The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-20


FIVE per cent.
The cotton market extremely dun and heavy on
Saturday. middliugs closing at 66 kc &C., There
very moderate transactions in breadstus with rather
more activity the leading hog products, prices OF
which were tending downward. In the grocery line su
gars and mosses sold freely and liberal business was
reported In East India rcs at buoyant rates. Hay
saleable and very firm. Taow and whiskey were de-
pressed and declining. The freight market quiet,
without any remarkable change in quotations.
The Seizure OF tho portant
Decision OF shc british Law Omcers.
In another column will be found an import
ant communication from tho British Foreign
Office, announcing the conclusions Of the law
officers of the Crown in the Peterhoff case
They coincide with the views taken Of the sell
cure of the vessel on this side. It will be recol-
lected that whom the Trent was arrested on her
voyage by Captain Wilkes the argument urged
against that proceeding by the British law
authorities was, not that the stoppage of the
vessel was in itself Illegal but that it was rem
dered SO by Noncompliance with the formalities
prescribed by International law. They con-
tended that she should have been taken before
q prize court and adjudicated upon, like any
other capture, leaving the case open to such
reclamation on the part of the British govern
ment Is the damage proved to have been infict-
ed might warrant. The opinion Of her Majesty's
| legal advisers in the Peterhofr case harmonizes
| with this decision. After showing what consti-
| tutes an unlawful capture, and what would JUS
tify the interference of the Queens government
without the delay of proceedings in prize
court, they proceed to say that they cannot,
without violating the rules Of international law,
claim for British vessels navigating between
Great Britain and Mexican ports any general
exemption from the belligerent right Of vista
ton by United States cruisers, nor can they act
| upon the general assumption that such vessels
may not so conduct themselves - 10 render their
capture lawful and justiaable In view of the
fact that deceptive papers and simulated des.
tinstion have been frequently employed by
British vessels to enable them to break the
blockade and carry articles contraband of war
to the Confederates the situation Of the ports of
Mexico in reference to the Confederate States
Is such as to give . color to the allegations
under which the Peterhofr was seized. It being
the right Of the belliserent to capture all YES
sells reasonably suspected Of either of the above
transgressions Of International law, her Males
TVS government declines to withdraw the case
from the consideration of the prize court. There
will be time enough for it to interfere should
the evidence prove the seizure to have been
unjustifable and redress be refused
By this decision the questions at issue in re-
gard to this vessel become greatly smplifed,
and they are freed from the extraneous and
irritating considerations with which it has been
sought to invest them. The case comes before
our courts tomorrow, and it will no doubt re-
ceive thoroughly searching and impartial in
vestigation. We do not look upon it as proba-
BILE that the vessel will be condemned, as the
claim for exemption from search of the mail
bags found on board and which afford the
only evidence Of the true objects of her voy-
age, will, In all likelihood, be allowed under the
rule Of law which protects from seizure the de-
spatches Of friendly governments.
The case, therefore, may now be considered
as Invested Of all features Of doubtful or dan
gerous character. The British government has
evinced promptness in dispelling the appre-
tensions caused by It which offers Q marked
contrast TO its previous acts. We attribute this
not to its sense Of justice or to any improved
feeling towards US, but to the conviction which
il daily forcing itself upon Il that the issues
which are being thus constantly raised in refe-
renee to the blockade are going 10 affect mate
rally Its own interests and safety in the future
The power and consideration of England
among nations depend entirely upon her navy.
Anything, therefore, that tends to restrict or
impair that power through the operation Of
precedents, Is calculated 10 alarm her suscep-
Utilities The readiness with which she
admitted the efficiency of our blockade,
although the rebellion has been mainly
sustained by British violations Of IL,
was dictated entirely by the conviction
that a contrary course would weaken her
In the event Of war with us. She is fully
aware that, with navy even twice as powerful
~ that which she at present possesses. il would
not be possible for her to hermetically seal up
our ports. If proof Of this were wanting Il
would be found in the fact that the day after
the recent attack by our iron-cads on Charles
ton ore or two Anglo-rebel steamers success
fully ran the blockade there
II would be well II q similar conviction in
reference TO the prospective dangers Of the
course which II Is pursuing, in connivng at the
construction Of rebel privateers in its ports,
could be brought home to the English govern
ment There Is nothing which Is more fraught
with peril to Great Britain than this underhand
and indefensible policy. BY retaliation on our
part in the event of European war, her naval
strength could be crippled and her commerce
ruined. For the temporary injury which her
jealousy may innct upon our interests this
would be rather heavy price 70 psy.