The New York herald., 1862-11-07


have Just received at the polls
Esgland's yioi.tsor az Maritime Law
The Ptracse~ ef h.gto-Hebei Vessels ON
the High sens.
The hostility OF the gov~nment of Great
Britain to tho freedom Of the people Of America
has never been more clearly exenpiifed than in
the recent destruction OF our commerce on tho
high seas by piraticsi vessels built, armed,
equipped and manned in tire ports Of England.
Of the positive and iaipIacable eraity OF Eng
land to this country We certainly have never
had doubt On the contrary, when everybody
else seemed willing to sing the song Of harmony
and of universal brotherhood between the two
nations, ws have always pierced the thin skin
of hypooritcal disguise and shown that Eng
land is as she has always been, the sure and
bitter foe Of America. The reasons for this I'M
dying hatred are obvious The flag Of America
has borne down the standard Of England In
many bloody battle on land and sea. In sup
port OF our inalienabie rights wo have de0ed
and conquered al! the hosts of that giant en-
pre, making her cred cross banner" TO go down
in blood and dust before the unconquered flag
We have initiated q system Of. government so
free and so Grand that every other form invent
cd by man sinks into insignifcahce before IL.
We have destroyed the usurpatons of kings,
lords and mobiles, and substituted an order OF
things in which freedom and intelligence stand
in tl,s place of the corner stone.
These plain facts, and hundred more that
min b1. statal aro rafurallv dstoofafi,I if
not altogether repugnant, TO the British
government snd people. Hence we find them,
with mean and despicable spirit Of revenge,
employing their journals, their statesmen their
shpyards mechanics, intelligence and gold to
MAIN and cripple, If not destroy, friendly and
n kindred people. Not content with supplying
the rebel government with arms, ammunition,
clothing, medicines, and everything necessary
for The active prosecution Of the war, they have
consented, and are still consenting. to the arn,-
ing OF swift steamers to traverse the seas in
every direction to plunder. burn and ruin
American commerce. The clear intention o.
this is to destroy all confidence in the safety
and security of American merchant ships, to
injure and reduce our carrying trade, and to
throw the great profits Of American commerce
into the hands Of British shipowners. This wus
the idea of the merchants of Liverpool who sub.
scribed their gold to build and equip the Ala
bama, and this is also the design of those other
English merchants who are now subscribing to
build the two English iron rams which may be
destined to run into, burn and bombard our
ports BY suoh unnatural and despicsble means
tho merchant princes OF England expect to build
up their own fortunes and to bring down to
the dust the glory, fame, progress and influence
OF the United States
There is, however, nothing to surprise us in
this characteristic action Of the British govern
ment- From time immemorial 1t has been the
practice Of this deceptive nation to take advan-
tage Of the errors aud weakness of Its neigbbors
to advance its own interests and 10 sustain the
preponderancs of Its power among the nations
Of the world. Whenever brute force and un-
manly violence could effect anything against
weak or divided people England has always
been among the tirst Of nations to avail herself
Of the advantage. The conquest Of many Of the
West India islands resulted from this kind Of
consummate treachery and frand. While at
perfect peace with Spain, and pretending amity
and alliance, Cromwell sent out powerful feet
Hispauiola The invaders. we know, were
sadly beaten; but true to their instincts, they
tried their hands ut some other islands, which,
not being able 70 make so variant resistance,
we're captured and subjugated. These were the
great ieats Of those ilustrious Admirals Penn
and venables The enforcement Of similar
principle contrary to all maritime laws and
national rghts--led to the great naval engage
ment of Copenhagen and the destruction Of tho
Danish feet. The Danes, preferring the cause and
the ideas of Napoleon to those Of his enemies,
and resolving to give him the material aid Of
their feet, were rushlessly attacked by the Br-
tish in their own port and under the fire OF their
own Notifications. and fheir navy utterly de-
stroyed, without any declaration OF war. This
was the way England treated friendly Power.
The forcible seizure of Spanish Treasure ships,
bringing home freights OF the precious metals
and other valuablos from the Antilles, is an.
other case In point. Without any previous
declaration Of war, an English squadron
met with and captured four Spanish
frigates in ls0i--an act which 80 en-
ragged the Spanish nation that war was of
once declared against England, and manifesto
published calling upon every individual Span
lard to assist in avenging the insults of "the
tyrant of the seas" The memorable battle Of
Trafalgar, in which the navies Of France and
Spain were snnihilated, was direct result Of
this aggressive and unscrupulous conduct And
20 on in numerous other cases. The sacred
rights Of Independent nations and the solemn
provisions of maritime law have never been re-
spected BY England when they clasbed with
her own interest The law Of might against
right has been The only rule sh g has followed.