Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-01-18
SATURDAY, JANUARY Is, 1852


SAI OnDAI, JAM All Ic, 1862.
The Mason and Slidell Affair.
The late news received by way of Victoria
represents our Government as having surrcn.
dered up Messrs. Mason and SlidelI, in ODE
diencc to the demands of the British govern.
mcnt.
There is no one that regrets more than
ourself the necessity that impelled our Adj
ministration to yield 10 this demand, after
having nominally justified the act Of Commo-
dore Wilkes in their capture But we have
too much confidence in the patriotism and
ability Of Mr.. Lincoln and his cabinet advi-
sers, to believe for one moment that they have
compromised either the honor or interests of
the Government in the surrender Of those dis
tinguished traitors, Mason and Slidell; and
certainly it would not become us, or any other
man, in the absence Of a knowledge Of all the
facts and circumstances surrounding the Gov
eminent at the time the surrender was made,
to pass judgment of condemnation upon Mr..
Lincoln for the act. So far from feeling any
disposition to do this, we are not only willing
to wait for further light, but we unhesitatingly,
express the opinion, that when the facts come
to be known, all true friends of the Govern
ment will be satisfied that the very best thing
has been done that was practicable in the
then peculiar circumstances Of the country,
and our diplomatic relations with England and
France.
1t is matter of very great surprise as well
as regret, that prominent Government Off
cial should have felt himself called upon to
condemn, in public, this act Of the Admins
tration, and to declare "if it should prove
true, he could not support the Administration
any longer" 1t was to have been expected
that enemies to the Government would have
awaited themselves of the occasion to under.
mine as far as possible the confidence reposed
by the great body of our people in the patri-
otto integrity of Mr.. Lincoln and his cabinet,
but we were not prepared to find men claim"
ing to be the intimate peysoaal as well as po-
litical friends of the President, leading eff in
denouncing the administration for a supposed
disregard Of our national honor. with no other
evidence before them than the simple fact
that they had seen proper to comply with a
demand made upon them by England and
France. without waiting for any Of the reasons
which influenced their decision. Men who
are so ready to believe evil Of the Admins
tration have no right to claim continuance
of their confidence. M
1t seems to us that it is the duty Of all
loyal citizens in these times Of national trial.
to carefully avoid every thing that can be
ccnstrued into condemnation Of the policy
Of the Administration; and II certainly be-
hooves every Republican holding official sta
ton to chcerfdlly acquiesce in the decisions
If the Administration at least until they
know the facts upon which they are based.
wkea she question was fEstraissd of the sur
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