Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-30


termination of the war that shall not destroy
slavery"
Mason and SIfdeII surrendered TO the
British Government Their Arrest
Declared by administration
sssimply an Inadvertency."
The circumstances attending the arrest Of Ma
soy and SLIDELL are of such recent date and
are yet so fresh in the minds of ALL that reca-
pitulation is unnecessary to the understanding of
this remarkable case. When it BECAME known
that these persons" as Mr. SEWARD terms
them, had proceeded upon a mission from the
DAVIS Government % Europe, it was announced
to the country that several of our vessels had
been dispatched to arrest them if 'ssible. The
San Jacinto, on her way home from Africa, stop
ped at West India port. and her commander,
Capt. WILKES, learning the anxiety of our Gov
eminent to arrest the rebel Commissioners, and
hearing that they had taken passage on the Brit
ish mail steamer Trent, concluded if possible, to
overhaul that vessel and secure them. He sue
ceeded in so doing. When the fact of their ar
rest under these circumstances, was published to
the country, the Administration was as much
cidtcu WIN TIE exploit as kltte0 WITH It's DrSJ
mouse, and cut as many antics over it. Not
doubt expressed by Mr.. LINCOLN and his con-
stitutiOnal advisers and other Republicans equal
ly learned in international law, as to the entire
legality OF the act. and the only regret manifest
ed was that the vessel had not been condemned
and seized as lawful prize At the time we
stated that Capt. WILKES was no more justified
e
deck of British vessel, neutral power, and
pursuing peaceful voyage, than he would be if
he had forcbly seized them IN the streets of Lon
don. But the Republican leaders, official and
unofficial, took an adverse view of the question,
and talked valianty of an issue of arms with the
arrogant British power rather than a surrender of
the captiyes
When the news of the arrest reached England,
growl was heard from the British Lion. To
these defiant notes, our Republican friends re-
sponded most valiantly that the right was on our
side, and that war was preferable to yielding to
the arrogant demands of ancient enemy. A
formal demand came from the British Gov
eminent for the restoration of MASON, SLIDELL
aud their companions, and apology Cor the
insult TO its flag. Suddenly the Admins
tration discovered that discretion was the better
part of valor. Mr.. SEWARD, ranked by his po-
ltical friends as the most eminent statesman Of
the country, profoundly learned in the policy of
the Government from its foundation, suddenly
became student of international law and cur
foreign diplomacy. In his researches new light
burst upon bis intellectual and diplomatic vision
remarkable as that which overlook SAUL of
Tarsus. In his researches he discovered that Mr..
MADISON, in 1904. in his instructions to Mr. Mon
ROE. then Minister England, had laid down
principles which became the traditional policy of
Government and which exactly covered the
demand OF Earl RUSSELL. Marvellous discovery
and just in the nick of time. Strange is il not,
that eminent Republican statesmen, until
now. should have been in blssful ignorance of
our own well settled foreign diplomatic policyi
We suppose that the Republicans. one and all,
will sing hosannas to the ingenuity and deep re-
search of our distinguished Secretary of State
and swear earnestly that the surrender of Ma
son and SLIDELL is Just what should be done. as
they did forty eight hours ago thtt their arrest
was strictly in accordance with national law and
that was preferable rather than suffer nation
al dshonor by giving them up. But it now turns
out that the arrest-or in the language of Mr.
SEWARD. "what has happened has been simply an
iaadoerfency," without wrongful motive" on
the part Of Capt. Wilkes. Ifsuch is the proper
view of the case. why we're not Mason and Sill
DELL promptly returned on their arrival upon our
shores to the jurisdiction of the British Aagf
This course would have been dignifed 1t would
have disarInei tireat Britain, and the magma
nimity of the act would have struck heavy
blow at the rebellion But no. Our wise and
sagacious Republican Administration knew moth
ing of British rights in the case until that power
made the demand for reparation, and now we
suffer national humation-a degradation which
every American man, woman and child must
keenly feel--in accepting Mr.. SEwARD's present
view of the case, by doing an act under a threat,
that the Administration had net the courage to
do as matter of right. promptly and in advance
of such demand.
DIR. SEWARD, in grave diplomatic paper, pro-
nOunces the act OF Capt. WILKES "simply an mad
vertency." What CALLING reflection and sarcasm
is this conclusion upon his Republican friends Mr.
WELLEs, the Secretary of the Navy, in his annual
report 10 the President. which must have been
read by him and received his sanction, if it did
not that of the entire Cabinet, not only justified
but applauded the act of Capt WILKES. More
than this. he addressed that officer letter cum
graduating him upon his gallantry and thanking
him in the name of the nation for the arrest of
Mason and SLIDELL Was this action on the
part of Mr.. Wnkks simply an inadvertency2''
Congress, ON the first day of its session, unani-
rnously passed vote Of thanks to Capt WnKEs
for his gallant exploit Mr.. SEWARD. by his dis
patch, pronounces this another inadyertency."
Mr.. CoLFAx, NJ G. from this State offered a res
olution in the House. which was adoptpd, requir-
ing the Administration to confDe the captiyes
from the Trent in a felon's call. Mr.. SEwARD
pronounces this suggestion Of CoLFAx. and its
adoption by Congress. another simple "inadser-
tency." CALKB CusHrSe, in a three column
opinion, pronounced the arrest of Mason and
SLlDKlL TO be authorized BY the law OF nations.
Mr. sEwAnD. placing his fine digits TO his nasal
organ, silly tells CALEB that he, too, the most
learned man in the nation. is troubled with /" in
adserteuey" Old Gen. Cas-, who has made d.
plomacy and international law the study Of his
life justified the arrest Of the rebel Commission