Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-27

Seward cannot satisfy Earl Russell that
they we're, have no doubt Earl Russell
will be able to satisfy Mr.. Seward that they
were not II they were as all authorities
concur in admitting, agents Of tho bellion,
Il will be difficult to satisfy impartial minds
that they were any less contraband than a
ile ofrebel soldiers or battery of hostile
cannon.
But even should there be difference of
opinion upon this point, is is very clear tha,
our government had sufficient prounds for
presumng itself in the right, to escape the
suspicion Of having wantonly violated the
relations Of amity which the two countries
profess desire 10 preserve and cultivate.
The pretense that we ought to have ta-
ken the Trent into port, and had her con-
demned by prize court, 10 order TO justify
our seizure of four Of her passengers, furn-
ishes very narrow basis on which to fix
serious controversy between two great na
tions. Stated in other words, an offence
would have been less il it had been greater.
The wrong done to the British flag would
have been mitigated if, instead of seiziug
the four rebels, we had seized the ship, de-
tanned all her passengers for weeks, and
coufiscated her cargo. am not surprised
that Capt Wilkes took different view Of
his duty, and of what was duo to the friend
ly relations which subsisted between the
two Governments. The renowned COM
mon sense of the English people, believe,
will approve of bis efforts to make the dis
charge of very unpleasant duty as little
vexatious as possible to all innocent parties.
If under these circumstances, England
should deem it her duty, in the interest of
civilization, to insist upon the restoration of
the men taken from under the protection
of her flag, it will be from conviction,
without doubt, that the law of nations in
regard to the rights of ueutrals which she
has taken the leading part in establishing,
requires revision, and with suitable dis.
position on her part to establish those
rights upon just, humane and philosophiC
basis. Indeed, am happy to sec an init
nation in one of the leading metropolitan
journals which goes far to Justify this in
ference. Referring to the decisions of the
English Admiralty Courts now quoted in
defence of the seizure of the American reb.
els on board the Trent, The London Time,
of Nov. 28th, says;
So far as tho authorities CO. the testimony of nterna
ton law writer's is all way, that abelgerent wa
cruiser has right to STOP and visit and search AM
merchant ships upon the high seas. . But It mus
be remembered that these decisions given under cir
cumstauces very different from those which occur
Steamers in those days did not exist and mail vessels
carrying letters wherein all the nations of the world hay
immediate interest, were unknown. Wewere fighting
existence and we did in these days what should net
lowed TO do, in these days. tI.r.
If England, as we are here encouraged
to hope, is disposed to do her part in strip
ping war of half its horrors, by accepting
the policy long and persstcntly urged upon
her by our government, and commended by
every principle of Justice and humanity, she
will find no ground, in tho visit of the Trent
for controversy with our Government. ]
am sure the President and people of the
United States would be but too happy to
let these men 60 free, unnatural and un
pardonable as their offenses have been, if by
it they could emancipate the commerce ol
the world Greatly rs il would be to ou
disadvantage at this present crisis to sur
render any of those maritime privileges o
belligerents which, sanctioned by the law.
of nations, feel that take no responsible
ity in SAYING that the United States will b
faithful TO her traditional policy on this sub
ljcct, and the spirit of her political institu
tions.
On the other hand, should England b.
unprepared TO make corresponding sacri
fee; should she feel that she could not We
afford to surrender the advantage which tn,
present maratime code gives to a dominan
naval power, of course she will not put her
self in a false position by asking US to dC
it. In either case, therefore, ] do not sc,
how the friendly relations of the two Gov
ernments are in any immediate danger 0
being disturbed.
That the over-prompt recognition as bel
lgerens Of body of men, however large
so long as they constituted a manifest mi
nority of the nation wounded the feeling
of my countrymen, will not attempt I,
deny, nor that that act, with some of it
logical consequences, which have alread
occurred, has planted in the breasts of man
the suspicion that their Kindred in Eng
land wish them evil rather than good; bu
the statesman to whom the political inter
est of these two great people are confded
act upon higher responsibilities, and wit
better lights; and you may rest assure
that an event so mutually disastrous as
} war between England and America, canuo
occur without some other and gravcr prov
ocation than has yet been given by eithe
, nation. WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hotel Westminster, Paris Dec. 2, 1851
a To Fec