Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-12-05
Mason and Slidell.

Whatever complications may arise from
the arrest on board British ship of the Lord
High Commissioners of Secession to the
Greas Powers of Western Europe, it is certain
that the faces of loyal Americans broa 1ened
into universal grin at the Intelligence of
their capture. 1t was the fit conclusion of a
week of good news-the best we have had
since Treason broke out into Rebellion. Of
all the arch-traitors, there are not two-not
even Floyd and JEFF Davis-whose appear
ances among US as prisoners would have DIFF
fused more general and hearty satisfaction.
If there be one man who, more than any
other, has sohemed and plotted for years to
bring the country to its present condition,
that man is John Slidell of louisiana lie
was one of the most prenicous advisers Of
Gen. Pierce and the very evil genius of Bu-
chanan's Administration, causing him to
break faith with Gov. r. j. Walker of Kan
sas, and very nearly bringing the country
then into the desolating civil war which he
has at last formented. He meant to have had
Slavery in the contsst he missed the mark
and, having set out to figure in the grand sa-
looms of Europe as the leading Plenipotenti-
ary of Cottondom, he finds himself landed in
loyal States an arrested and strictly guarded
traitor.
His colleague, Mason, is not SO bad man,
though be is as bad as be knows how to be.
Had he half as much sense as pride and pom-
posity he would have been twice the traitor
he is. He has done his worst, however, to
plunge the country into an abiss of blood and
crime, and will worthily grace the cell in
which his career has reached his fitting con-
Summation.
But what will Great Britain say to the
taking of these two would-be Enjoys by force
from one of her merchant vessels? We do
not know and we do not care. We shall en-
deavor to say nothing on the law of the case
that may even seem calculated to forestall
or emberass the action of the Government
If Great Britain demands the liberation of
these gentlemen, reraration for their capture
Government shall see fit to make. For it is
not possible to make such demand without
in substance confessing that the Right to
Search American vessels for British seamep.
and to take away those who are adjudged
such-which was the principal cause of the
War of l8l2-has no foundation in public
law. If then, the British Government sees
fit to confess that it was utterly wrong in the
collisions which engendered our last War
was wrong il every instance wherein she
searched our merchant ships for those claim
ed as natiye-borne subjects Of the British
Crown-we trust our Government viii stand
ready to deal wisely and generously with the
venerable penitent. She need not admit
that she was wrong in particularly fragrant
instances, such as the attack of the Leopard
on the Chesr eak in 1908, and the burning OF
the Caroline at Schlosser lone of our docksl
in the Niagara River, in 1888. If she is
ready now to establish and abide By any doc
trine on the general subject, we trust her
proffers will be received with distinguished
consideration. But if she chooses to be sat.
isfed with British precedents for the case
Immediately in hand, she can be supplied
| with them to her hearts content. In either
case, the energy and decision of Com. Wilkes
has secured substantial triumph to our
country.-M 7. Tribune.