Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-01-02
From the London Herald, Derby Organ, Dec. 4.
An Assf-Egt1EsGeGL View the Seizure Mason
and sldell.


Tie news from the United States leaves US little if
any hope OF avoiding 1t is quite clear that the
few honest journals and respectable men in the North
States shocked and Disguised at the act of Capt
Wilkes They would not at aOy time desire with
England they would at great sacrifice avoid it under
present circumstances when army of 100000 men
their Southern frontier, and when they could
not spare ship regiment from their present duties
to wage us 10 Canada the sea. But
above all, these men dread and tee3t the idea OF
with England in bad They know that this
occasion Europe is with US right is with u.s. the law
OF nations is side they know that we fight not
for greed for empire, for passion for glory
but from the necessity of defending the honor of
flag, and the freedom of the seas. They know that
their Government has ere now strained the law of
nations the by awess arrests by unjustiG
able captures, by paper blockade; aud that England
has borne these Outrages patiently rather haD with
single doubt hanging over her cause, appeal to the God
of Battles They are grateful for the unprecedented
torbearance of the greatest naval power in the world
They ashamed of the reckless aggression and wanton
insoence OF their backwoods statesmen and half educa
ted stump orators They are glad that we have long
abstaned in tenderness to them, from enghtenDg pain
fully the ignorance of Mr., Lincoln and chastsDg con-
dgnly the braggart impertlnesce of Mr.. Seward. Ii
one word, they know as well as - how grievously
we have been provoked bow long We have
refraned from vengeance. If in America in Eng
land, the educated and thoughtful of the
country the guides of national opinions and
]
agreeable though it might be- the stolen ENJOYS would
be replaced board British ship and Captain Wilkes
would have been sent before court martial But un-
happily the educated classes 10 America practically
DISTINGUISHED The mob is supreme and the mob is
ruled by passion and not bv principle They are proud
of having nsulted the British flag they are proud of
having defed the law of nations strange it may
seem, they proud of the capture by Of war
of four nuarmed gentlemen on board az unarmed mail
steamer. They will pot hear reason a.; they no.
thing for right OR law.
I The rejoicing of the Empire City the capture
of the rebel ENJOYS is additional evidence of a
temper which makes shudder at the prospect of q
proongation OF the present civil conflict. 1t wonld
seem that personal hatred to their antagonists mnges
10 this to degree before witnessed, unless
it were in the guerrilla war OF Spain against the
French invaders. TO get hold Of four Southern gen
tIemen the North will risk a struggle with England. -
To hang a score of Southern they viii
ling to make their feud with the South to the
knife and to the immediate execution Of every
prisoner taken either side. On the preposterouS
condemnation of the crew of Confederate vessel MIR
Davis very properly ordered number OF Federal off
GERS into close confinement, giving notice that the
ecution of any OF the prisoners taken in the Savan
nah would be the death warrant OF these captlves.
The necessity for such rcprsals is painful to any
of decent feeling but honor aud justice leave al
tentative The guilt rests with those who begin The
policy of murder. The judicial murder OF prisoner
of war has left damnabe and ineffaceabe stain Oh
~
produced Mr.. Lincoln has already parodied the sez
ure of the Due DEnghien; does be intend to make g
precedent of the dasardly assassination of Andre?
be does he may rest assured that be will have made
fatal bunder. When be has involved himself in a wal
with q. Britain the Confederate army will work its vii
with his distracted forces and for every prisoner whom h
may put to DEATH his rival will be able to hang three
Passionate and reckless has been his hitherto
we do earnestly trust that he will stop short of this
IRENE and waOton wickedness and if be leave bis name
n of tbo uhnt
were the United States hope that be will not add
this uuenviable distinction the oaths9me fame earned
by the deliberate revival after centuries OF dsuse of th
practice of numbering prisoners in cold blood. II b
does shall certainly not find fault with the retaliation
but when the first crime has been avenged trust tina
the civilized word will interfere, it did in Greece,
put an end to which will have become not mere
ly nuisance to commerce, but scandal to humanity
e Such atrocy that apparently meddtated by til
o Government of the Northern States would &c fiji
punished by the joint intervention of the civilized pow
ers to suppress that Government altogether as
s. scourge to mankind and disgrace to civilization