The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-03
tions to James Monroe, our then Minister

tions to James Monroe, our then Minister
to England.
Mr.. Seward says latter quoting these in
structions,) that if I decide this case in fas
vor ofmy own Government, must disavow
its most cherished principles, release and re
verse and forever abandon its essential pol.
cy.
The country cannot afford the sacrifice.
If Ismaintain these principles and adhere
to that policy, l must surrender the case
itself. 1t will be seen, therefore, that this
Government could not deny the justice Of
the claim presented.
We are asked to do by the British gov.
eminent just what we hive always insisted
all nations ought to do by Us. In coming
to my conclusion, have not forgotten that
if the safety of this Union required the de
tention of the prisoners it would be done.
1t would be the right and duty of this
Government to detain them, but to ettectu>
ally check the waning proportions of the
existing insurrectioD, as we'll as the com.
parative unimportance of the captured per-
sons themselves, when dispassionately
weighed, happily forbid me from resorting
to that defense.
Nor am unaware that American citi-
zens are not in any case to be unnecessarily
surrendered for any purpose into the keep.
ing of foreign state.
Only the captured persons, however, or
justly raise question on that ground 1t
would tell little for our own claims to the
character of just and magnanimous peo-
pie if we should so far consent to be guided
by the law of retaliation as to lift up buried
ipjurers against national consistency and
national conscience.
Putting behind me all suggestions of this
kind, l 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
nations concerned, a question is finally set
tied between them, which heretofore exaus-
ted not only all forms of peaceful discussions,
but also the arbitrament Of war itself, for
more than half century alienated the two
countries from each other, and perplexed
with fears and apprehensions all other ma
tiOns.
The four persons in question are now held
in military custody at Fort Warren in the
State of Massachusetts. They will be
cheerfully liberated. Your Lordship will
please indicate time and place for receiv.
ing them. I renew my assurance of my
very high consideration,
[Signed] WIN. H. SEWARD.
A DISPATCH FROM THE FRENCH MINIS.
TER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
A dispatch from NJ. Thouvenal to Mr..
MERCER French, Minister to our Govern
ment, is also contained in the correspond.
ence, in which M. Thouvenal urges that
neutral flag from neutral to another neu-
trail port, covers the persons and merchan-
die it carries, and adopts the principles
laid down in the dispatch of Earl Russell,
to which MIR. Seward appropriately replies.
LORD LYONS TO MR.. SEWARD.
The following is from Lord Lyons to Mr..
Seward
WASHINGTON, Dec. ~, 1861.
To the Hon. VIM. H. Seward, &c.
SIR: l have this morning received the
note which you did me the honor to address
to me yesterday, in answer to Earl Russell's
dispatch of November 30th, relative to the
removal of Mr.. Mason, Mr.. Slidell, Mr..
McF arland and Mr.. Eustis from the British
mail packet Trent.
will, without loss of time, forward to
her majesty's government, copy OF the
important communication which you have
made to me.
I will also, without delay, do myself the
honor to confer with you personally on the
arrangements to be made for delivering the
gentlemen to me in order that they may
again be placed under the protection of the
British flag.
have the honor to be. &c.
(Signed) LYONS.
WHAT THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
SAYS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28--The decision of
the President in the Trent affair, as announc.
ed and explained in the dispatch of Secre.
tary Seward, has the approval of every
member of the Cabinet.
The Intelligencer, in an apparently semi.
official article, says whatever may be the
disappointment of any at the result to which
the administration has come in settling
question which constitutionally devolved on
the executive Of the Government, we are
sure that all will applaud the frmness and
sincerity of the administration.
The Intellageacer says in conclusion,
"whatever therefore may be said by any in
the way of exception to the extreme terms
of the demands made by the British in the
case of the Trent, it is at least just to ad.
NIT that the case has been so adjusted by
our Government as to subserve, we would
hope, the great cause of neutral rights
against the assumptions heretofore asserted
by England but now repudated by that
power in common with France and the
United States"
The law of nations as additionally in.
terpreted by our Government, has received
new sanction, though at cost, it be of
some national sensibility walked into dis
proportionate activity by the temporary
exaoerbatfons of our civil ieuds. The latter,
ct US remember, are but for q day the
aw of nations is for all time.
THE DEMAND OF LORD LYONS.
New YORK, Dec. 28-The Iribmae's
special says that Lord Lyons had sent in
British demand for the surrender of Ma.
son and Slidell. Time was given to Sec
ret0rv Seward IN ron1u