Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-01-04

Correspenoehee'
MR.. SEWARD TO LORD LYONS.
DrrANMENr OF STATE


The Right Honorable Lord Lyons, &c &c.
Nix LoRp: Earl Russells despatch of
the 30tb, copy Of which you
have left with me at my request, is OF the
following effect, namely:
This despatch has been submitted TO the
President.
The British Government has rightly cou-
jectured, what it is now my duty TO state,
that Captain Wilkes, in conceivng aud ex,
ccuting the proceeding n question, acted
upon his own suggestions OF duty, wilhcnt
any direction or Instruction, or even fore
knowledge on the part OF the government.
No directions had been given to him or any
other naval officer, 10 arrest the four per-
sons uamed, or any of them, on the Trent,
or on ans other British vessel, or any other
neutral vessel, at the place where it occur
red or elsewhere. The Bctish Govern
meut will justly infer from these remarks
that the United States not only have had
no purpose, but even no thought of forcing
into discussion The question which has arisen
or any other which could OBJECT in any way
the seusiblites of the British nation,
1t is true that round shot was fred by
the San Jaciuto from her pivot gun when
the Trent was distantly approaching. But
as the facts have beeu reported to this
GovernUent, the shot was nevertheless in
tcntionally fred a direction SO obviously
divergent from the course of the Trent as
10 be quite as harmless as a blank shot,
while it should be regarded as q signal
So, also, We learu that the Trent was
not approaching the San Jacinto slowly
wheu the shell was fred across her bows,
but, on the contrary, the Trent was, or
seemed TO be, moving under q full head of
steam, as if with purpose TO pass the San
Jacinto.
We are informed, also, that the board.
ing officer, Lieut.. Fairfax did not board
the Treat with large aimed guard. but
be left bis marines iA the boat when be en.
tered the Trent. lie stated his instructions
from Capt Wilkes to search for the four
persons named, and in a respectful aud
courteous though decided manner, aud he
asked The captuiu of the Trent to show his
passenger list, " Which was refused The
lieutenant as we are informed did not EN-.
ploy absolute force iu transferring the pas
sengers, but he used just so much as was
necessary 10 satisfy the parties concerned
! that refusal or resistance would be uuayail.
ing.
So, also, we are informed that the captain
OF the nent was not at any time nor iu any
way required TO go on board the San Ja'
ciuto.
These notifications Of the case as pre-
sentcd 10y Commander Williams arc baset
Dpou our cfhGial repoItS.
have now TO remind your lordship .
some facts which doubtleSsly were omitted
Earl Russell, with the very proper aDt
becoming motive of allowing them 10 bl
brought iuto tue case, on the part of tb
United States, IN the way most satisiactor,
to this government These facts are, thu
at tue time the transaction occurred all in
suTrectiou was existing iu the United State
which this government was engaged in SUI
pressing by the employment OF land au
naval forces; that in regard to this domei
tic strfe, the United States cousiderd Grea
Britain as frieadly Power, while she ba
assumed for herself the attitude efa neutrC
and that Spain was considered 10 the san
. light, and had assumed the same attitud
as Great Britain.
1t had been settled by coHesp pondsac
that the United States and Great Britai
usntually recognised as applicable TO tlIi
I local strife these two articles of the declaI
alton made by the Congress of PariSin 1855
namely, that q neutral or friendly flag shoul
cover euemy'S goods not contraband Of wa
4 and that neutral goods not contraband
D war are not liable TO capture under a
i. enemy's flag. These exceptions Of contr
' bnnd from favor were u negative acccp
ance by the parties Of the rule hitherl
everywhere recognised as q part Of the la
y of nations, that whatever is coltrabaud
liable to capture s conGscaiion in all case
II james NJ Mason aud Il j. McFarlau
J. are citizens Of the United States and re,
II dents of Virginia. John 1Sidell and Ge
le Eustis are citizens of the United Stat
y aud residents Of Louisiana. 1t was w(
,e known at Havana when these parties eI
, barkcd on the Trent that james NJ MaSt
;, was proceeding to England in the aEeclt
= character of Minister Plenipotentiary
y the Cour! of ST.. James, under preIend
as commission from jefferson Davis, who hi
ne assumed TO be President Of the lnSurreciio
s. ary party in the United States, aud e.
"A Mcfarland was going with him iu like u
BIT real character Of Secretary of Legation
he The pretended mission. John Slidel.
~ similar cireumstaBccs was going to Pa
as q pretended Minister to The Emperor
the French, and George Eusts was /
&C chosen Secretary Of Legation for that 81
n. aIaIed mission. The fact that these p
N sous had assumed such characters has be
4. since ayowed by the same Jefferson l
sis in q pretended message to an unlaw
. and insurreciionary Congress. 1t was,
OF we think rightly presumed that these NJ
py islers bore pretended credentials and
An structions, aud such papcrs are in the /
d. known as dispatches. We are Informed
lie our Consul al Paris that these dispatch
er. having escaped the search Of the IRE
n. were actually conveyed and delivered
emsaries Of the insurrection in Enfand.
Although il is not essential yet it is pro-
tie to state, as l do also, upon information
In belief, that the owner aud agent, and
es. the officers OF the Trent, including
to Commander Williams, had knowledge
I'd the assumed characters and purposes Of