The New York herald., 1861-12-29

would have prevented all that unseemly, unsea-
sonable and discreditable warlke furor which,
from the failure of the Atlantic telegraph, has
been running away with the common sense and
sobriety of the leading journals and politicians
of England. Fortified, however, as Mr. Seward
is by that calm and conciiatory despatch Of
the 3oth Of November, he stands before our
loyal American people free from any reproach
of having compromised the national honor or
dignity in the surrender of Mason, Slidell and
their attaches back to the protection Of England.
In advance of any demand he recognises the
irregularity of their seizure, and the readiness
Of our government for reparation. Our Se-
cretary Of the Navy, in his annual report to
Congress, takes substantially the same grounds
and If the President, in his annual Message, is
silent upon the subject, he is manifestly SO from
considerations of prudence and propristy, in
view Of apeaceable arrangement.
In his despatch to Lord Lyons of November
80, Earl Russell denounces the seizure Of Mason
Slidell, MacFarland and Eustis, by Captain
Wilkes, as "an act of violence which was an
affront to the British flag and violation Of in
ternatlonal law" and says that the only redress
which can satisfy the British nation will be 'the
liberation of the four gentlemen, and their de-
livery to your lordship, In order that they may
again be placed under British protection, and .
suitable apology for the aggression which has
been committed" This is the case as presented
by Earl Russell. He states the offence commit
ted and the reparation required; and II these
terms are not offered by Mr.. Seward Lord
Lyons is to propose them to him. 1t is there
fore but simple justice to Earl Russell to say
that, while this ultimatum involves the alterna-
tive of war, the manner in which it is presented
indicates desire for peace
Mr.. Seward, in his elaborate and learned
reply, covers all the nice legal distinctions,
doubts and difficulties bearing upon the subject.
He approves the patriotic and generous mo-
tves which governed the conduct of Captain
Wilkes, and shows how very difficult 1t would
have been on his part to meet the exact re-
quirements Of international law, when there is
no fixed or generally recognized law in refe-
renee to such cases as this of the Trent. Upon
the main questionable restitution of the rebel
emissaries concerned to British protection-the
apology of Nv Seward, which will doubtless
be satisfactory to England, will surely be ac-
ceptable to the loyal people of the United
States. He says:-"If decide this case in
favor of my own government, must disavow
its most cherished principles, and reverse
and forever abandon its essential policy"
He says that the country cannot af-
ford this sacrifice. If / maintain those
principles and adhere to that policy, 1
must surrender the case ITSELF" He cannot,
therefore, deny the claim presented, because
1--WE are here asked to do to the British nation
just what we have always insisted all nations
ought to do to u.s." Could more comprehen-
sive apology than this be demanded by Eng
land, or could more satisfactory vindication
be desired by the American people?
If any doubt of the wisdom or propriety Of this
settlement Of the Trent difficulty still fingers in
the mind Of the intelligent American reader,
jealous of the honor and dignity Of his country,
that doubt will be dissipated with the reading
of the despatch of NJ. Thouvenel, the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of the French government, to
NJ Mercier, the French Ambassador at Wash
ington. This despatch comes from q friendly
Power, and its object is to dssuade our
government from assuming a position on
this Trent question which may forfeit the
sympathies of France. Thus, In yielding to the
demands of England, we not only secure her neu-
trality in the matter of this Southern rebellion
beyond the reach of quibble or pretext, but in
maintaining our old ground we secure the sympa-
thy and good will Of France, and of all the 9TH
er continental nations which have heretofore
contended with us against England for the
rights of neutrals against belligerent maritime
despotism.
Returning to Mr.. Stewards despatch of No
vember 80, he says therein to Mr.. Adams
"You spoke the simple fact when you told him
Uord Palmerston) that the life of this nsurrec-
ton is maintained by Its hopes of recognition in
England and France and that "itwould perish
in ninety days if these hopes should cease"
That ell such hopes must now be relinquished
is abundantly manifest England is henceforth
debarred from Intervention in behalf Of this in
surrection; France has no sympathy for it, and
it must now stand or fall upon its own re-
xho,o 4oI