THE SEIZURE OF THE FLORIDA.
To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."
Stn,—It was with much satisfaction that I read in the last week's number of the Spectator an article on the seizure of the Florida by the United States war vessel Wachusetts. Friendly as my feelings are to the North, which is, I believe, the representative of freedom in the great struggle now in progress, I cannot hide from myself that such acts as the one in question give to her enemies but too good an opportunity of saying with effect that her people, whilst clamorous for freedom, have not yet learnt to respect law and justice, without which freedom is perhaps more dangerous, although less ignoble, than slavery, into which indeed it is very apt to degenerate. I can only hope with you that the United States Government will have the justice and wisdom to disavow the acts of its officer, and to punish him, if it shall turn out, as there seems little reason to doubt it will, that a flagrant breach of international law has been committed. As I read your article I hardly allowed myself to doubt that this would be the result, but I confess I was somewhat shaken in my confidence when I shortly afterwards read the letter of your Yankee correspondent, in which he gives an account of the attack and pillage of St. Alban's by a party of Southerners coming across the Canadian frontier. Nothing can certainly be said in favour of these robbers and plunderers, but I was surprised to find your correspondent speaking with approval of an order said to have been given by General Dix, for his troops to follow the fugitives across the Canadian frontier and destroy them there. This order, it is true, was not acted on, but your correspondent intimates that had it been necessary to do so General Dix would have been supported by the nation, and this although he goes on immediately afterwards to say that the conduct of the Canadian authorities in this, as in previous cases, had commanded the respect of the Northern people. Now it certainly does seem to me that General Dix's order was not only a gross breach of inter- national law, but a most uncalled-for insult to the Canadian autho- rities, who are admitted to have previously shown their willingness to do what was right in similar cases. It is obvious, too, that the order was framed by a man having a perfect knowledge that what he was doing was illegal, else why did he direct that the men should be destroyed rather than captured? Clearly he wished to put it out of the power of his Government to make restitution, and was prepared to go all lengths for the sake of gratifying the proud and revengeful feelings which had been roused by the attack of the Southern band. Surely you are right in saying that it is such acts as these, and not the sharp criticisms of foreigners, which degrade a nation in the eyes of the world, and may, I add, raise feelings of mingled anger and sorrow in the hearts of her friends, and of scornful triumph in those of her enemies.
A FRIEND OF THE NORTH.
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