Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-01

From the Evansville Ga Journal, October 18th
secretary Stewards Letter 10 Lord
~ ons.
- Several days ago the telegraph. attempted
to give us asndpsis of Secretary Stewards
recent letter to Lord Lyons. but it made
nonsense Of portion of it, as the telegraph
is apt to do with Mr.. Stewards productions.
After reciliDg the facts connected with the
detention of two Epgiishmen. whose arrest
gave rise to this correspondence, he says:
have to regret that after SO long an in
tercourse between the Governm hts of the
UBitedStates and Great Britain, 1t should b.
necessary now TO inform her Majesty Minis
ter that all executive proceedings, whether
OF the Secretary of War or of the Secrefa-
~ Of State are, unless disavowed or revoked
by the President, proc. edings of the Presi-
dent Of the United States. ass
Certainly it is not necessary to announce
to the British Government now, that an in
suirection, attended by civil and even social
war,-was existing in the United S ates when
the proceedings which l have thus related
took place. But it does seem necessary TO
state, for the Information of that Govern
ment, that Congress is by the Constitution
sibility whatever. and. on the contrary, that
the President of the United States is BY, the
Constitution and laws, invested with the
whole executive power of the Government.
and charged with the supreme direction OF
all municipal or ministerial civil forces of
the Union and that. invested with those anl-
pie powers, he is charged by the Constitu-
ton and laws. with the absolute duty of
suppresSing instruction as. well as OF pre-
venting aud repelling invasion; and that for
these purposes be constitutionaily exercises
the right of suspending the writ of habeas
corpus. whenever and wbertsoever aud in
whatever extent the public safety. endangered
by treason or Invasion in arms, in his jadg-
ment requires.
The proceedings of which the British Gov
prunient complains were taken upon inform
alton conveyed to the President by legal po-
lice authorities of the country, aud they were
not Instituted until after he had suspended
the great witt OF eedom in just the extent
that in view of the palils of the State be
deemed necessary. For the exercise of that
discretion he. as we'll Is his advisers. among
whom are the Secretary of War and the s. c.
Rotary of State, is responsible by law before
the highest Judicial tribunal of the Republic.
and amenable also 10 the Judgment # his
counirymen, and the enlightened opiaion of
The Civilized world
A candid admission contained in your let
ter relieves me Of any Necessity for showing
that two persons named therein were neither
known nor, supposed TO be British subjects
when the proceedings occurred, and that in
every case subjects of her Majesty residing
in the United States and under their protec-
ton, are treated during the present troubles
in the same manner. and with no greater or
less rigor than American citizens. go
The military prison, which was used for
the temporary detection of the suspected
parties is fort constructed and garrisoned
| for the public defence The military officer
charged with their custody has declined to
pay obedience to TIL writ of habeas corpus,
but The refusal was made in obedience to an
express direction of the President in the ex-
ercise of his functions as COmmander-in-
Chief of all the land and naval forces of the
United States. Although it is not very i'm
| portant. it certainly is not entirely Irrelevant
to add, that, so far as l am Informed, no writ
| of babeas corpus was attempted TO be served
or was ever sued out or applied for in behalf
| OF either Of the perscns named, although in
| case not dissimilar the writ of habeas cor
pus was Issued cut in favor of another Brit
ish subject. and was disobeyed by direction
Of the President. .,s
The British Government has caudidly eou-
ceded, in the remonstraace before, that even
| in this county, So remarkable for so long an
| enjoyment by it, people of the highest immu-
mites OF personal freedom, War, and especial
| /. civil war, cannot be- conducted exclusively
/ lathe forms aud with the diiatory remedies
| provided by municipal laws which are ade
quate to the preservation of public order ia
I a time OF peace Urea always operates.
| if possible, by surprise. and prud 'Hce aud
! humaBi'y therefore equally rpqgire that vio-
ieuce concocted n secret shall be prevent d il
iapraetieable by unusual aud vigorous pre-
eau 'ion am fully aware of the isconve
.iiences which. result from she practice O.
such precaution embarrassing carDmunitie:
10 social life. and affecting. perhaps trade
and Intercourse with foreign nations. BnI
the American people, after having tried IN
every way to avert civil war, have &C .epted
it at last as a stern n, cessity. The chief in
| terest, while il lasts, is nOttbe enjoym mt Of
society, or the profits of trade. but the saving
of the national life. That life saved, all OH
er blessings which attend it will speedily re-
turn, with greater assurance of continuance
than ever before. The safety of the whole
people has become, in the present emergency
| the supreme law, and so long as the danger
shall exist, all classes OF society equally. the
denizen and the citizen. cheertully scquiesct
/ in the measures which that law prescribas.I
| The Government does not question the
! learning of the legal advisers of the British
I Crown CT the Justice of the Difference which
her Majesty paysto them Nevertheless tht
British Government will hardly expect iha
/ the President will except their explanations
I Of The Constitution of the United States, ed
| pecially when the Constitution, thus expoun
dsd. would leave upon him The sole executive
responsibility of suppressing the existing liz.
| surrpction. while it would transfer to Con
gre the most ma aerial and indispensable
power 10 ebe employed for that. purpose
Morrow, r, th.se explanations End no real sup
| part in the letter, MUGS less in the spirit, OF
the Constitution itself. .He must be allowed
| tn refore, to prefer and b. governed by th,
view OF, our organic national law, VIII CHI
i while it will enable him to execute bis great
trust with complete success. receives the
sanction of the highest authorities of our owl
/ country, and is sustained by the general
1 consent of the people, for whom alone that
| Constitution was established. q
| avail myself of this opportunity to effel
/ to your .lordship a renewed assurance of N,
very high consideration ~ zsz-szSslE q
.Tzs}as WILLIAM III. SEWARD.
9 The Right Hon. Lord LYONS, &c.