The New York herald., 1861-12-29

curing to any tribunal whatever, to ex-
decide the important question Of their
respective allegisnces, and to carry that decision
into execution by forcing every individual he may
choose into service abhorrent to his feelings,
cutting him Off from his most tender connections,
exposing his mind and his person to the most
humihating discipline, and his life itself to
the greatest danger! Reason, justice and hu-
manity unite in protesting against SO extrava-
giant proceeding"
If decide this case in favor Of my own govern
ment, must dsavow it's most cherished principles,
and reverse and forever abandon its essential
policy The country cannot afford the sacrifice. III
maintain those principles and adhere to that policy
therefore, that this government could not deny the
justice of the claim presented to us in this respect
upon its merits. We are asked to do to the British
nation just what we have always insisted all ma
tons ought to do to us.
The claim Of the British government is not made
in discourteous manner. This government, since
its first organization. has never used more guarded
language in q similar case.
In coming to my conclusion have not forgotten
hat If the safety Of this Union required the deten
tion of the captured persons 1t would be the right
and duty Of this government to detain them. But
the effectual check and waning proportions of the
existing insurrection, as well as the comparative
unimportance Of the captured persons them
selves, when dispassionately weighed, happily
forbid nae from resorting to that defence.
Nor am unaware that American citizens are
not in any case to be unnecessarily surrendered
for any purpose into the keeping off foreign State
Only the captured persons, however, or others
who are interested in them could justly raise q
question on that ground.
Nor have been tempted at all by suggestions
that cases might be found in history where Great
Britain refused to yield to other nations and even
to ourselves, claims like that which is now before
us. Those cases occurred when Great Britain,
as well as the United States, was the home Of
generations which, with all their peculiar inte.
reefs and passions, have passed away. She
could in no other way so efiect,.ay disavow any
such injury as we think she does by assuming
now as her own the ground upon which we then
stood. 1t would tell little for our own claims
to the character of just and magnanmous people
if we should far consent to be guided by the law
OF retaliation as to lift up buried injuries from
sistency and the national conscience compel us to
regard as claim intrinscally right.
Putting behind me all suggestions of this kind, I
prefer to express my satisfaction that, by the ad-
justment of the present case, upon principles con-
fessedly American and yet as trust mutually salts
factory to both Of the nations concerned question
is finally and rightly settled between them which,
heretofore exhausting not only all forms Of peace
full discussion, bat also the arbitramert of war
itself, for more than half century alicnatcd the
two countries from each other, and perplcxed with
fears and apprehensions all other nations.
The four persons in question are now held in
military custody at Fort Warren, in the State Of
Massachusetts,. They ,cM be chee,JuHy liberated.
Youy lordship ,ciu please indicate a time and
place for receiciag them.
avail myself Of this occasion TO offer to your
lordship renewed assurance of my very high
consideration.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD