New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-01

| salaries and allowances on tnis hiHu h"u vi
that. what is this but to paralyze the National
arm which holds the sword of justice suspended
oyer the Shareholders Rebellion by plunging
headlong into National Bankruptcy
MIsTOBICUs" ON MR.. BENJAMIN
Mr.. Vernon Harcourt il a London barrster,
known to the public under the name of His
torcus," as the author Of several quite able
communications to The London Times on
points of international Law arising in the Trent
and Alabama cases. This writer has not at
tempted to conceal that his sympathies were
strongly on the side Of the Rebellion-albeit he
has argued as lawyer against the conduct OF
the British Government in It's conniyance with
the escape Of the Alabama. With those sympa-
thies still strong, he has lately written another
letter against the Confederate cause, in terms
decided enough to show THAT his indignation
against what he deems a Confederate invasion
of British rights little overbalances his dislike
| for the United States The occasion is afforded
| by the instructions Of the Rebel Secretary oil
State touching neutral captures by Rebel cruis-
ers. The celebrity of the writer, the prominence
given him in the columns Of The Times, and the
change in his tone toward the Confederate au-
thorties, make the letter noteworthy. The IN
trinsic Importance Of the subject is considerably
less than II would be if the Rebel navy were
not at the bottom of the ocean. or locked up in
ports from which there is no escape. Were the
case other wise it may be doubted whether the
columns Of The Times would have been open to
just such letter IS this
| There is no doubt that Mr.. Benjlmin's in
structions ore hagrantly contemptuous Of the
plainest principles Of international law. The
contempt. however, is for the rights OF neutrals,
and does not particularly concern us except as
IL stirs up the wrath Of those who, having here
toforc granted the Confederates abundant aid,
are now moved to upbrad their late allies
little while ago we should have looked any
where but in The Times for such language as
this:
Nevertheless, doubt n there can anywhere be
onnd m instance In which any community pretending
70 tho character of civilized people has ycniured upon
open defiance Of justice snd Of right a. that which
Is flung down t. the whole world of neutral nations IN
document recently put forth by the Confederate Govern
ment. There T. certainly nothing worse to be found
even in the insane DEGREES Of the French Convention
against neutral rights This Confederate paper Is 80
Incredibly iDsoonf In its tone, and extTayaganily
foolish in s pretensions that but for the fact TIM, N il
published BY authority in The Iqier Ohio nyowcd
organ Of the Confederate Government In this country
should certainly have taken II oF granted that II had
been Of those clumsy iorgcries which from time 10
| tine issue from tie American press"
We can afford to forgive Mr.. Historicus" his
sheer at us. in consideration Of the vials of
wrath he pours ont on the heads of our adyer-
saries The cause oft all may be briefly stated
Mr.. benjamin directs in substance tina; mas
much as neutrals have closed their ports against
Confederate cruisers, they no longer have any
! rights which Semmcs and his comrades are
bound to respect If, therefore, says Mr.. Ben
jamin, any neutral property is seized by Rebel
corsair, as il cannot be sent to any port for de-
livery TO its innocent owners, il must be burned
Mr.. Harcourt somewhat needlessy quotes Lord
Stowel TO prove that in no case has a belliger-
ent the right to destroy neutral property. lie
Justly declares that az belligcrent cruiser who
destroys property primd taoie neutral without
adjudication is guilty of an act which in its char
acter is piracy, and in its result is war. OF all
the doctrines Of tho law Of nations this is the |
most fundamental and the least disputed"
Piracy" is exactly the word, and the only !
complaint we have TO make against the state
ment of the law by "HistOricus" is that he does
not yet go far enough; does not avow his con-
viction that not merely the destruction Of "ncu-
trial" but of any other property by these lawless
royers Of the seas is piracy and ought to be pun
ished as such. But let Us rejoice that even in
matter affecting British interests British writer
las cleared the scales from his eyes and sees
plainly the character Of Confederate cruiser
and the results of her acts.
Mr.. Benjamin thus lays down the law:
THE commanders OF our national cruisers should be
instructed 10 continue their former Practice OF allowing
the enemy to his vessel in where the nol
trail property on board Is OF large vauo bears any
considerable proportion to that Of the enemy; 6nt
rGason boad is refsed II I'VE proportion Of neutral
properly board is snail compared Nth he raiu, Of Oh,
ress end hostile cargo e usois shoVd be destroyed HAea
ecT The prise cannot be brought tno ror Of
Of a neutral country"
Wbereupon Mr.. Vernon Harcourt comments,
with truly British ire:
THAT is TO say the question whether neutrals should
should not DO wholly dspossessei OF their prop
ery, which tho capter has right, II to depend
upon whether the begcrcnt captain In whose vessel u
freghted chooses not 10 the ship and on
the proportions which the neutral bears 10 the belg-
erent cargo. Was so outrageous scheme ever 30 !
coolly propoundedf The logic OF Mr. Ben amn comes
simply ills: Because you don't choose to ask to
dinner will rob your orchard"
That part Of Mr.. Benjainin's instructions which
lies nearest to our interests and those Of Great