The Placer herald., 1862-01-25
Release of Slidell and Mason.

we expressed the belief, that it would cause
a difficulty between the United States and
Great Britan-that the latter would moi
stand it. At that time the action of Com
modore Wilkes, had not received the
thorough endorsement Of the Administra
ton, and there was chance-a bare chance
that the arrest had not been ordered, and
would not be sanctioned.
Our comments, were in the eyes Of erces
sively loyal men, attributed to secession
procivities, and as usual, our censure Of the
officer was to them An unanswerable fact in
proof of our hostility to the government o
the United States.
In fact it has become, fashion to so con
found the executive department of the Uni
ted States, and all its acts, with our entire
system of government that one cannot crit.
icise the acts of ono Of its least important
agents. without being denounced as opposed
to the Government.
Mtn who have all their lives been system
aticalIy denounring every democratic Ad.
without having their love Of country ques
toned have now that they have succeeded
to power, Suddenly ascertained, that to op,
pose :he policy of an Administration is trea
son of the backest dye.
These stupid biyots, seem to have forgot
ten that the government of United States
is composed of three seperate, independent
and distinct branches, vz:-the judicial, leg
islative, and executive, and that one may
without in fact, being opposed to the Gov
ernment.
As for ourselves, we have ever declared
the government of the United States, aa-
ministered according TO the Constitution, AS
The best Government we could possibly
have
Returning to the subject in hand
were quite as,onshed, when we found that
the Secretary of the Navy not only indors
ed Wilkes conduct rs far as he went, bu,
censured him. for not taking the ship Trent
as well as the rebel passengers s,-that Con
ortss fastened to compliment him by vote
of thanks and medal, for his gallant con
ducr, that all the war papers should loudly
appland him and that the leading "bigwig>"
Of New York and Boston, should give him
dinners. aud toast him in the most grandilo-
Quent style Although the President and
his Secretary of State, had not spoken, ev.
ervbodv understood them as concurng with
the Secretary of the Maryland there can
be but very little doubt, but that they did
There never was SO complete a commiltal of
any Government, in its relation with foreign
powers, to any one act as ours WAS to the
action of Commodore Wilkes 1t was i
IDENTIFY 50 understood in Europe. Under
this phase of the case we could but deplore
the insanity that was recklesslv rushing us,
into a foreign war with one, if not more,
powerful nations. We spoke Of a war of
that desert p'ion, AS almost a pending fact,
for we could not believe an Administration
could back down 50 direct and haty from y
position, once deliberately taken. The en-
tire nation has been surprised, to find that
this has been done The "arch traitors,
that had been immured in a fortress prison,
that were realened with a felol $ cell.
have been formally given up, and formally
escorted, 10y n United States officer on board
a British gun boat, have gone, with the con
sent and sanction of our Government, with
flying colors, upon their journey. Now
whilst we rejoice that the cloud of war has
been removed from the horizon, we are GER
tain that this action of the Administration,
has not It's parallel in our national History,
for dupliciv, ignorance, and intirmness of
purpose. 1t will be more damaging TO our
national character, than the defeat at Bull
Run, because it proceeds from the very head
of the nation. We carry it with high
hand, over the weak government at the
lsthmus, and no one thinks Of making
amends, but when John Bull growls at us,
we hasten to appease his awakened anger.
Oh but, says the sagacious Secretary of
State, we deliver these men up, in accord
ance with principle we have long been
struggling to establish. This is about the
smallest knot hoe that ever poor premier,
attempted to creep through, the ostrich
hid himself completely no doubt.
There is very little doubt but that the
Administration had at the very time these
men were taken from the Trent, one o.
more, men of.war, in the English waters
under special orders, to do exactly what th'
commandant of the San Jacinto did, anc
yet Mr. Seward tells us that he gives thos'
men up to establish a principle lie gave
them up as the on y means left, of relieving
himself from the criminal blunder into
which the incapacity of the Cabinet, ha'
drawn the nation. lie gave them up on 4
principle long since established, and al
Europe declared it 10 he SO. viz:-hecaus
it was a pal 'able violation Of the tights o
neutrals at sea.
If anything was wanting to establish il
the minds of men, the utter inability Of th
Republican party, to furnish a proper ad
minstrarion Of our national government