Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-04

somewhat or even considerably altered, yet
have thought it desirable to make this statement
with the view, as far as | am able to do it, IL
improve the opinion in England, and to assuage
II there he any, the feelings of irritation u
America, no that no further difficulties may arise
in the progress of this unhappy strife. Cheers
But there has occurred an event which has
been announced TO us only week ago, which is
one Of great Importance AMI it may be one OF
some peril. 1t is asserted that what is called
Internationally has been broken by the seizure
Of the Southern commissioners on hoard an
English trading steamer by steamer OF war Of
the United States What is maritime law /?
lou have heard that the opinion Of the law oil
GERS Of the crown is in favor of this view of the
case-tbat the law has been broken, am not
at all going to say that it has not. 1t would be
lmprndent in me to state my opinion oil a legal
question that have only partially examined
against their opinion on a question which pre-
sumo they have carefully examined; but this
say, that maritime aw is not to be found in any
act Of Parliament; it is not in 50 many clauses
ion know ii is difficult to find the law. | can
ask the mayor and other magistrates whether il
is not difficult to find the law when they have
found tue act Of Parliament, and found the
clause; but when there is no act of Parliament
md no clause you may imagine TINT the case is
sill more difficult daughter Now, maritime
law, international law, consists of opinions and
precedents For the most it is most unsettled !;
the opinions are the opinions of men of different
countries, given at different times the prece-
dents are not always like each other; the law is
very unsettled, and for the most part believe it
\ to be exceedingly bad. Now, in past times, as
you know from the histories you read, this
country hns been Sighting country. We have
II been htD trelts, and as bellgerents we haze
carried maritime Inv by our own hand to
pitch that has been oppressive to foreign, and
| particularly 10 neutral nations. Now, for the
first time in our history, almost for the last two
hundred years, We are not belligerents but neu
trails an therefore we are disposed, perhaps, to
I take rather n different view of maritime and in
ternationa law. The net which has been com
mitted by the American steamer in my opinion,
whether il is legal or NOT, is both impoitic and
bad. (Hear, hear That is my opinion
think it will turn out, and is almost certain, that
so far rs the taking of those men from that shin
was concerned, it was wholly unknown to and
Unauthorized by the American Government and
that if the American Government believes, on the
opinion of its law officers, that the act is Illegal
have no doubt that they will make fitting repa-
applause for there is no government
in the world that has 80 sirenuously insisted up-
on the modification of international law, and
been so anxious to be guided always by the most
moderate and mcrciful Interpretation OF that law
(Gheers) Our great adviser the Times news-
paper, has been persuading the people that this
is but one OF n series of acts which denote the
determination of the Washington government to
pick quarrel with the people of England. Did
you over know anybody who was not very nearly
dead drunk, who. having ms much upon his hands
rs he could manngo. would offer to fight every
body about him. CLaughter) Do you believe
that the United States Government, presided
over by President Lincoln so constitutional in
all his acts, so moderate as he has been, repre-
senting at this moment that great party in the
United States, happily now in the ascendency.
which has always been speaking in favor of
peace, and speaking in favor England-(hear,
hear do you believe that that government
having upon its hands now an insurrection Of the
most formidable character in the South, would
invite the armies aud the fleets OF England to
combine with that nsurrection, and it might be
so TO exaspernte the struggle TO render il i'm !
possible that the Union should ever again be re-
stored Hear, hear.) | say that single state
ment, whether it come from public writer or n
public speaker, is enough tc stamp him for ever
with the character Of being all insdious enemy
of both countries. (Cheers) Now, what have I
we seen during the last week People have not
been ! am told have not seen much Of it
quite so o0lm as sensible men should be. Here
is question of law. l will undertake to say 1
that when you hear from the United States Co. |
vernment (if they think the act legal), when you
have q statement of their view OF the case, they
will show you that fifty years ago, during the war
at that time there were scores of cases that were
at least bad as this, aud some infinitely worse |
If it were not SO late at night, aud am not
anxious now to go into this question further, | /
could easily place before you cases of wonderful |
outrage committed by us when we were ut war,
and many for which, | am afraid, little or no
reparaton was offered. But let us bear this in
mind, that during this struggle, Incidents and ae
cidents will happen. Bear 10 mind the advice of /
Inpl Gfap ean ouIe ea itAt
Don't let your newspapers, or your public tpeak- I
ers, or any man take you of your guard, and bring
you into that frame of mind under which your
government, ifit desires war, can have it with the
public assent or If il does not desire war may be
driven to engage in it, for one may be as fatal (
as the other. What can h' now more monstrOus
than that we, who call ourselves to some extent +
au educated, moral, and Christian nation, the .
moment that any accident of this kind occurs,
before we have had made representation 10 the .
American Government before We have had a |
word from them in reply, are all up in arms, \
every sword is leaping from its scabbard md /
every msn is looking out for his pistols and his /
blunderbuss. Why, think the conduct pursued. /
--and have no doubt it is pursued by a certain |
class in America Just the same,--is much more
the conduct Of savag9s than 0s christanzed und I
civilized men. (lear,) No Let US be calm. /
You recollect how we were dragged uto the
Russian war-(Cheers) -diitted iutult. You know |
that I, at least, have not upon my head any guilt
OF that fearful war. (Checrs.) You know tnat |
It cost hundred millions Of money to ihls cOun-
lry, that it cost at least the lives of DO 600 /
Euglishmen, that il disturbed your trade, that it |
nearly doubled the armies of Europe, that it |
placed the relations of Europe, on n much less |
peaceful footing than before and that ietlid not
effect one single thing of all those that il was
promised TO effect. (Applause.) | recOllect |
speaking Within the Inst two years 10 n man |
whose name have already mentioned, Sir James
Graham, in the House of Commons lie was a
minister ut the time of that war lie was re
miuding me OF n severe onslaught which had |
made on him and Lord Palmerst)n for attending |
II dinner at the Reform Club when Sir q. Napier
wus appointed to command the ileetin the Baltic;
and he remarked what u lhrashug ! had given !
them in the House. / said, ''Sir James, tell me
caudidly, didn't you deserve it?' lie said,
" Well, You were entirely right about that
war; we were eatrely wrong and we never
should have gone into it," (Applause.) Thsis
exactly what everybody will say if you go into
war about this business, when it IL over; when
your soldiers, so many OF them as may be sl,ugh
tered are gone to their last account; when your
taxes are increased, your business permanently
ii may be- Injured, and imbittered feelings for
generations created between America and
England, then your statesmen will tell you that
we ought not to have gone into the war. Bat
they will very likely say, as many of them tell
me, "What could we do in the frenzy of the |
public mind ?" Let them not add to the frenzy.
and let us be careful that nobody drives us to \
that frenzy. (llear, hear) Again. | say, re-
membeiing the past, remembering at this moment 7
the perils of friendly people, seeing tho difficult /
ties by which they are surrounded, let us,
entreat of vou see if there be any real modera- |
,ior in tLe mamie Of England nnd IL mnonaniiDi-