The dry comment of
General SCOTT, that the 'wrong' would have been none had it only been
greater, recalls the absurd line in the old play:--
'My wound is great because it is so small;'
and the supplement,--
'Then 'twould be greater were it none at
all.'
But, absurd or not, the law must be followed. Great nations must settle
their disputes by the law, even as individuals do, and there is no shame
in submitting to it, for submission to the constituted authorities is
the highest proof of honor and of civilization. And if England chooses
to strain the law to its utmost tension, to thereby push her neutrality
to the very verge of sympathy with our rebels, and manifest, by a
peremptory and discourteous exercise of her rights, total want of
sympathy with our efforts to suppress rebellion,--why, we must bear it.
And here, leaving the letter of the law, we may appropriately say a few
words of the _animus_ which has inspired the 'influential classes' in
England as regards this country, during our struggle with the South. We
are assured that the mass of the English people sympathize with us, and
we are glad to hear it,--just as we are to know that Ireland is friendly
in her disposition.
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