The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-09

negro Duy0us, intervening, by means of q
pontoon bridge, which he has been engaped
! for several days in CONSTRUCTING Tb;.
Twill bring him to the river at the Prentss,
plantation, about six miles below Cartbans
! He will doubtless reach the river this woes
and be Immediately followed by other :; (,
visions of the army. The troops of Gene, +,
oil Hoyey's command are in fine condition
apparently enjoying hugely the froorap,
trees and blooming flowers Of the si,nm,,
South. Fishing and bathing in the boun,,,
| seem TO be very popular pasti,nes Tn a
China tree is growing here upon o,ar,.
plantation, and fills the air night and day
with most delicious odor.-Cor. Gu. Ca. II
cite. re e4t iHsa .E's T!S ra
| Mr.. ADAMS LETTER.-To the eyes of tba
tblind all things are of the same color: ana !
to the mind of the malignant there is no. -
thing inoffenstve. Thequarrelsom constrns
into an affront the very effort 10 avoid dis: B
pute; and to the bigot there is strong sus- =,
picon of heresy in silence upon contro-
verified points. In cities cursed and tor
| mented by q tyranical despo.ism, il 10
| equally q symptom of disaffection to wear
| the colors deemed revolutionary, and the
black that may be taken to be mourning
for dead country. There is among our,
selves blind, malignant, tyranncal des-
potism of passion that thus perverts things
not merely innocent in their nature bnt
even praiseworthy in their design. In no
other way can we account for the outcry it
is attempted to raise about the letter of pro-
lection from the visits of American cruisers
given by Mr.. Adams to a ship bound for
the Mexican waters. ~ HN1. sna -
The instructions given to the federal
cruisers in the Gulf were undoubtedly too
extensive and indiscriminate. Notorious
as it has become that large contraband
trade was being carried on through Next
can ports with the Confederate territory
,,<~tv ~
to arrest, or even to search all British ves-
sells in the vicinity of the blockaded har-
bors without great risk of provoking irri-
tation and infiicting injustice. Though the
Federal Prize Courts might adjudicate on
every case with unimpeach0ble impartiali-
ty, and the Federal government promptly
award compensation to the owners of ac-
Quilted vessels, general order of this kind
could not but work mischief. That it was
withdrawn upon representation Of its prob
able consequence is sufficient proof, if any
could be needed, that it was designed
simply to add stringency to the blockade,
| not to give molestation TO honest traders.
+ In the same spirit was the document
written by Mr.. Adams, at the request of
firm in this country. They volunteered to
satisfy him that their ship was not intended
to run the blockade, or to convey contra
band stores to the Confederates, directly or
indirectly. Every European ship thus at
sui is one object of contingent collision and
controversy withdrawn from the game of
hazard. The practice of giving such attes-
tations would in reality mitigate the annoy
ance to which neutrals are subjected by the
usages of maratime warfare, and prevent
those errers and excuses by which naval
commanders are apt oinf1ame the passions
of their respective countries.
1t is no concern of ours to yindicate eth
er the Federal Government or any of its
representatives. If we thought them gull
ty of disregard for the rights or the dignity
of this country, we should blame them for
criminal insensibility to the great domes-
tic interests they have in charge, as well as
for an ungrateful return to the active, dis
interested friendship of the majority of the
English nation. But we should be slow to
put offensive construction upon any part
of their procedure, for the very reason that
they have such conspicuous and acknowl-
edged inducements to remain at peace with
Europe. The people of the United States
have too much good sense to allow their
pride or self-love to be wounded by the re-
minder that they could not hope TO be vic
torious in struggle both with a gigantic
rebellion and a great maritime Power.
They know that those who counsel them
to make quarrel with England are their
enemies as well as ours. They know that
the men who, in this country, make pri-
vate war upon them for the sake of Con-
federate gold, would delight 10 drag the
nation into a war to crafty al once their
lust of gain and their hatred OF freedom
They know, too, that the larger class
among themselves-for here they are but a
set, not q section-who endeavor to kindle
animosity against England are the same
base politicians who would make peace
with the South at the price of everything
that constitutes the glory OF the Union.-
Believing, therefore, that both the Govern
ment and the people of the Republic value
English friendship, we refuse to see an I'M
friendly purpose in acts or utterances that
may at first sight seem offensive to our pa
triotism. a..sg.r.-.... s........ r. ...N
But in no case could we think of ascrib-
ing to the particular act by which Mr.. Adj
ans has drawn upon him the revilings of
the Times any evil intent. If there were
no other rule of Judgment there were
no strong presumption of amiable mean
ing in the character Of the individual and
Of the Government he representative
should argue the motive Of the action from
its tendency. AS it could only result in
preventing collision of interests Of forces,
we cannot conceive that it was designed to
breed ill-feeling. Yet the Times assails Mr..
Adams with a covert violence Of invective
that would hardly be justified if he had
committed some gross breach of interna-
tional law, or assumed some prerogative
hostile to the dignity and interests of the
country to which he is accredited.
He is accused Of constituting himself
prize court-although what he did could
have had no other effect than TO deprive
those tribunals Of a possible subject Of adj
Indication. He is represented AS counter
manding Mr.. Stewards prohibition of in
discriminate seizures--although he inter-
fered only to protect from seizure. He is
charged with giving an unfair pecuniary
advantage at the insurance Offices to par
ticular firms-although there is not the
least evidence that he was aware his GER
tificate would be shown to any one but a
naval officer of the United States, or the
least probability that any firm might not
ton by the simple exhibition of its ships
papers. ..# ~ f'
The exercise, in the friendliest way, of
the least obtrusive power, is construed, with
an extravaganza of allusion as ridiculous
as it is malignant, into an imitation of Pa