Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-01-03
Surrender Of Mason and Slidell--
War with, England.

france, anu lalely tdhGH from Tue Eng
fish steamer Trent, are TO be surrendered
by our government. BY many, and il
fact by a majority of the northern PEG
Pile, this news will be received with feel
ings Of chagrin and disappointment, Will,
the few will laud our government for it
wisdom, prudence, and foresight. Fo
one we are little disappointed, for W,
had supposed from the tenor Of the press
the Juror of excitement created by the
tidings of their seizure among the pco.
pie, and the action Of the house of rep
resentatives in voting thanks to Capt.
Wilkes, that they would be retained in
custody at all hazards. The adminstra-
ton however have had the matter under
advsement, and has resolved with re-
markable unanimity to do what it con-
siders TO be right in the premises They
have concluded that the seizure of the
rebel commissioners was, according to
international law, perfectly right in spirit
but wrong in firm. The question turns
upon mere technicaIity of law, and in
ternational law must be obeyed to the
strict letter. BY many this action of our
government will be construed as an evil
dence of weakness and a cowardly back.
ing down from the bold position assumed
in taking them. Such may rail and &C
cuse il Of cowardice, but it is easier to
charge it with cowardice than TO find any
convincing evidence OF it. We see no
evidence OF pusianimity on its part. All
who think so undoubtedly feel sore. We
can sympathise with them. We feel sore
too. 1t is CALLING to know that these
arch traitors are to set sail from under
the very shadow Of Bunker Hill monu-
ment and t,ke passage for foreign coun-
tries for the acknowledged purpose of
working the ruin of the nation that gave
them birth and position. 1t is humiia-
ting in the extreme. But the law of ma
lions says they must be given up; SO be
IT, international law must be obeyed.
No nation. must be allowed to set up a
law unto itself and to interpret its acts in
its own way, or in its own time. This
would be granting the assumption that
might makes right, which we do not be-
lieve. The administration says the sci
cure of Mason and Slidell was irregular.
If so the seizure was wrong. If the
seizure was wrong it is right that they
should be given up, This is good logic.
We believe our government has done
what it considered right. Let US see if
other governments will act as bonorably.
The Mason Sldell case being thus dis
posed of, shall we hear anything more of
Il war with England? We do not be-
leve it places the question beyond all
doubt as many imagine. If England
ever has had any idea of going to war
she will not give it up now that her pre-
text for il is removed. If the surrender
Of Mason and Slidell to the British au-
tborities has done nothing more, it has
removed all grounds for complaint on the
part of any nation and has shown to the
whole world that we are willing to mete
out that even and exact justice to other
powers that we would demand in like
circumstances. We have removed for the
present all cause for war, If any ever
existed. If England seeks rupture, if
she wishes to espouse the rebel cause, she
must trump up some other insult, some
other grievance that cannot be atoned for
by Yankee fairness or settled by crafty
diplomats.
If there is to be no war with England,
what becomes of the buster and swag-
ger of the English aristocracy and the
English press about British bayonets,' -
and their wooden walls" with "iron
plates ?" Their occupation" will be
gone, and they will have to subside and
betake themselves to their national drink
of "'alf and 'alf," which fluid has had in
past times such remarkable effect in
rousing the latent philanthropy of all
John Bulls in regard TO the enormity OF
American slavery John Bulls benev-
olence is in proportion to his cups John
Bull is philanthropist and Christian
when cotton is plenty and cheap! John
Bull is a great patriot when there is no
cotton to be had John Bulls pjety is
in his purSei
Will there be war with England
We should not be surprised to hear that
she had declared war against US within
three months. Neither would it surprise
US if we we're TO have an uninterrupted
peace. Nothing surprises US in these
days of swift events. If she receives
the rebel commissioner at her court she
thereby recognizes the southern eonfed-
o,oa.y ar1 th-t racorp;t;r,, IN ii IL