Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-30
The PererhoT Precedenr

Il will be remembered that the Fedora
Government seceded to the English de.
nsnd for the release Of the steamer Peter
hof, captured some time since by one Of
Of our cruisers. It was claimed by the
csptOrs that she Wss engaged in carrying
aid and comfort to the rebels, and that her
mail, if opened, would prove this fact
Mr.. Seward decided that the mails should
not be opened but delivered intact to the
English agents. This was all that the
English asked, and was q source Of much
modification to those Americans who we're
the most tenacious Of their national rights
and justly indignant at the aid given tC
the rebels from English quarters. 1t was
widely discussed and shown to the salts
faction Of candid persons, that this wai
more than England could rightfully and
lawfully require. But in the spirit Of ha.
tired TO the Federal Government which has
HUUv anu granted
This demand is now being ~canvassed in
English prints, and the crown officers are
warned that they have set q dangerous
precedent by their action in this case.-
"Historicus," who has written many COM
munieations to the London Times upon the
American war, writes a letter, in which he
GhsWs that English Courts have never ad.
nitted such An Interpretation Of the law,
and that the British Government has re.
fused even to regard the convoy Of aman-
SEwsr as protection against search. He
then adds:
"Depend upon it, the eyes of jealous and
not over friendly nations are upon us in
this matter. They will regard with an
anxious and half i~ronical curiosity the
bearing Of the great maritime beligerents
in her first real apprenticeship Of neutral
tty; they will ehuekle with gles over her
tneonsistensies; they will register with
esrefulness her delineuencies, and, believe
me-. thew will n day reap the advantage
Of her mistakes,
- uUst Her Majestyis government will
approach the negotiations on this matter
which are already Announced with the
most Provident and suspicious caution.
"TO accept the principles on which the
absolute immunity Of the mail-bags is
rested as a general and universal doctrine
Of international law would be fraught with
consequences the most dangerous and dis
astrous TO s system which il is, above eli
things, q interest to vindieate and up
bold. Let Us not with a short sighted and
foolish impotence, by snstohing ct a pres
mt and temporary advantage, sacrifice the
permanent enjoyment Of rights which we
know not how soon we may require to ex-
Orcise. Let us rather assist the American
government in the task they have SO well
begun Of ratifying by solemn examples
the code it is 50 greatly to our interest to
maintain. Letu rs confirm afresh, in man.
ner which none can gainsay, by u pa
thence in neutrality, the principles we have
20 often established By our supremacy in
war. Let US earn, as prudent neutrals,
the right to be potent belligerents. And
then when the hour Of danger overtakes
Us, we shall find that we have not ruined
In peace those mighty engines Of defense
which can alone avail US in war. Let ne
beware lest in this matter Mr.. Secretary
Seward should play the part Of an Ameri-
oan Simon to IN English Troy. I confess
that what I fear is not that The American
government should offer too little; but lest
We should accept too much"