New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-02-13
NUMBER 2gO.

- NUMBER 29O.
to any decision upon the character of that act.
The Government would wait for any representa-
ton the British Government might make before |
coming to any positive decision. He desires, that
If Mr. Adams should think i desirable this dispatch
shall be read to me, and also to Lord Paimerston.
In answer to Mr.. Adams, l touched upon most
Of the points treated Of in the dispatch. did not
think it necessary however to recur to the case OF
Sir. Bunch. <atiss
With regard to the Confederate priyateer, 1 said
that could not see that our conduct had been
different from that of France or Holland, or of
Spain. The Sumter had been refused coal from
the Government stores of Trinidad, but had been
allowed to get coal and provisions from private
merchants. The same thing had taken place at
Martinique and at Curacoa. i did not find that the
rule of twenty-four hours had been observed IN
practice, but there would be little difficulty in
coming to an agreement on this point. "a a
In regard to the export Of arms and ammunition
to the Confederate States, had lately read the
opinion of the Attorney General, and believe It
was in entire conformity with the provisions Of
the Foreign Enlistment Act, warlike equipment Of
a vessel was prohibited: the loading vessel with
arms and ammunition was not prohibited But in
point Of fact. much greater amount Of arms and
ammunition had been sent to the Federal States,
where there was no obstacle to the export or the
import than to the ports Of the States
which were blockaded. Mr.. Adams admitted this
to be the fact, and said he had refrained from
pressing q more rigorous compliance with the
Foreign Enlistment Act for this reason.
Ithen stated to Mi. Adams the substance Of the
two dispatches I had written to Lord Lyons on the
subject of the Trent. gs 81 &5EES
told him that, il private letter, had directed
Lord Lyons to talk the matter over with Mr.. Sc
ward two days before reading to him the dispatch.
Mr.. Adams asked whether the direction to Lord
Lyons to leave Washington in seven days was in
the dispatch to be read. said il was not and in
case Mr.. Seward should ask what would be the
consequence of "a refusal on his part to comply
with our conditions, Lord Lyons was to decline to
answer that question, in order not to have the ap
.pearance Of threat. I said that I thought that
the explanation that the Government had not su-
thorized the seizure would stand in the place Of
apology. gy 3.ss ,SssEs3=s5= .85 !s
L But the essential condition was that Mr.. Mason
and Mr.. SlidelI should be given up to Lord Lyons.
Mr.. Adams said that if the matter was stated to
Mr.. Seward in the manner had explained, he
hoped for an amcable termination of the differ
ence. He thought that if the Government Of the
United States insisted on maintaining the action Of
Captain Wilkes, the United States wonld be aban-t
doning their doctrine and adopting ours. Mr..
Adams asked me further question, which he said
might decline to answer. It was whether, if Lord
Lyons came away, a declaration Of war would be
the immediate consequence. I told him nothing
was decided on that point; we should wait for the
reply from America and then decide upon our
course. y S4ts' $s5@ zfss9S7
/ stated to Mr.. Adams the substance of Nc { Thou.
venel's dispatch to NJ. Mercier as / had heard it
from NJ. de Flaha1lt Mr.. Adams said that the
| French Government had always been very consist
ent in their maintenance of the rights of neutrals.
He added that he could not pay our Government
the same compliment said / would dispense
with compliments if this matter could be amicably
arranged. ,.
I We parted on very friendly terms. 75s
rsigneal A-l' sS'' RUSSELL.
Lord Lyons to Earl Russell, Received january eth.l
| My Lord: have the honor to enclose copy
of note which 4 have this morning received from
Mr.. Seward, in answer to your Lordship's dispatch
of Mr.. Mason, Mr.. Slidel, Mr.. MacFarland and Mr..
Eustice, from the British mail packet Trent.
The note contains very long and very elaborate
dissertation on the questions of International law
involved in the case. have not time, before the
departure Of the messenger, to weigh the argu.
ments or to estimate precisely the force Of the
pressions used. But as Mr.. Seward admits that
reparation is due to Great Britain and cons ents to
deliver the four prisoners to me, consider that the
demands of Her Majesty's Government are 30 far
substantially complied with, thst it is my duty in
obedience to your Lordship's commands, to report
| the facts to Her Majesty's Government for their
consideration, and to remain at my post until re-
ceive further orders. have the honor to enclose
| copy of the answer which have made to Mr..
| Stewards note. I have confded myself to stating
| that will forward copy Of it to Her Majesty's
ard personally on the arrangements to be made for
| the delivery OF the prisoners to me.
have, etc..
lThese enclosures have already been puhlishedl
| Earl Russell to Lord Lyons a s =
FOREIGN OFFICE, January IL, 1862. .-lfy Lord
| In my dispatch to you of the 30th Of November,
after informing you of the circumstances which had
occurred in relation to the capture of the four per-
taken from on board the Trent, stated to you
that it thus appeared that certain individuals had
been forcibly taken from on board British vessel
the ship of neutral power, while such vessel was
pursuing lawful and innocent voyage, an act Of
| violence which was an atfront to the British flag
| and violation of international law. l concluded
| by directing you in case the reparation which HeI
| Majesty's Government expected to receive, should
not be offered by Mr.. Seward, to propose to thai
Minister to make such redress as alone would sat
isfy the British nation, the Liberation
| of the four gentlemen taken from on board the
Trent and their delivery to your Lordship in order
that they might again be placed under British pro
lection and, secondly, suitable apology for th'
aggression which had been committed. s75.'t
| received yesterday your dispatch Of the 27tl
ult., enclosing a note to you from Mr.. Seward
which is, in substance, the answer to my dispatcl
l of the 30th Of November. @ f.
Proceeding at once to the main points in discus
sion between us, Her Majesty's Government hay
carefully examined how far Mr.. Stewards note, an
the conduct it announces, complies substantially
with the two proposals have rected.
With regard to the first, viz the liberation Of tn
prisoners with view to their being again place.
under British protection, find that the note con
cludes by stating that the prisoners will be cheer
fully liberated, and by calling upon your Lordshil
to indicate time and place for receiving them. 2
No condition of any kind is coupled with the lib
Grafton of the prisoners l-.z--s -
With regard to the suitable apology which tn
British Government had right to expect, l fin
that the Government Of the United States distinct
ly and unequivocally declares that no direction
had been given to Captain Wilkes, or to any othe
naval officer, to arrest the four persons named
any of them on the Trent or on any other neutrs
vessel, at the place where it occurred or else
| where. ~
I find, further, that the Secretary of State e1
pressy forbears to justify the particular act {
which Her Majestys Government complained.
the United States Government had alleged thai
3 although Captain Wilkes had no previous instrut
. ton for that purpose, he was right in capturin
the persons Of the four prisoners, and in remoyin
them from the Trent on board his own vessel, t
5 be afterwards carried into q port of the Unite
r States, the Government which had thus sanctione
the proceeding of Capt. Wilkes would have b.
8 come responsible for the original violence an
j. insult of the act. 'S M
d But Mr.. Seward contents himself with stain
It that what has happened has been simply an ina,
e yertency, consisting in departure Of a nav
Q officer, free from any wrongful motive from ru
!, uncertainty established, and probably by the SO
d eral parties concerned either imperfectlys unde
j. stood or entirely unknown. The Secretary Of Sta
goes on to affirm that for this error the Britt
y Government has Alright to expect the same repal
J. ton which the United States, as an independe
i -. E N-zN Dill - 49,.