Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-11-17

THE capture ofthe Confederate privateer
Florida In Brazilian port, is creating a
great deal Of discussion throughout the
world, and is likely to involve the Federal
Government in more trouble than its party
supporters anticipated. Patriotism in these
States has become species OF frenzy with
out a balance wheel of sense or wisdom;
and man protesting to be patriot in the
sense in which the word is used by party
orators and presses, must be prepared to
enthusiastically indorse any and every act
of the servants of the Government wheth-
or such acts are discreet and legal or other
wise. In the case of the Florida, the facts
and law were both against the Federal Gov
ernment, yet the Administration press, sur
qveying the event through their in vitable
partisan glasses, Immediately commenced
denounoiag all as traitors and cravens who
did not indorse the 'victory'of navy,and
assist in lionizing Capt. COLLINS. The facts
in the case are briefly as follows: The rebel
cruiser Florida was lying in the port of Ba-
hia, Brazil, where the U. s. steam frigate
Wachusett was also anchored. Capt. COL
LrNs of the latter vessel, after consultation
with the U. S. Consul, THos. WILsoN-who,
by the way, had given his pledge of honor
that he would not consent to hostilities be-
tween the vessels in the Brazilian waters
decided to ''cut out" the Florida and sink
or capture her. The Florida's crew was on
shore, when Capt. COLLINS rammed the
vessel and declared the Florida his prize.
The law in the case is simply that Capt.
COLLINS had no right to do any such thing
as he did. 1t was direct and fragrant in
suit to the Brazilian Government, which
has during the war been conspicuously
friendly to the United States.
The Administration presses are, with their
usual clustering indiscretion, ,indorsing Cap
tain COLLINS breach of international law,
and declaring that he must be sustained, thus
making the course of the Administration in
its future negotiations on the subject thrice
difficult. II Brazil is disposed to stand up
on her clear and indisputable rights, the
Federal Government will be compelled to
restore the Florida to the parties fron1whom
she was unlawfully wrested, or declare war
against friendly power in order to sus-
tain manifest wrong. The Abolition Or
gans, in their zeal to sustain what they con-
ceive to be the Government are getting up
an intense public sentiment in opposition
to the restitution of the vessel; and because
this fictitious public sentiment demands it,
the Administration may decide to go to war
before making reparation; or if the Admin
istration conclude to apologize to Brazil,
these same presses will make a simple act
Of international justice appear like ma
tional humiliation. Unless the peculiar
organs of the Administration speedily ac-
quire little more sense and trifie more
knowledge than they have yet displayed in
connection with this affair, it is reasonable
to expect that the United States will soon
be engaged in war with Brazil, or expe-
rience humiliation similar to the one SEW
ARD inflicted upon us when he gave up MA
SON, and SLIDELI, after all the windy or
gans of his party had loudly sworn they
should not be given up. When partisan
interests instead of national concerns, and
party prejudices, instead of wise discre-
ton and sound common sense, control the
policy of Government, the people of the
same viii have little peace and less glory
to flatter their vanity.