Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-01-09

the due of honorably commissioned officers.
In this aggravating manner did England
peryert her relations with this country, and
nt last, fully aroused TO q consciousness OF
her deliberate unfriendliness, we daily ex-
pcctod some gross ntraction that would lead
10 war. 1t was under this apprehension,
doubtless, that Mr.. Seward, in wise precau
tion against presump,ive danger, gave or
ders for the strengthening the deiences OF
our coast and it will be seen, though the
English press set mp auniversal howl at the
merely defensive act, that the measure was
not undertaken a day too -Oon.
The rebel steamer NdshciUe, which had
MANAGED TO run the blockade at Charles
ton out of mere dcviltry burned one of our
una,irn merchantmen, within soundlngs OF
the British coast, and then impudently sail.
ell into Southampton and turned her ruined
master and captured men ashore. The
N,shriVe had no letters as a privateer, and
she was not chartered in the rebel service
but her commander held commission
as captain, from jeff. Davis, and this was
held by the British authorities to absolye as
foul an act as ever wasprepctrated by Black
beard or La Fitte Nay. more, the posses.
| sion of II commission from jeff. Davis, by
! her captain. was gravely heldby the Times,
and other London Journals, which usually
| torcshndow the intentions Of the Govern
ment, to cntitle her to the sHtns of regular
national nIur-of-war and that, therefore,
inasmuch us one of the gun-boats Of the
| United Ststcs had refitted at that port but
a few days before it was but just, as between
the American beligercnts," that this crui-
ser should al,o receive English aid, to pre-.
pare herself for war Already, several
steamers had been openly fitted out in British
ports, with arms and ammunition for the re-
bels, under the purpose, openly avowed, of
: running our blockade; but the proposed
treatment of the NashUiVe was step beyond
siOns" by jeff Davis would employ thous-
, and ready British bottoms for his service
and American commerce., under this new
version of bclligcrent rights, would have to
: retire from the sea. Under such liberal r,i-
ling Of neutrali y, England would virtually be
0 preying upon us, without the penalties OF
! warfare or retaliation, and it would conse-
!, qucntly be plainly to our interest, as well a.
:, to our dignity, to declare war with her al
' once.
5 But while this question of the NashriU,
I was thus pending at Southampton, an in
u cident took place on our side of the Atlantic
II which so astonished the Importance Of Johr
s Bull, and smaeks so much of his own mode
= of doing business, that he bursts into dread
II full rage, and demands satisfaction in the
/ tone of furious inventor, who requires re
g dress fer the invasion of his patent. Wher
J. entire mistress of the sea, England hat
Q claimed it as public right, to board witt
9 her cruisers any merchant ship, in search 70
l. enemies, or articles contraband ofwar. Car
e rying this principle to its extreme, she hat
y in many instances, during the early portio
% OF the century, presumed to stop our mer
Ct chantmen on the high seas, and on the prin
B. ciple Of "once subject always a subject,
y, recruit her vessels with our citizens of Brit
a ish birth. We fought with her on this ques
10 ton, in the year of 1912, and dissipated til,
I right of search for contraband of war, wa
n, recognized by us, in common with the othe
Dy muratime powers of the earth, and it const
n quently became established as fixed rul
mt Of that general public understanding
among Governments, which is known by til
Ut name Of international Law.
IN There is, however, no such thing, strict
'f- speaking, ~ International Law for Il
lis first notion Of law, according to the able
's- elementary writer's implies the idea Of u y,
preme power prescribing and debating
on an inferior one-a notion that is perfect
'st incompatible with the equality of nation
ng International Law, therefore, il simply
NJ collection Of the just public acts of the Gre,
nc Powers; which acts, having undergone ii
no scrutiny Of mankind, without protest or o.
'ct lection, become precedents, that may he fC
I'd lowed by all other Powers without sffenc
an The basis or sanction ofths law il found, i
on d,psndently existing in the conscience
ne every nation, and consequently each, actir
10 for itself, may, when proceeding in acco
dance with correct principles, contribute @
hg amples OF as much authority as any tn
IS, have gone before. Certainly no particul
l9t Power has the authority to prescribe the pr
OF else technical form ofprocedure, which shs
re- characterize the mere performance Of tn
Gu superior right.
Ia Captain Wilkes, therefore, when he lear
ere cd that, in contempt of the Queens pr
NJ, c!amation, and in hostility to the Unit
Dli- States, the commander of the British NJ,
eii, steamer Trent had. in the neutral harbor
OF Havana, openly and knowingly taken
board his vessel the rebel emissaries, Mas
nj and Slidell, and their contraband despatchi
nu with the view of giving them safe condr
ace across the ocean, properly determined to j
ace tercept the offending vessel in her path, n
ian neutralize the outrage. He caughtthe Tire
'ls, in the Bahama Channel and his original
on tention WAS to vindicate the full measure
lth the law, to take the offender into port, o.
nS- confscatc her proceeds among his officers Al
M crew. But the Christian gentleman trump
to cd over the rigid martinez, and in the naI
as of his country, new precedent was offer
,nS for the amelioration of the harshnesses
,on war ut sea, Out of courtesy to Englan
ted and regard for the innocent passengers of
tit nations who were on board the Trent, as W
ing as in consideration for those private col
di- mercial interests in England which deper
ien ed on her mails, Captain Wilkes waived &
de, nain penalty of the law, generously reli
OF quished for his officers and himself their u
ev- doubted rights of capture and prize mont
on, and in the spirit of a true gentleman, o.
,,m- tented himself with simply arrestng a
hat taking from her the mischievcus enissar
ms, whom sho had on board. This act Of m,
and nanimity, however, was treated with ins
per by the captain Of the pardoned ship u
:, more thnn once, while the forbearing offic
Fibe Of the San .jdcinto endured the taunts
'og,, the insolent Englishmen, while supervise
ned the extradition Of the criminals over
spi,, Trents side, they had occasion toregret IL
we'd had consented, with Captain Wilkes, to
ars. this offending accomplice of the rebels off
pre- There was general rejoicing when Capt