Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-04
The Capture of 5Iessrs. Mason and sIldell

The case of the capture of the Hon. Henry Laur>
ems by British vessel, in l779, while on his
passage from the United States 10 Holland, to which
latter country he was accredited as Envoy, has
been cited as precedent in justification Of the ar
rest of Messrs. Mason and Sidel by the United
States Government. But there is no analogy be-
tween the two cases, further than that in both,
my's ministers were captured. Er. Laurens was
arrested on board of United States vessel Messrs.
Mason and SlGell were taken on board of an English
mail steamer. In the enc Great Britain, being
at war with the United States, captured enemy s
vessel where the right ito commit a2ts Of hostility
clearly existed in the other, the United States be-
ing at peace with Great Britain, captured the
sci of friendly nation where the character Of
hostility" did not and could not exist TIE " An
nual Register" for 1889 p 229 contains the follow
/ ng notice of Mr.. Lsurens' arrest:
! Advice was this day received, that the Fairy,
soop of and the Vestal frigats, being cruising
on the New Foundland station, fell in with, and
| took an American packet, on board of which was
Mr.. Laurens President of the Congress"
"The Congress packet" as it is called in Bel
sham's History Of Great Britain, p. So, called
the Mercury" She is fully describ d in the Me-
Hloirs Of EIcaHah Watson, PIP. SO and &c. as having
been built in Plymouth for the Government Of the
United States constructed for rapid sailing and
expressly to carry dispatches to Europe" and
commanded by Captain Simeon Sampson, Zone
of the most valusbe and efficient ofthe naval com
manders IN the War of the Revolution"
The right Of Great Britain to seize that vessel and
hold Mr.. Laurens as prisoner, was the undjsputed
right of belligerent TO capture enemy's ship !;
and had the United States seized Messrs Mason and
Sidell on board Confederate vessel their right to
do 30 could not be questioned. They captured those
gentlemen, however, on board of British ship in
the service Of the British Government, where they
had right to commit acts of hostility" and are
consequently guilty of an unqualified outrage
against the rights of neursls, and the dignity and
honor Of Great Britain.-RichmOndE Enquirer.
BURNING THE CRoPs.-We learn with qualification
ly applying the torch to their Cotton and other pro-
heart to enterSupOn this work of praigeworthy pat
riotism and destruction themselves, have authors
lied the military authorities, before yielding any,
thing that can in the least minister to Yankee
greed ami lust, to make the destruction complete
before them. Parties from North Edisto and the
neighborhood, unite ia asserting that Cotton and
other vslusbes the plantations, which could not
be readily removed, were involved in one common
flame and ruin Charleston Courier, NOU. 80.
gBIsHoP OF. ALABANA.-The Episcopal Convention
OF Aabams at its late session, elected by a unanI-
nous vote of the clerical and lay orders, the Rev.
Richard Wilmer, D. D., of Henric9 Bishop of that
Diocese. DR.. Wilmer has probably no superior
among the clergy of the South rs original and
vigorous thinker. powerful and impressive pulpit
orator, and heightened Christian gentleman. DE-.
Wilmer, of William and Nary College. No worthier
successor of the late apostolic Bishop Cobb could
be fOund.-Richnlond Dispatch, NoU. 30.