The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-12-30

/ instructions, or even foreknowledge Of It, or
the part of this Government. No directions
had been given him, or any other Naval Of
fieer, to arrest the four persons, or any oil
/ them, on the Trent or any other British yes
sell or any neutral vessels there or else
where After discussing the whole subject
/ at great length, in all its bearings, Mr.. Sew
/ ard says: 60 trust have shown to the sat
/ isfaction of the British government, By a
! very simple and natural statement Of facts,
/ and analysis of law applicable to them, that
/ this Government has neither meditated or
practieed, or approved, any deliberate wrong
! in the transaction TO which they have called
its attention, and on the contrary, that
what has happened has been simply an in-
adVertency, consisting in a departure, by
the Naval officer, free from any wrongful
motive) from a rule uncertainty established,
and probably by the several parties con-
cerned, either imperfectly understood or en-
tirely unknown. For this error the British
government has right to expect the same
repsration as we, as an Independent State,
should expect from Great Britain, or any
other friendly nation, in q similar case.
| have not been unaware that, in exam
lining this question, l have fallen into an
argument for what seems to be 2 British side
of it against my own country, but | am re-
HeVed from all embarrassment on that sub
ect. | had hardly fallen into that line of
argument when discovered that was real
ly defending and main tanning, not exclusive
ly British interests, but an old, honored aud
cherished American cause; not upon Brit
ish authorities, but upon principles that con-
stitute large portion of the distinctive pol
icy, by which the United States have de-
Veloped the resources of a continent, and
thus become considerable maritime power
and won the respect and confidence of many
nations. These principles were laid down
for us by James Madison, in 1904, when
Secretary of State, under Jefferson, in his
instructions to James Monroe, our then Min
lister to England"
Mr.. Seward says, after quoting these in
structions:
"If decide this case in favor of my own
Government, 1 must disown its most cher
ished principle-release, reverse and forever
abandon its essential policy. The country
cannot afford the sacrifice. IF 1 maintain
these principles and adhere to that policy,
must surrender the case ITSELF It will be
seen, therefore, that this Government could
not deny the justice Of the claim presented. |
We are asked to do to the British nation
just what we always insisted all nations
ought to do to US. In coming to my con-
illusions, have not forgotten that, if the |
safety of this Union required the detention |
of the prisoners, it would be done. 1t would |
be the right and duty of this Government |
to detain them, but the effectual check and /
warning to portions of the existing insur-
rection as well as the comparative unimpor- I
lance of the captured persons themselves, |
when dispassionately weighed, happily for |
bid me from resorting to that defense; nor
am I hot
any case, to be unnecessarily surrendered /
for any purpose, into the keeping of a for
eign State. Only the captured persons,
however, or others who are interested in
them, could justly raise question on that
ground.ss
IL would tell little for our own claims to
the character Of a just and magnanimous
people If we should so far consent to be
guided by the law Of retaliation, as to lift
up buried injuries against national incon-
sisteney and national conscience. Putting
beyond me all suggestions of this kind,
prefer to express my satisfaction, that by
the adjustment of the present case upon
principles confessedly American, and yet
as | trust, mutually satisfactory to both ma
tons concerned, a question is finally and
riguJIy settled between them, which hereto
fore, exhausting not only all forms of peace
"a AAaGuoolOiiSt uuI diSO JuS dEDltEdmeQL OF
war, itself for more than half a century,
alienated the two countries from each other
and perplexed with fears and apprehensions
all other nations.
The four persons in question are now
held in military custody at Fort Warren, in
he State of Massachusetts,. They will be
liberated Your Lordship will
please indicate time and place for receiv-
ng them.
l renew my assurance of my very high
(Sigued) WV. II. SEWARD.
A dispatch from NJ. Thouyenal to n.
dercier, French Minister, to our gov
rDment, is also contained ia the
in which NJ. Thouvenal |
lrges that asneutral flag from a neutral :
'ort to another neutral port covers the
'ersons aud merchandise it carries, and s
dopts the principles laid down in the dis
atch of Earl Russell, to which Mr.. Seward
appropriately replies. 7
The following is from Lord Lyons to Mr. I
seward E
WASHINGTON, Dec. q. 1861.
Ia the Hon " n oo,r1rd &c q