New-York daily tribune., 1865-09-27

car,nrea or ed when the mail left San Francisco
The General Pike Of the hrst overtakeD, ana
the crews of six others were forthwith put on
board Of her 10 be carried back 10 San Francisco No
less than 22 persons crowded into this small bark
Of which the ordinary crew did not exceed 80 and II
her master is to be believed, nothing could he more
brutal than Capt Waddels language and behavior to-
ward his prisoners. When the General Pike quilted
the Shenandoah the latter was steering IN pursuit OF
other whaers and on the Sd of August intelligence
San Francisco that nine vessels had been
destroyed since her departure. In fact, there was
little hope that any considerable part Of the whaling
feet would succeed in making good their escape. Ships
of this class are not built for speed, and single war
steamer may popnce upon them one aiter the other
with perfect ease and impunlty.
IL is sad read of such wanton and yindctiye devas
iation and we make great allowance for the ex
asperaon of the shipping interest in California IL s
perhaps natural that their resentment should betray
Itself in bitter ausions TO the alleged completely Of this
country with the evil deeds Of the Shenandoah. "The
Euglish pirate" the English thief" 'the English pi
rate thief robber king. called Shenandoah, -
such are the titles which the unhappy mates and cap
tars Of he captured vessels apply TO the spoer This
is not the time 10 revive the wearsome controversy on
the original equipment of the Alabama and her con.
soits. Whether not they ever acquired a lawful M
tiona character under the commission OF President
Davis and whatever may be thought Of the privileges
conceded to them in British and French ports they
have now lost both the one and the other. The She
nandoah absolutely excluded from shelter 10 any part
Of our dominOns. and lest Lord RusseTs Circular
should have reached Nancouyers Island, the BRUSH
Consul at San Francisco, with praiseworthy fore
thought feegraphed the substance oft 20 the Governor
OF that colony. This ~ all that can strictly De fequcu
of us by international law. but IL may be worth con-
sdeTing whether further step would not be Jusiihed
under the peculiar circumstances of the case.
Oar neutrality. with It's very limited rights ana
onerous "duies" has ceased with the war. and no
thing remains bat obligations legal and moral,
toward q friendly power In time Of peace. We have
amply satisfied the requirements of honor ss between
ourselves and the now extinct Confederate Govern
men and there is longer room for the exercise oi
impariiality There is such thing Confederate
steamer Shenandoah for there is bcigerent power
TO claim her to he responsible for any enormities
that she NAV perpetrae. Capt. Wadde is 10 all in-
tents and purposes lis own master and has the abso
lutte disposal If all the pnnder which he may accunu'
late. H. other words, lie is engaged in private
bucaniering raid and has, therefore made himself The
enemy of all civilized nations. He may haze had good
reasons OF his for sparing British merchantmen,
but there is no good reason that we can see why he
should be spared rather than any other pirate, he
should chance TO fall in with British msn-ofwar.
IL was not bis respect for English hospitality but the
vigilance Of the colonial Government that alone pre-
vented gross breach Of laws when the Shenandoah
Law In Australian waters Justice and policy alike sug
rest that we should aid the United States in cutting
short hs awoss career and putting down outrages 80
runous 10 commerce and disgraceul TO civilization.
We hope that instructions 70 that effect may be sent 70
the commander Of our squadron in the Pacific. IL is
act that would be appreciated by the lnited States
and justified by public opinion in Great Britain. Moth.
eondemnng and burning ships the high adopted
by the Confederate cruisers during the So strong
the feeling against il in this country that many
people ccad never be induced 10 believe that IL
tolerated by international law. As now practiced by
Capt. Wadde in 1agraDt defiance Of all law. IL can
excite nothing but horror aud the circumstance OF the
Shenandoah being launched from our own shores. 6ter
all efforts 10 maintain the spirit Of the Foreign En-
lis;ment Act viii certainly not win for her any ex
ceptional sympathy.