The Daily Dispatch: November 7, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Confiscation of British vessels.

A number of foreign vessels it appears, stand in pari delictu and it was agreed among counsel that they should follow in the same direction.

It appears to us that in these proceedings the contingency has arisen in which the British Government will feel called on to assert its rights under the law of nations. It the blockade is an effective one, England under that law, is bound to respect it. If it is not effective, no liability can attach to the vessels of foreign nations that seek to violate it. That it is not effective in this case, England has ample and incontestable evidence. Vessels have been going in and out of Confederate ports from the declaration of the blockade until now, and in every case, we have reason to believe, the fact has been duly communicated in an authentic form, to that Government. Her right, therefore, to resist this usurpation of the Lincoln Government, is clear. The only question is, will she, under all the circumstances of the time, consider herself bound in this case to protect the rights and property of her subjects? As she has never failed in this obligation, heretofore, it is reasonable to conclude that she will not be deterred from it now — We shall see.