The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-06-10
A Parallel.

The New York Tribune makes a hit
in drawing parallel between the ac-
ton of the British and American au-
thorities in enforcing the laws, and
preserving neutrality. We quote from
the Tribune as follows
1--WE may compare, for instance, the
crossing of the Fenians with the es-
cape of the Alabama We find General
Grant, the moment the matter promis-
ed to become serious, hurrying to Buff
falo, summoning his officers TO duty,
and suggesting that the militia be
called out to prevent hostile expeditions
from leaving the United States. 1t
would complete the parallel were we
able to say that the Lords of the Adj
niralty, when first warned OF the Ala-
bama, hurried down to Liverpool to
lay an embargo on her departure
When it WAS announced that the
Fenians were moving between the
American and Canadian shores the
armed American steamer Michigan,
with a number Of consorts, patroled
the intervening waters TO prevent
either reinforcement or retreat The
name Of the British man-of war
which did police duty in the Mersey to
intercept the Alabama on a similar oc.
casiOn, has escaped our memory. We
find General Meade first as Eastport,
in Maine, then in Buffalo, New York,
then racing along the railways to Og-
densburg, to resist successive move
ments of the Fenians against different
parts of Canada. Who is his British
rival in activity and ZEAL When the
forces under ONeii are compelled to
retreat The Michigan captures them,
and Sir Frederick Bruce at Washing
ton begs Mr. Seward that they may be
detained till q demand can be made
for their eXtTaditiOn. Mr. Seward,
with his reverence for precedents, might
have quoted to Sir Frederick Bruce the
Shenandoah returning to Liverpool
with British crew, and could have re-
called with much effect the sdjudica-
ton of Lord Clarendon, that there was
no evidence upon which any of the
men could be held. Following that
example, he should have directed the.
discharge of the mistaken patriots
whom the indiscreet commander Of the
Michigan had made prisoners. But We
find Mr. Seward ordering their deten-
ton Ia the custody of the United States
Marshal Surely, this is such an act Of
disrespect to the Foreign Minister Of
Great Britain as will provoke dignifed
remonstrance
When Sir Frederick addressed Mr..
Seward on the general subject of inva>
sion, he should have been met, as Mr..
Adams was met by Earl Russell, with
the assurance that the foreign Office
was in possession of no official informa-
ton on the subject He should have
been assured that due inquiry would
be made. lie should have been refer
red TO the Collector at Buffalo as 10 the
proper official TO institute an investiga-
ton, and by the Collector should have
been passed along to the Board Of Ad-
visers, and by them to tie District At
tOrney, and by him TO the Grand Jury
for the District and so on indefinitely.
That would have been in strict accord
ance with British precedent, and it is
greatly 10 be regretted that Mr. Seward
should have shown himself so iorgetiul
of the monuments of international
law arising out of our own most recent
diplomatic negotiation. The fact that
he exchanges places with Earl Russell,
and Sir Frederick Bruce with Mr..
Adams, cannot alter the law under
which the cases are 90 be decided The
fact that it is your bull aud not my OK
that was gored never did make any
diflerence-did it2