Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-27
THE TRENT QUESTION AT WASH
INGTON

The n. Y. TriJun's Washington cores
pendent telegraphs, Sunday night: Lord
Lyons Yesterday made bis FIRST official COM
munication to the secretary of state, who at
once set about the preparation of a reply
The contents of the dispatches are known TO
no one except these two. the president and
probably Gen. Mcclellan. But the general
opinion among outsiders near the official bar
iier that guards the inner circle Of diplomacy
is that they do not present an ultimatum, but
leave room for negotiation. As regards the
statement that the cabinet is determined 20
Weld to England. even to the point OF sur
rendering Mason and Slidell. rather than fight
her, it i utterly and misohievously false. 49,
The truth is that, as we have excellent au-
thority for saying, there is no principle laid
down or minated in any standard work on
1 international law, by which nation can be
required to give up its own property or ciuz'
ems. no matter how the last possession was
acquired. to another nation. Great Britain
not having yet recogni ed the JEFF Davis gov
eminent. cannot consider its emissaries as
other than our citizens
/ The Worids correspondent says " II Is
/ the current belief here that Lord Lyon- haa
been instructed to demand Of our government
an apology for the conduct Of Capt. Wilkes,
and the restoration Of Messrs. Mason aud
Slidel to the deck Of a British war vessel,
basing such demands on the fact the gallant
captain should, by the law of nations, have
taken the Trent as prize, and have the ques
ton settled By an admiralty court 1t is said
that these demands will be couched in respect
fal and moderate terms, so as not to wound
our feelings of national pride. There arc
two opinions held in political circles in this
oity aa follows; lat Secretary Seward de-
clines 10 open an official correspondence with
Lord LYONS because he knows that the dis
patches brought to the latter By the queen
messenger are of later date than those semi
to him by a special messenger from Minister
Adams. 1t will be remembered that the Eu'
ropa was detained one day at Queenstown by
order Of the British government that the dis
patches might be made up for the Brtist
minister at Washington. It's not likely tina
Mr.. Adams was informed Of this. or If h'
was. il is doubtful whether he had the tint
TO make out dispatches satisfactory to him
self OF course Mr.. Seward is too shrewC
to enter upon a diplomatic controversy IN
v0lving such great interests the present
until he can be as well informed of matter
pertaining to il a. Lord Lyons. Such is th
opinion that gains credit IN some political cir
ces here. I'd Other circles, exceeding il
number and influence those referred to, hol,
that Mr.. Seward has forwarded instruction
to Minister Adams TO demand of the British
government that it must give a satisfsctor
explanation of why the consul general at Ha
yana paid the passage of Messrs. Mason an,
Slidell. when he knew they were ambassador
from the confederate states and also VIII.
the captain Of the Trent, in the face OF tn
queens proclamation enioining the strictes
neutrality upon all her subjects, reoeivel
these gentlemen on board his ship, when b
was fully aware that they we're sccredite,
from the southern confederacy. Seeretar
Seward they say, has determined to have no
thing to do with the question Of the $ izur
of these rowing ENJOYS by Captain WIlke
until the point just mentioned is settled. In
deed. he claims, according to this opinion
that our government is the injured party, an
not Great Britain. as has been urged by tn
British press and the people of the Englis
nation. Wait, he says, until this question
settled and due reparation made, and then
will talk with you about the act of Captai
Wilkes Those who appear to be well post
ed in the matter state positively that Mr.. Sew
ard has written to minister Adams, as an
nounced above, and that he will await his re
ply before be will receive or reply to any OF
fetal communication from Lord Lyons.