The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-22

MIN on previous occasion in reference to the
policy Of putting arms into the hands of the
Southern negroes. We have the best reasons
for believing that no such sentiments
dropped from Mr.. Cameron. The government
is undoubtedly ready to employ the services of
the slaves Of rebel masters whenever they
are offered; but it is to put the spade and the
hoe, and not muskets in their hands. This
being the only policy that has been advocated by
General Cameron, it follows that the assertion
that Secretary Smith disavowed it on the part
of the other members of the Cabinet is as un-
founded as the declarations attributed to the
former. The object of these misrepresentation
is evident They are circulated to make it ap-
pear that there are differences in the Cabinet
on this question of arming the slaves, when, in
fact, its members are a unit against such STEP
Tho Case OF Mason and slidell-rhe Aboli-
ton Journals the Allies OF zsngland.
The arrest of Mason and Sidell is leading
and will lead to angry discussions on the part
of the press on both sides of the Atlantic, par
ticularly in the British empire. Already the
Canadian papers have taken up the question,
and as soon as the news reaches Europe, which
will probably be not long after this sheet is in
the hands of our readers, if the tidngs have not
already been waited across the ocean by the
Trent, the British journals will open in full cry
against our government, and in another fort
night they will discover, if they do not now
know, that they have faithful allies and
sympathizers in the abolition journals of New
York. The comments of the latter are of a
piece with all their antecedents, and are only
what might be expected by those who have
observed their past career. They have
hitherto played into the hands of England; they
are pursuing the same game now, by endeavor-
ing to break the unity Of the people and en-
barrass the government on great interna-
tional question, and they will probably con-
tnue this course to the end Of the chapter, if
the Secretary of State does not haul them up
and put stop to their treacherous and disloyal
course. The Tribune, for instance, assails the
Secretary Of State, and the World attacks the
HERALD on the same ground-that is to say, that
Mr.. Seward and this journal are provoking
war with Great Britain, because we are both
seeking to vindcate the rights of the United
States as nation, and would prefer war with
her rather than to make an abject surrender of
those rights at her dictation.
Some of the journals palpably do
not understand the question they are
discussing, while others, with Satanic intent,
are throwing doubts over the legality of
the capture effected by Captain Wilkes. But,
whatever views these journals may take of it,
there is but one light in which an American
citizen can regard it, and that is the light in
which we have already presented it. Captain
Wilkes, and the government, who sustain his &C
ton. are right according to all British prece-
dents and authorities, and every principle of in
ternatonal law. Conscious that they are right,
the government and the people will maintain
the position they have assumed, and face the
consequences. fla portion Of the British empire
were in state of instruction, England would
adopt the same course at all hazards. Why
should our vigorous young republic be less de-
termned in the maintenance Of its dignity and
interests than an effcte, decaying monarchy,
whose day is nearly run? The cowardly abo-
lition journals are making appeals to
her mercy, deprccating her wrath, "in
a bondsman's key, with bated breath and
whispering humbleness," while with fear and
trembling they call on our government and the
popular press not to exasperate the toothless
old lion Of England, lest he may strike the ma
ton dead with his powerful paw. The World
suggests that ''if there has been any infringe
mcnt of international rights the United States
will make an apology if Captain Wilkes is not
justlfiable by the law of nations, it cannot
wound the national honor to make suitable
apology" Thus does one dastardly organ of
abolition prepare the way for the abandonment
of the stand the Cabinet has made. The Tribune
sinks to "a lower depth" of bascness, and pro-
poses that we surrender to England ut discre-
ton, no matter how much We may be in the
right and how much she may be in the wrong
1t attacks the Secretary Of State, the represen-
tativc Of the foreign policy Of the Cabinet be-
cause he ''does not evince an earnest and frank
desire to maintain the best understanding with
the government of England, which is the OBJ
vious dictate of national interest. if not of ma
tional safety and because he will not
say to her AmbassadoG ''Wc cannot af-
ford to quarrel with you, and I shall take
good care that you have no plausible excuse
for quarrelling with US" When did such
pusillanimous course as that ever prevent Eng
land from going to war with nation who was
weak enough to pursue it? 1t is only an invi-
tation to attack, and England would not be slow
to accept it if she found it her interest and con-
venience to do so. But the Tribune is more
specific. Here are its words" We have
already intimated our hope that Great Britain
will claim Mason, Slidell and their secretaries
on the ground Of the illegality of their capture.
We could very well afford even to surrender
them for the sake Of the precedent and principle
thus established And, after portraying in
the darkest and most appalling colors the
dangers and the probability Of an English in
vasion if the American government do not
go down on their knees to the British