New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-23

therein shall stop and coDfscate the property OF
peaceful traders on the high seas, will, when
caught, make speedy expiation of ther error a'
the yard.arm Of their own vessels. short
shrift and a strong rope will be all the mercy
that con be afforded to such pirates. Nor VIII
there be any delay to inquire their nationality.
If the pretended letters of marque 6ud customers
in London or Liverpool, those who take them do
go at their own peril, whatever recognition the
English Government may give to the presumed
belligerent right of the insurgents. Our cruisers
Englishman if detected in piracy for the hang
ing of all tho felOns on board quite as readily az
on the vessels of our own nation.
As We said just now, we ask no aid OF En-
gland, for we are quite able to enforce our own
laws and suppress, unaided, any insurrcction that
has arisen or is likely to arise within our Dor.
ders. 1t is nevertheless to be hoped that Eng land
will take time for reflection, and will await be-
fore she commits herself by any positive action,
the arrival of our new Minister. 1t is very clear
that at this moment she does not understand the
position of affairs in this country, aud month
may serve to enlighten her, as it has so many
among our own people. 1t is not many weeks
since here at home the people were divided into
two parties-thOse who beloved that the States
were about to separate into two COnleieracies, and
those who refused to believe that anything OF mo-
mcnt had happened, or was going to happen, but
that we had got into an unusual political excite
mcrt which " ninety days would make
1of \ in frat
the iHculty wns, MT that we were not all
brave enough, but it was impossible to tell how
the fight would 90 for nobody knew if he could
trust lis Deighbor. The fret gun settled that
question. We know where We are now, and
never was there more united people Who com
prehend precisely where they stand, precisely
what they have to do, and precisely how they
meap to do it. 1t is not strange that England
was not wiser fortnight ago than We were
three weeks earlier and it will be wise and tor
tunate for all parties if she shall avoid precipi-
tate action aud give herself time enough to learn
the changed condition of affairs in tbs country.
She will soon come 10 understand that the pro-
posed neutrality is as ungracious and insulting
ap act on her part, as it would have been on
ours had Congress proposed a similar measure
al the breaking out of the sepoy rebellion.
1t is partly the Misrepresentation of the state Of
things here, and partly her anxiety IN regard TO
Cotton that suggests to England the proclama-
ton of neutrality. She Will mike rs great
mistake in the one case az in the other Thee
Southern insurgents will, without doubt, be
greatly encouraged by proposal of British neu-
trallty, for it confrms them in the mistaken no.
ton on which this revolt is based that the world
is at their feet for Cotton. The position Of ED-
gland then only makes our task Of suppressng
the Instruction more difficult aud more pro-
tracted and Will compel us TO resort ~ meas
ur,s which otherwise might have been spared.
1t may perhaps, be necessary now as eonse-
quence Of the renewed encouragement England
will have given the South by this confirmation OF
the notion that she will do anything for the sake
Of Cotton, 10 stop the supply Of that staple going
forward at all, nnd stife the South by throwing
back upon her what Manchester Will starye for
not having. Should this happen. the people OF
England who we think, will come to right
Judgment presently. may thank the thoughtless
precipitation of Lord John Russell aud the haste
Of the Priyy Council. 1t will be well for all
parties if no worse comes Of it, for a war be.
tween this country and England, which might
readily grow out Of it, and which we IN
condition to accept-for a war or two, more or
less, would make very little difference to US now
would be the signal for universal warfare.
Where blows are thick, France is not likely to
stand idle, even if che were not invited to enter
the lasts; and in any she will hardly forget
either her ancient enmities or her ancient friend
shlDs