Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-18

and Slidell is taken inh high dudgeon by th
British government, and arUuseS a stronI
feeling of Indignation among the Britisl
people. The opinion of the law officers Q
the crown has been asked, and they hav
advised the government that the arrest wa
an unjustifable ipfractioh OF the law o
nations. Cabinet consultations had beei
held ON thssSuhject, aud also a meeting o
the Queens Privy council at Windsor
the result ofwhieh Is a decision TO de
maud Feparation of the government o
the United States. The EurOpR was de
tanned at southampton TO enable thI
ministry to complete the dispatches to Lori
Lyons, which nre brought out by specia
messenger in that steamer. Vigorous war,
like preparations are going on, and the
tone of the press is excited and bslliger-
ent, The Paris, as well as the London
\ Journals, regard the course Of Captain
/ Wilkes, us nniustiihbls, and it is even
represented that a perfect understanding
exists between the French aud Rnglist
| Governments on this. as on all other ques-
tons relating to the American war. Il
will he seen, therefore, that tue news is
very grave, and that the critical; position ol
affairs affords scope for the wisest states
mnnsbip.
Iuwoald seem that the British Govern
ment Intends to rest its case on Irregulnri-
ties in the form of the arrest rather than on
any assumption of right Of the confeder-
ate emmissarfes to the protection Of the
British flag. They assert that il the Trent
was violating her neutrality obligations
the only legal method of proceeding was
to seize her, and bring her in as a prize for
adjudication by an admiralty court of the
United States. Both the owners and the
1aI - -
such court, and the case would be deter
nized by the law of nations rs competent
10 decide it. II is assumed that Capt.
Wilkes usurped, the functions of such "A
coart; that though bis views of the Law
may be just, he had nU authority to admin.
lister IT. This may be Technically correct /;
but. as applied to the present case. it is
morally wrong. The very forhearauce we
practiced toward the Trent, our very cour-
tesy to the nalion whose flag she bore and
whnse nails she carried, is constructed into
M outrage on that pnlion mud an insult to
that fog! .os
II iss unnecessary to examine whether
this lawyers qutrk is sufficient ground
for a voluntary interruption by Great
Britain Of tue peace Of two great and
hitherto friendly nations. If she desires
war she can no doubt construe this into a
Cu!orahlc pretext, but if she wishes con-
linuanCe of peace it would be,capIiOus and
Hhskrl for her TO COnstrue an Intended
courtesy ns WantOn insult. Whatever
tue result may be, it behoOves our Govern
uent to be equally prepared for either war
Ur peace,
President Lincoln wisely forebore any
ulIuston to the arrest in his messnge to
Congress, The Government is, rs YET, nn-
committed with reference TO it. Sec
,eetlrV Welle's annroyal of tue course, of
assurance to that mertt0riOus officer thHt
he will not suffer by any consequences
that may grow out of bis act. The Gov
rrnment Is as free 20 determine its at
titude toward Great Britain as ifthe Navy
Department had not assured Capt. Wilkes
Of its appreciation, The country has a guar
autee in President Liucoln's prudence and
tirmness ttnt he will neither compromise
tue national dignity nor allow tue govern
ment 90 get embrOiled In needless foreign
war. Lord Lyons Will probably 10 his first
communication merely recite the facts, and
make IL demand tor suitable reparation.
Our government will have first committed
itself to the position it intends to take in
Secretary Stewards reply, which will no
Doubt be well weighed aud cOuched iu
guarded Language. TheresuItwill very like.
ly be IL long diplomatic correspondence, By
which the English government may seek TO
keep the question open with view to peace
or war, according rs its interests may seem
10 dicInte in The further progress Uf ouT
civil war. II Lord PAimerstDn has al.
ready determined to interfere in hehali
of the South, the INTENSE feeling which
this occurrence has aroused will en-
able him TO do so with the support OF
the nation. II our government is of opini-
on that the arrest was legally justiiabie,
the country will stand by it With perfect
uuauimity aud tmmovable strength
OF determination In its decision tc
face any consequence that may arise
But, ON the other hand, these con
sequences may be so grave that the nation
expects the President to be as careful MOI
TO refuse any just apology (if any be due
rs he is firm in his refusal to make on
thar Englsn md nus no riEhttO demand.
We hono tredi the rumor that the Em
peror Napoleon proposes 10 act as media
TOR between the two governments. Spel
na offer would be premature. In all suel
controversies it is presumed Mt the outse
that the governments will be able TO rnHk
AN amicAble adjustment without such kin'
offices The suitable time to proHer thew
lis when the diplomacy Of the parties ha
been tried without any prospect of a Ia
vorahIe result.
CPrUm the Heraldl
lImportant from EngIand-The Masol
and SIidel Case-'rhe Demands q
the British G0Vermment4
we publish sOme important neWd trol
England this moraiug- The Europa reach b
ed Halifax yesterday, and the City of Wash
lington Nrrived of Cape Race soon ate
bringing one weeks later news from Et
rope. The British Government detaine
the Europa one day for the purpose
sending ON II Queens Messenger, With dii
patches TO Lord Lyons. What may be d
purport OF these dispatches will hereaft,
appear. According 70 the intelligence,
found in the London papers, the Britia
government is prepared TO demand not on