The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-12-06
The case OF the Florida.
From ths N. Y. Post (Rspublican }

o., From the N. Y. Post Rspublican)
GAS the despaach now reads the incident
has an equivocal aspect. Should 1t turn
out that her destruction was ordered BY
some one in the employ of the Government
in order to get rid Of disagl eeabls case OF
international law, We know of no punish
ment too severe to be meted out to the
wretches who could infliet upon our nation
al reputation disgrace SO mean. -
y 4HEven if the accident was the result OF
carelessness, this negligence becomes under
the circumstances equivalent to q crime
Our concern with the Florida, up to this
time, has been that OF trustees OF guardian.
She was seized by Us, but she was not our
property; she was in cur hands, but only ~
a trust to be sacredly preserved until the
courts should decide upon the justice Of her
capture or the necessity Of her restoration.
That any mischief should happen her while
thus under onr care, is too grave misfor>
tune to be lightly regarded. Such an acc:-
dent as this compromises the fair fame OF the
Government and the nation; and We can
better afford to build Jefferson Davis . feet
of Floridas than tolerate nything which
degrades our character for the strictest pro
bity, in ever 90 slight q degree.
aIt may be, as q, morning journal sug
gests, that some ever Jealous transport cap
tain has thought to cut . knot which was
best and easiest united. If 30, let him re
ceive the punishment he merits, and le,
him become q warning hereafter to oil mar
plots and shallow. brains to keep. out oi
what they do not understand. Meantime
of course, argument regarding the Florida
must go on, Just as though she were still
floating in Hampton Roads. 1t must be
settled between the Brazilian Government
and our own what is right aud just in the
premises and whatever appears to be oul
duty, when that decision is reached, let al
the world behave it will be done in good
faitk-if we have to build new Florid,
and send her to Bahia. ..
"Of course our enemies abroad will ex
claim that the sinking Of the Florida 10 on
| ly another Yankee trick, and will refuse to
believe that it was mere accident which
sent her to the bottom. Such people are
apt to Judge others BY themselves. But i
It were a trick, IL would be in reality nc
Yankee trick which has commonly the
merit Of sagacity, bat such . blunderinl
niece of smartness "a that of the country
man who sawed of branch upon which
he was sitting. between himself and thu
tree, and brought his body uncomfortably
to the ground. For, 40 far q these fact'
are known, the case of the Florida was o
such q nature that our own privatssrinl
interests, in any future wAr, would bs im'
mensely benefited by the precedent Of oul
surrendering her ON the demand of Brazil
1t might have been supposed that shrewd
long beaded navy officer seized hor, only
in order that her surrender might establish
a precedent of peculiar importance TO uf
That would have been 40 apt piece q
Yankee cunning but wilful destruction
of the ship, under existing circumstances
is such Bit of stupidity that We must 70
fuse to believe that any one connected viii
the public service could be guilty Of it,
But this must be made clear ~ the world
sLet US repeat the hope, therefore, thai
an instant and severe scrutiny will be or
dered by the President into all the circam
stances of this affair. II it was unayoida-
bic, as 1t Is alleged, the fact should be made
to appear upon the most indubitsbls svi
dsnce If il was not unavoidable, - th'
enemies of the nation will assert, the goy