. We
then. we shall send them 10 Fort Lafayette,
70 we have done others equally guilty. Nb
them Why. we should ia that way do more
strengthen their cause ia Europe than a thousa
Nssons and Silells could DO, were they tile
O Il would be the strongest possible ackno" ied9
ment that we feared them-teared them to su
: a degree that we preferred 10 trampie under lC
e all national rights and risk IS rapture with {
e most powerful nation on earth rather than
, them cross the Atlantic. Rely upon 1t, th'
. desperate DIPLOMATIC alveuturers-for at b.
they are nothing else-coUlt accomplish mo
a thousand fold, in Fort Lafayette than n
80 couId do at the Courts OF -. James and
ie Cloud. Let them 60. Put them on board
At first steamer that sails, and send after them
mr. shout of derisive defiance. In that wey, and
that uav Only. can We cut their claws and.
u tract their fangs. No man knows better Il
TO make a courteous and dignifed apology II
Mr.. Seward, and we hope he viii do itprompi
% To hold these men as prisoners would, un
q. the circumstances, do us no good, but as
- have endeayored to show, Incalculaoie inJu
~ Fortunately the outrage on the British h2E
&c so fragrant, that It's disaYowul can meyer Pc
D.. tributed to any other Impulse than that OF no
and fair dealing. But sfOuld there be the si4
est hesitation about making the ameHde hJHorg
it. we shall lose all tie advantages that we mi
ut derive from orr mngnanimity and cur ain
ho scornful indifference a. 10 tho wAereabout
" this brace OF rebels and miscaigr Dlakefs. II
Government should restore ibcm TO liberty,
~ send them on their way, the sympathy OF Eur
We would be changed 10 laughter.