, 1861-12-30

They are given up upon the Demand
Of England.


Of England.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT DIPLOMATIC CORES
PONDENCE.
NEW YORK, Dec. 28,-The official cores
pondence between OUT Government and Great
Britain, relatirc to the seizure Of the traitors
letter from Secretary Seward to Minister Ad-
ANS, dated Nov. 3oth, in which he COM
pliments the latter for wisely speaking
and acting at the Lord Mayo S dinner, and also
states that he told Lord Palmcrston simply
the fact when Informing him the life Of the
jnsurrection was sustained by the hopes Of its
recognition by England and France, and if
those hopes ceased, the insurrection would
perish in ninety days. He refers in the same
note to the fact Of the arrest Of S1iden and
Mason by Capt. Wilkes as 8 new and unfor-
seen circumstance, which is to be met By
the two Governments, if possible, in kindly
spirit.
Lord Lyons had said nothing on the subject,
and no explanations were furnished Minister
Adams; it being deemed prudent that the
ground taken By the British Government
should be first made known here, and discus
deemed it proper to state thAt Captain
Wilkes acted without instructions, and the
subject therefore is free from e1nbarrassmcnts
which might hare cnsucd if the act had been
specially directed. He trusts the British Gov
eTnment will consider the subject in friendly
temper and it may expect the best disposition
OH our part.
The next letter is from Earl Russell to Lord
Lyons, dated Nov. 30th, which details tic
Trent affair. He says it thus appears that GER
tain Individuals have been forcibly taken from
British vessel, the ship of neutral power on
lawful and innocent Toyagc-an act
Of violence which was GIL affrout to 1he
British 1a1g, and I violation Of international
Law. Her Majcsty's Government arc willing
to believe the act was without authority, and
resulted from misunderstanding, as the Gov
crnment of the United States must be fully
aware the British Government would not nlloW
such IN affront to the national honor to pass
t without full reparation; and the British gov
ernmcnt, unwilling to believe that the United
| States deliberately intended unnecessarily to
| force q discussion Of so grave question be,
tween the two governments, Her Majesty
| government trusts that the government Of the
| United States will, OF It's own accord, o1e1
such redress as alone could satisfy
them, VIZ: the liberation Of the jou'
persons and their tzt2iscry to Lord Lyons
that they may again be placed under British
authority, and I. suitable apology for the az
propose them to = hin. Ar. sewari
| replies to Lord Lyons, by whom he was fur
| nished copy Of Earl Russe}l's letter, stating
| tnat the dfspatch Ead heen submitted TO ILL
| President.
11r. Seward states that the British Govern
mcnt rightly conjccturcd Vhat is now my dut,
to state, that Capt. Wilkes acted upon hi
own suggestions Of duty, without any direc
tion OF instruction, or even forchnowicdge 9
it on the part Of this Government. No dirce
tions had been given him or any other naTa
officer to arrest the four persons or any Q
| them, on the Trent or any other British vessel
or any neutral vessel there or elsewhere.
After discussing the whole subject at grea
length in all Its bearings, Mr. Seward says
~ trust larc shown to the satisfaction 6
the British Government, by very simple all
natural statement of facts, and analysis Of la'
applicable to them, that this Governmen
neither meditated nor practiccd nor approve
any dclibcratc wrong in the transaction t
which they have called its attention, aud O
the contrary that what las happened has bce
simply an inadvertence, free from any wrong
uncertainty established, and probably by th
several parties concerned either imperfect
understood or entirely unknown Fl
this error the British Government has
right to e1pectfthe same reparation that Il
independent State should expect fol
Great Britain or from any other friend
nation in similar case. I haEe not bee
unaware that in examining this .questio
have fallen into IN argument for VII;
seems to be the British side Of it again
my own country, but am relieve
had hardly fallen into that line Of a
gumcnt, when I discovered that
was really defending and maintainir
not exclusively the British interest but a
llouorcd and cherished American eau:
based , upon 'Enn pEineipsSs IT.. that 7;z+;s; cont
policy By which the United States have dew
opcd the resources Of a continent, aud thl
become a considerable power and w
| the respect and confidence of many nation
These principles were laid down for US
| James Madison in 1901, when Secretary
| Munroe, our then Minister to England. N
Seward says, after quoting these Instruction
"tlat if decide this case in favor
) my own Government, I must di:
1 vow its most cherished principle
G release and reverse and forever abandon its :
scntial policy. The country cannot afford t
sacrifice. II maintain that principle a
, adhere to that policy, must surrcnd
\ the case itself It will be seen, therefore, tt
this Government could not deny the JUSTICE
!. the claim presented. We are asked to do
/ the British nation what VIC always insist
9 all nations ought to do to MS.
5 In this conclusion, I have not forgott
that if the safety Of this Union required t
detention Of the Union prisoners, it wor
: be the duty Of this Government to dcts
:, them. But the effective check and v:
d ing proportions Of the existing insurrcctic
tic captured persons themselves, when d
Z kn1t rom resortipg to D'pth that ''6 defan'
Lam aware that Union citizens are not
d any case to be unnecessarily suEFsnde5d !
any purpose, into keeping Of foreign Stat
Only the captured persons, however, or o.
crs who are intcrcsted in them, could just
n raise question on that ground It VOL
t. tell little for our own claims to the charac
It wc possess ofa just and nagnanimons poop
l. Law Of retaliation as to lift up buried injur
le against national consistency and national &
ID science. Putting beJond me all suggestions
4 this kind, prefer to express my satisfacti
that By the adjustment OF the prest
&c case upon principles confessed BY Amt
c ca, yet as I trust, mutually satisEAett
t, to both nations concerned, question Is
n n nally and rightly settled between them, viii
~ heretofore, cXhaustiug not only ali forms
by peaceful discussion, but also the arbitFam
ii | Of war itself, has for more than half cent?
.. alienated the two countries from each 9th
by o1d perplexed with fears and apprehensi,
4. all other nations.
r. r. The four persons in question are now h
y in military custody at Fort Warren, in
be State Of Massachusetts,. They will be che
fully Iberatcd if your Lordsh}p will please
dicatca time and place for receiving them.
| AEALH LILY stebAf<lA - NA fNty 11t5A CVA
o. e1ation-- {Ssned) VIM. e. SgwARr
ut Dispatches from H. Thouycnal to II. L
OF cier, French Minister to our Government
~ also contained in correspondence; in wh
n Thouvenal argues that neutral flag from
'c- neutral port to another, covers persons
er- merchandise. It carries ;nd adopts princi|
eir laid down in the dispatch Of Earl Russell
a. which Seward appropriately replies.
TO The following is from Lyons to Seward:
IL WAsHNa1os, Dec, ~, 15s
To Hon VIM. Il. Seward;
Sir II have Ills morning read note vi
!, you did me the honor to address to me yes
u, day, in answer to Earl Russelrs dispatcl
IN Nov. 29th. relative to the removal
mt Mason, Slide1l, Mcfarland and EusI
cd from the British mail pscket Trent.
ne Will without loss Of time forward to
ed Malesty's Government copy Of the i'm
ty, tent communication which you have mad
OF me. will also do myself tho honor to co
with you personally on the arrangement
be made for delivering the four gent1eme
n- mc in order that they may again be p1accd
|. der the protection Of this British 11sg.
Of have the honor to be, &C.,
Of {Signed) Lros
'lse
ne Heavy CannonRdinE-Trtal Of CT
hat GREEkPoRT, Dec 28.-The heavy can
der aiding near Ga1dner's Bay, which was tho
hfa san4 F,fa fa1n frnYn Efnntrptnn uAH IA