Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-01-09


eeSeA 30 e2Esxrs CT condemnation, 'hc rule
N MI cases IN, that the question shall not be
seided by the csptor, but be carried before a
egNl tribunal, where a regular trial may be
he'd, and where the csptor himself is liable to
damage TO. an abuse of his power. Can it be
reasonable then, or Just, that belIigerent
commander who is thus restricted, and thus
responsible 10 case of mere property OF triv-
ial amount, should be permitted, without ref
rrence to any tribunal whatever, TO examine
the crew of neutral vessel, to decide the i'm.
portant question of their respective allegiances,
and to carry that decision into execution by
forcing every individual he may choose into q
service abhorreat TO his feelings, cutting him
of from his most tender connections, exposing
his mind and his person to the most humiliat-
Ing discipline. and bis life to the greatest dan.
ger Reason, Justice, and humanity unite in
protesting against so extraTagant proceed
Ing" ---
II ! decide this case ia favor of my own
Government, / must disaFow its most cherish
ed principles, and reverse and forever abandon
It's essential policy. The country cannot az.
ford the sacrifice. II maintain those prnci,
Piles and adhere to that policy, must surren
t,
that this Government could not deny the JUS
tice Of the claim presented to US in this respect
upon its merits We ore asked to do to the
British nation just what we have always in-
sisted all nations ought to do to us.
The claim of the British Government is not
made in q disconrteous manner This Govern
ment, since its first organization, has never US.
ed more guarded language 10 a similar case
In coming to my conclusion | have not for
gotten that, if the safety of this Union requir,
ed the detention Of the captured persons, it
would be the right and duty Of this Govern
nent to detain them. But the cffectual check
and waiting proportions Of the existing insur-
Feetion, as well as the comparative unimpor,
tance OF tue captured persous themselves, when
di>passionately weighed, happily forbid me from
reSorting to that defence.
Nor am / unaware that American citizens
are not in any case to be unnecessarily surren,
dered for any Purpose into the keeping Of o
foreign State. Only the captured persons
however, or others who are interested in them
could justly raise question on that ground
Nor have / been tempted at all by suggeS-
tions 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 u.s. Those cases occurred
when Great Britain, as well as the United
States was the home of generations, which
with all their peculiar interests and passions,
have passed away. She could in DO way so
effectually diSayow 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 q inst and magnanimous people if we should
so far consent to be guided by the law of retail
iation as to lift up buried injuries from their
graves to oppose against what national con
science compel US to regard as a claim intrin
sically right
Putting behind me all suggestions Of this
kind, prefer to express my satisfaction that,
by the adjustment Of the present case upon
principles coutestedly American, and yet, as |
trust, mutually satisfactory to both of the ma
tons concerned, question is finally and right
ly settled between them, which, heretofore ex-
hausting not only all forms of peaceful discus
sion, bHL also the arbitrament of war itself, for
more than half q century aienated the two
countries from each other, and preplexed with
fears and spprehensionS all other nations
The four persons in question are now held
in military custody at Fort Warren, in the
State of Massachusetts. They will be cheer
fully liberated. Your Lordship will please in,
dicate time and place for receiving them.
avail myself of this occasion to offer your
LordShip q renewed assurance of my very
high consideration, WV. Ii. SEWARD.