Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-01-02
THE SURRENDER OF THE TRAITORS.

THE SURRENDER OF THE TRAITORS.
In another place we publish the important
portion of the dispatch from the British gov
eminent TO our own, in effect demanding the
surrender of the four persons forcibly taken
from the British contract steamer Trent, by
Capt. Wilkes on the 9th of November last, to
the protection of the British flag, and the gist
OF Mr.. Stewards able reply in behalf of our
government conceding the demand thus made.
OF the propriety and necessity of the alterna-
tives chosen by our government various opin-
ions will be entertained and expressed but we
are inclined to believe that very large MAORI
ty of the people of this country-the rebels al
ways excepted, will see in his choice new evil
dence of the sagacity of the President, in
choosing not to have but one war on our hands
at time, and devoting all our energies to the
suppression of the rebellion. At any rate we
feel confident that he has judged wisely, and
that the voice of contemporary nations and
that of impartial history will approve of his
conduct.
The act of Capt Wilkes in Selling these per-
sons initiated against the cherished maxims
and policy of our government on the rights of
neutras as against those of belligerents, al
though it was very nearly in accordance with
the conduct of Great Britain on several men,
orable occasions. The important question very
naturally presented itself whether it was better
at this day, when the rights heretofore claimed
by belligerents as against neutrals are being
more and more circumscribed, 10 go back to
the maxims of other years and other nations, at
a period when might more nearly establish
ed the right, and thus sacrifice our own enligh-
tened policy in regard to the rights of neutrals,
just as the cardinal principles of that policy are
beginning to be recognized and acted upon by
commercial nations, or to guage our conduct
by those principles, maxms and policy which,
we may with propriety say, has been hereditary
with us. We think our government has chosen
wisely and chosen well.
So much for the merits of the case presented.
AS matter of present policy, as a clear practi-
cal question. the President has decided it like
man of sense and sagacity, like one who
clearly understands all the important issues in
volyed. Had he chosen the other alternative
the great cause for which we are all struggling
and for which We have already expended much
blood and treasure, that of American nation
aty,-would have been lost forever. We have
no idea that England would have conquered
the North in the event of struggle between
the two governments; we could have beaten
her off with all her gigantic ornaments. But
the Southern blockade would have been raised,
the Southern Confederacy acknowledged, and if
by her by all the other European powers also,
and with their aid and trade the independence
of the rebel States would have been definitely
secured. We need all our strength and ener-
gies to suppress the rebellion seasonably, before
the business of the country becomes so de.
ranged as to render its destruction inevitable
We have no surplus vessels, money or men tC
expend in unnecessarily fighting power sc
well prepared at all points for a maritime con
test on more colossal scale than the world ha
ever seen. Especially do we not want to b,
dragooned into such contest against our owI
formally avowed principles and against III,
convictions and sympathies of the civilized
world If we can ever afford to go to war un
der such circumstances that time is not now.
In this view of the case we have not entered
into the account the bullying tone the British
government usually employ when they thinl
there is a chance to gain an advantage, tn
baneful political mOxms which have Away
seemed to govern its action especially toward
weaker powers and nations in distress, nor tn
unwarrantable language ofthe press of that cour
try. The time when and the way and manne
in which that government has chosen to assel
what is claimed and conceded as their right
annoying, to say the least. The giving up {
the two men who have done as much il nc
more to beget, bring up and noursh this az
cursed rebellion, after we once had them safe
~ III our grasp, is somewhat scarifying t
patriotic hearts. But it should be remembere
that theirpowers of mischiefwill soon be brouph
to an end even in the ma ural orders ot event,
but the principles involved in the case wi,
which their names are accidentally associate
are enduring. They are but for day but II
ternatona law is for all time