Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-13
New YORK, Dec. 10th

New YORK, Dec. 10th.
Commodore Wilkes report published, says
''the Governments OF Great Britain, France
and Spain having issued proclamations that
the Confederate States were to be consid-
cred and treated as belligerents, and know
ing that the Ports Of Great Britain, France,
Spain and Holland in the West Ind es were
open to their vessels, and that they were
admitted 10 all the courtisies and
protection. that vessels Of the United States
received every AID and attention being given,
proving Gle arly that they acted upon this
view and decision J thought, them within
the international law of search, and under
Its responsible les. therefore lelt no hesita-
ton IN boarding and searching all vessels of
whatever nature fell in with, and have
done 50. The question arose in my
mind whether / had the right to
capture the persons of those
observation-disclosures they were amenaDle
to capture. There was no doubt had the
right to capture vessels with waltten des
patches. They are expressly referred to in
ali authorizes, AFFECTING vessels to seizure
and condemnation if the Captain of the
vessel had knowledge OF their being
on board. But these gentlemen were not
dispatches in the literal sense, and did not
seem to come under that designation, and no
where could | fad a case in point. That
they were commissioners had ample proof
from their own evowal, and bent on traitor
Gus errands against our country. then
considered them as the embodiment of the
dispatches, and it therefore became
my duty 70 arrest their progress
and capture them, if they had no passports
Or papers from tie Federal Government as
prOvIued TOR under the law Of nations
As regards the Trent, the agent Of the
vessel, the son OF tine British Consul at Ha-
vana. was well aware of the character of
these prisoners. HIS father had visited them
and introduced them as Ministers OF
the Confederates on the way to EGG
land and France. They went in tie
steamer with the knowledge and consent of
the captain, who endangered afterwards TO
conceal them by refusing to-exhibit the pas
senger list and papers OF the vessel. There
cln be no dOubS be knew that they were
carrying highly important dispatches, and
were under instructions lnimical to the Unit
ed States.
This rendered his vessel good prize and |
determined to take possession her, and send
nSr 10 Aey w Sots WHeIo AN cdtiSHeu on@
would have been condemned for carrying
these persons and for resisting to be searched
The cargo was also liable as all shippers
were knowing to the embarkation OF these
live dispatches and their traitorous
motives and actions toward the United States.
forebore to seizs her however, in oonse-
quence OF my beng so reduced in officers
and crew and the arrangement it would
cause to the plans of innocent persons, there
being large numbers OF passengers, who
would have been put to great loss and incon-
venience as well as disappointment from in
terruption it would have caused them in not
being able to join the steamer from
St. Thomas for Europe. therefore con-
Guided to Nacrifce the interests of my officers
and crew in the p.ize and suffer the steamer
to proceed"
NEW YORK, Dec. 9th.
The 1ribune's Washington dispatch says
that Mr.. Guriey of Ohio will offer a conis-
catory act, providing tor safe guards against
fraud and for compensation to loyal sufferers
BY the rebellion.
The commander of the British forces IN
Canada has recalled all absent officers, and