The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-01-09
Mason and slidell Released.

the seizure Of the traitors Slidell and Ma
son is received The FIRST is q letter from
Secretary Seward to MiLisrer Adams, da
ted November 80. in which he compli
ments the latter for wisely speaking and
acting at the Lord Mayors dinner; and
also states that he told Lord PalmersIon
aimply the fact, when Informing him that
the life Of the lnsurIection was sustained
by the hopes of its recognition by Eng
land and France, and if those hopes ceas-
ed, the nsurrection would perish in nine
ty days.
lie refers in the same not 10 the fact
of the arrest of Slidell and Mason by Cap.
Wilkes, as new and unforeseen circum-
stance, which is to be met by tile two
governments, If possible in kindly spirit'
! Lord Lyons had said nothing on tie
subject, and no explanations were furnish
ed Minister Adams, il being deemed pru'
dent that the ground taken by the British
government should be first mado known
here. But Secretary Seward deemed IL
proper to state that Captain Wilkes acted
without Instructions, and the subjet,
therefore. is free from ernbarrassments
which might have eusued if the act had
beIn specially directed. He trusts the
british government will consider tie sub
jcct in friendly temper. and it may ex,
pect the best disposition on our part
| The next letter is from Earl Russell 10
Lord Lyons. dated Nov. 80, which details
the Trent affair. He says: at ,llus APP
pears that certain individuals have been
iorcibly taken from British vessel. the
ship Of a neutral power, on lawful and
innocent voy age; an act of violence which
was an affrout to the British flag aud a
violation Of international law Her Maj
es,y's government are willing to b lieve
the act was without authority, and rcsul
ted from misunderstanding, as ths gov
erument Of The United States must be full
y ayvre the British goyernm- mt would
not allow such affront 10 the national hon
or to pass without full reparaIion; and tbe
British government is nnwiliSg to believe
that the United States deliberately inten.
ded unnecessarily 20 force discussion oi
so gave aquestion tetwesn the two gov
ernments.
Her Majesty 8 government trusts that
the government of the United States, will
Of its own accord, offer such redress as
alone could satisfy them, viz: The librrs
ton of the four persons. and their delv-
cry to Lord Lyons. that they may again
he placed under British authority and q
suitable apology for the aggression com
mi,ted. Should these terms not be offer
ed by Mr.. Seward, you will propose. them
10 him."
Mr. Seward replies to Lord Lyons, b.
t whom he was furnished a copy Of Ear
Russell's letter. stating thar the dispatcl
had been submitted to the President
Mr.. Seward states that, "The Blitisl
Government rightly copjectured, what i
is now my duty TO state, that Capt. Wiki
acted upon his own suggestions Of duty
without any direction or instruction, ev
en- fors.kuowledge of it en- the part o
i this Government. No directions hat
been given him or any other naval off
r Ger TO arrest the four persons, orany O
# them, on the Trent or any other Brltis
b vessel, or any neutral vessel there o
d elsewhere
e After discussing the whole subject a
o great length, in all its hearings, MI
% Seward says:
l. Il trust have shown to the Briti,
d Government, BY very simple and naiu
IS raj statement Of facts, and analysis
l. law applicable to them, that this Cover
ment has neither medirated nor prao'icec
'e nor approved any d, liberate wrong in tn
n transaction to " hich they have called Il
le attention, and on the contrary. that wh'
= has happened has been simply an ina'
~ verianry. consisting in a departure by
i naval officer, Tree from any wrongful me
8 tive, from a rule uncertainty csta"hsht'
j. and probably by the several parties COZ
ia cerned either imperIeclly understood
(. entirely unknown. For this error II
,r British Government hasa light to expe'
| the same reparation that VIZ, as an ind
prDdent State, should expect from Gre
~ Britain or any other friendly nation III
20 - similar case"
- "I have not been aware that in exam
ID ining this question have fallen into :
argument for what Seems to be Brtls
or side Of il, against my own country, bu.
~ am relieved from all embarrassment {
=, ~ the SUBJECT. l bad hardly fallen in
y that line o! argument when l discovert
+ hat l was really Offending and mainta
!, ing, not exclusively British interests, b
~ ~ ap old honored and cherished Am4rici
ID rause, notupon British authorities, b
: upon principles that constitute large po
lion Of he distinctive policy by whit
es the United States have developed the T
y sources Of continent, and thus become
W considerable maralime power, aud w
10 the respect and confidence Of many n
&c U lions. These principles were laid dov
! ~ for us by James Madison, in 1904, VIII
ne Secretary Of State under Jefferson, In b
'u' instructions TO James Monroe, oul tn
ne Minister 10 England" .5th
Mr. Seward Gays, after quoting the
ur instructions, that, "If L decide this ca
in favor Of my own government, mi
cir disavow It's most cherished principles,
OF lease and reverse and forever abandon
ri. essential policy. The country cam
,ir atlord The sacrifice. If / maintain the
we principles, and adhere to that policy
to must surrender the ease itself 1t "
les be seen, therefore, tha, this Governme
we could not deny the Justice Of the cha
to presented. We are asked 10 do the Br
-. ;aLNoo,;os s,,.t ,,bot ,,n ol-.a,s - ;ne;ek