Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-23

The Charleston Mercury expresses the opinion iouna'
ed on decision of the Eugllsh Admiralty Court that
England Ia estopped from resenting the insult 70 her
Gag by the Yankees in taking our Commissioners rom
her steamer The case apt and 10 the point and
Jumps with English interest will regulate her conduct.
But VIC suspect she could find other decisons OF her
courts Of directly opposite character, she were In
the humor for row. We have inclined to the opinion
however, from the beginning that Seward would make
an humble apology, affect to break the officer, and Eng
land would consider her honor solved.
We copy the article from the Mercury:
THE CAPTURE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
The news that an armed vessel of the Lincoln Gov
eminent had captured the Confederate Commissioners
Messrs Mason and Slde while their way 70 Europe
on board British mail steamer will naturally OCCASION
feeling Of deep modification and regret throughout
the South. That may not subj ourselves TO fur
Their disappointment in yielding to the hopes that are
likely TO prove delusive, it will be well thatw should
briefly consider the principles OF law involved In the
seizure.
The act of the commander Of the San Jacinto has q
two-!old bearipg-lst, towards our Government; and
I'd, towards the Government OF Great Britain.
Viewed in its relation 10 the Confederate Government
the arrest at sea- Of two eminent men, sent as agents.
TO establish peaceful relations between the great Powers
Of the old world and the Southern States Of the new can
only be regarded OF long series OF sgrsnt afro
cities which have already rendered the war OF
ton now Waged against US odous in the sight OF the
civilized world. That injuries and insults like this must
one day bs bitterly atoned for will be doubted by no
one who knows the power and the temper of the South
ern people For the present. with armies the machinery
of which is but recently constructed and absolutely with
out navy can but treasure up the memory OF the
wrongs we suffer, and patiently abide our time.
With the seizure Of Mason and Slide ID It's relation
to the neutral rights Of the British Government we have
There arah however certain well eS-
bished principles OF pubic law TO which the present
case will necessarily be referred aud from these we may
anticpate the views Of the English usts IN regard 10
its merits
The highest legal an.horiti-s unite in pronouncing
dispatches .the worst kind contrabsnd" They con-
slider the transmission OF despatch abroad as capable
of comforting greater advantages upon begeren' than
the introduction Of any cargo forbidden by the laws Of
war. A distinction, however, is drawn between des-
patches coming TO- and those going from the begeent
The former deemed parake OF the peaceful char
ac,er OF the neutral nation from which they Gomez the
latter are presumed 10 DO OF warlike import, and
subject the neutral vessel carrying them, to capture and
condemnation. Such being the law, the analogy be-
tween the conrabard letter. or DESPATCH and the per-
son bearing it seems plain The ambassador, whether
he carries bis communications in writing or In his mem
ory Is the substitute for the despsch and would seem
to become like it, liable to capture.
But not left to form this conclusion from anal
ogy alone Strangely enough although the present cfs
is one quite novel in its circumstances distinguished
English Judge has given opinion directly bearing up
on It, In the case of the Caroline English Admiralty
Reports) Sir William Scott in defining the rights OF b.
gerens in respect to neutral vessels says with singular
terseness "You may sop the ambassador Of your enc
my on his passage" Certainly, nothing could be more
distinct or directly applicable to the case of Messrs
Mason and Slidel
Dsagreeab.e as 1t is we cannot resist the inference
tiat tn English Government will decline any interference
in behalf OF our captured commissioners II so, il is bet
ter that people should know the sober TRUTH at once
than that impressed with vague belief the protection
afforded by foreign flag, they should cling, week after
week, to expectations, which must end in disappont
ment and bitter chagrin.