The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1861-12-21

eanguine. an Otncer OF the federal navt haa
struck a better blow for the rebel cause than
either Gen. Beauregard or johnson has yet been
able TO do There Is rejoicing on board the
Nashville, ana If Messrs. Yancey and Dudley
Mann did not feast their friends last night they
missed a fine opportunity. The news by the
la Plata, which We publish today, will rsise the
spirits of the whole South. The United States
GoveTnment-for, until the act is disavowed and
atoned for, on II must fall the responsibility
has struck it's best friend IN the face, a friend
that never yet when smitten on the lef, check
TUNED the right for a second bow.
The remote consequences OF this set we shall
not attempt TO predict. Enough for the present
that II IA one which will make II the duty Of
our government to insist on ample complete
and immediate satisfaction. Its wanton folly
bids W. hope that Lieutenant Fairfax was acting
without instructions, and that the Washington
Cabinet will no sooner learn what has taken
place In the Bahama channel than Il will dsa-
vow the act, restore Nersrs Mason and Sliiell,
ard tender the fullest apology. Nothing short
Of this rcpara,ion can I've accepted. Until there
has bt en- time ~ receive ne ~ from w ashngton,
we feel bound to believe that the seizure a pas
scngeis On boad the Trent was an acc "A much
in excess Of duty rs II was In violation Of pub
lie law. No government should know better
than that Of the United States the lines which
separate tic ri ,hts Of bell gerents aud neutfals
respectively. While this war LASTS wo must
spunit 10 have our mercantile vessels stopped
on the high seas, by both parties. la search of
contrnband. Had Lieutenant Fairfax confined
himself to dsmiodirg Mr.. Slidell's dispatches,
and taken them oft, we must have acquiesced in
his visit as one Of the dislgreeable occurrences
incident to voyage IN the neighbothood Of
confronting foes. But the seizure Of persons
stands on different footing. In tue eyes Of
Mr.. Seward, Mossrs Sldel and NJ ,son are
rebels; In our eyes they are simply passen GERS
nd he
sured we shall no moro permit II TO take its
rcbels out OF our vessels than we should con-
csdc a similar right 10 Austria or Russia.
The circumst ances OF this event still more
strongly compel US to disbelieve, In the absence
OF direct evidence, that this az .tcssion was or
deicd 10y the utited States government The
Cabinet at Washington knows perfectly well
that IL cannot act in this fashion with IMMUNITY.
In fact ut this moment its cause lies AZ our mer-
cy. We could with ease remove the severe
pressure which Ii eXerts on the South wv means
Of is blockade, and on which, Iar more than on
the sword, Il relies for success. We could open
all the southern potts at once TO receive COLL,
and commodities ADD munitions Of war In return
for cotton. And ii need were, we could at small
cost find abundant occupation To- sll tho San ia
rinlOs they can muster aud for half the army of
The Potomac into the bargain. We have given
no proyccaiion for This outrage The course of
Z vefnInent has been uniformly fnfbearing and
consdcratc. Lord Palmerston', high spirit has
itself OILY in magnanimiy. No
Minister could have avoided more anxionsly all
hat could fairly give offence OF, when occasions
Tor remonstrance have arisen, as in the recent
imprisonment Of British subjects have borne
himself with more patience. And for what Oh
Jet should the United States government risk
4 rupture with this country? For tn, misera-
bic qualification Of getting the persons Of two of
ne edversaries into its power. The Washington
Cabinet has shown itseIf sufficiently imbecile,
sut to authorize the ioiciblo arrest of gentle.
men under the protection Of the British flag
would be nothing less than madness. The
Incidents like these are irri ating. but ,ng
British people have the satisfaction OF know
hat their afAirs are under firm guidance. With
he irascible Eail Of Derby or tho fussy Lord
in power, we might well DO con-
,erned for the interests Of peace at time like
his But from the present government we
nay expect energy without precpitancy, and
prudence without weakness. Their course ia
olerably clear AID il will be for the govern
nent Of the United States 10 determine what
rice.
,AIM AND REASONABLE COMMENTS OF THE
LONDON STAR, (28th)
The event has not been unanticipated. 1t
was indeed, expected to have GENE of on this
ral ships have left our own ports to watch for
The mail steamer, with the deliberate intention
Df taking from her the commissioners. The opin-
on u The lar officers Of cur CropH has been tdhea
~ he subject and zoe are assured that IL is
'tea,y inyGror ofhe right assumed by he Uni
ed Stats Government.
We do not see on what Interpretation Of the
aw OF nations and the privileges of belligerents
, contrary opinion could he sustained. How
ever disagreeable the arrest Of an English stea-
ncr on the common seas, and the forciblc remo-
val from under her flag, against the protest of
her officers, Of gentlemen who had probably
made themselves very agreeable felow-yoya
gers-however consohInt with English spirit
and usaPes the declaration Of Commander vii.
question of right is not one to he do
cided ON quarter deck, or under the influence
Df irritaied feeling.
Our submission TO such untoward incidents
Is only part of the general penalty exacted
Of civilized nations by MS in any part Of the
world. The captain of the San Jacnto did
but act upon principles which have Away been
asserted by his own government, frequently
exercised by ours, and are probably insNpNable
from maritime warfare. The right Of bellig-
erents 10 search neutral vessels for contraband
persons and other articles is but too well es-
tablished.
Undoubtedly, the Confederate Commissions
ers and their dispatches do not come under the
primary definition Of contraband, which re-
luires that "the destination of the goods should
DO to hostile port" As no European power
IS at war with the United States, and the
Trent was bound for a European haIbor, this
definition certainly exempts the mail steamer
rom liability to arrest and search. But there
will he found in books on internati nal law,
chapters on "oaasi-cOntraband-disP
The officers Of the San Jacinto have abstain
ID from trespassing on debateable ground. They
confined themselves TO arresting passengers who
were yoyagipg In no merely private capacity, nor
on private busif ess not escaping from the
troubles Of war, or seeking home for their ia
miles in neutral country, but VIGOROUSLY
TO procure recognition and sue
cor for their government. With the utmost de-
sire to put the largest Interpretation on tue
rights Of neutrals, II only as a means Of pro-
curing the entire abolition of captures at SEE,
We cannot understand the fairness Of excluding
the Federalists from such an obvious resort OF
belligcrent power.
1t would be asking too much that they should
stand by and make no effort TO prevent our
ships conveying to and fro persons and p,p,rs
on the enemy's service. II is at any rate % be
desired that questions Of this sort should I've dis
cussed without heat, and decided without haste.
II II should turn out that the San Jacinto has
exceeded the authority which the law of nations
comedies TO belligerents over the ordinary rights
OF neutrals, we doubt not the United States
Government will disclaim the act, and rofuso to
take advantage of its performance.
THK EFFECT ON THE STOCK MARKET.
lFrom he London Ners (City ArticIs,) Nor. 2S. ]
The stock ma kets this morning wore quiet,
but exhibited great excitement shortly after one
o'clock, when the news tianspired Of the dagrant
outrage committed upon the British flag ia the