The New York herald., 1862-01-28

q.
tainly be brought to bear upon 1t by al fhe
other European governments. In taking the
lead in forcing her to assume consistent posi-
ton on this question, Russia evinces the same
friendly feeling and intelligent appreciation
OF the motives and policy of our government
that have ali along marked her conduct towards
us.
The Past and Present OF ssThose Fellows"
Mason and sIidell.
When the gallant Captain Wilkes, miscon-
ceiving the precept and practice Of his own
government, but following English precedent
and conforming to English laws stopped the
Trent off the Bermudas, and took from her deck
two rebellious traitors, the English nation be-
came terribly excited. The name of the British
lion bristled threateningly in England. The
tail of the British lion wagged ferociously in
Canada and the other British provinces. The
voice of the British lion was savage growl,
and it said to us, "Deliver up Mason and Sill
dell, or I'll exterminate you"
From the position of a couple of fugi-
tives from deserved halters, Mason and Sill
dell were suddenly elevated into the
levers which moved all the world. About
them all civilized Europe was concerned
and anxious Russia, Prussia, Austria and
dozen other Powers wrote letters about them.
France was excited and nervous at the pros
pect of general war throughout the world, be-
cause of Mason and Slidell, and sent long des-
patches to our government upon the subject.
England fumed and fretted sent over special
messengers; prohibited the export of saltpetre;
shipped troops, cannon and ammunition to
Canada; excited that little province to tht light
ing point; prepared her steel-olad Warrior to
lombard Annapolis; discovered that Secretary
Seward had always hated England, had said
as much to tho Duke of Newcastle, had long
been seeking, and at last had found, pretext
for an Anglo-American war; and all Great
Britain assured itself and the world that we
intolerable people on earth; that the rebels
were the best, bravest and most worthy of man.
kind, and that Mason and Slidell would be
taken away from us by force. The rebels con-
graduated themselves upon the immediate
European recognition of the Southern
confederacy, the raising of the blockade
by European fleets, and the annihilation of the
North by European armies-all because of
Mason and Slidell. Verify, these two arch
rebels were important men at that time, and
upon them all mundane affairs hinged.
But the American government preferred the
permanent triumph of vindication of its own
policy and an assertion Of its own correct ap-
probation Of neutral rights to the evauescent
credit of being too proud to do justice; and SO
Mason and Slidell were sent back to England,
and splendid diplomatic note from Secretary
Seward prepared the way for their ft reception.
The rebels read the note first, and were nightly
chopfallen by its arguments, its logic and its
conclusions. Still, after the first deep disap-
pointment had been alleviated by the sober
second thought, they concluded that the case
was not 80 bad as it might have been, and
that Mason and Slidell, landing in Europe from
an English war vessel, and with all the eclat of
popular ovations, would be pretty sure to sue
ceed in their original mission. Canada and the
provinces read Secretary Stewards letter next,
and took off their shoulder straps and trowsers'
stripes, stopped playing at soldier, and waited,
with due humility, for England to say what
should come next. Then, at last, Europe re-
ceived the letter. England regarded 1t as "per-
fectly satisfactory" thought that we Americans
were excellent fellows, after all; became ''eulo-
CYSTIC of our government" and accepted our
return of Mason and Slidell as can indemnity
for the past and no small pledge of future secu-
rity." France was delighted to take the same
view of the case. Russia congratulated us upon
"the uprightness and intelligence of our policy"
Prussia, Austria and the other smaller States
followed in the track of their more powerful
neighbors. and everybody now says that the
United States is very great country, and
Seward is very great man.
But how have the mighty Slidell and Mason
fallen. From the hub upon which all the UNI
verse turned, they have become as the finest
and meanest of the dust of the balance In
stead of going to England triumphantly in q
national war vessel they are kicked off the
Rinaldo at st. Thomas, and left to get to
Europe the best way they can. Already John
Bull is grumbling at the trouble these "fellows"
have given him, and sorrowfully thinks of the
ten or twenty millions Of dollars they have
cost him. He has found out that these rebels,
and not Mr.. Seward, are the "blnd and
habitual haters and revilers of England"
He scornfully calls them worthless booty
and, for fear they should trouble him
further, even with their gratitude, he
tells them that England would have done just
as much to rescue two negroes" Poor Com
mander Williams was not so far out of the way
when he compared Mason and Slidell to fugi-
tive slaves. They are, indeed, like q couple of
their own darkies, who, having at vast deal
of time, toll and expense been brought from
their Southern "bondage" to Northern "free-
DOM" find themselves helpless, uncared for and
insulted-without friend or sympathizer in
tho wor1d--those who reacued ther bein0 tho