Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-04


the American officer that the four persons he bad named
we're sanding before him The commander OF the Trent
and Commander Williams protested against the act OF
taking those four passengers out Of the Trent they b.
ing under the projection Of the British flag But the san
JEcino vas q. this time ony two hundred yards of her
ships company at quarters her ports open and tompoo
out ard 80 resistance was out OF the question: Tbe
four persons bsoe named then forciby taken out
OF the ship lursher demand made, that the e)m
nander OF the Trent should proceed on board the III
Jscinso bat he said be would 60 unless fofcby
aled Likewise, and tisdenand not insisted upon
Upon this statement Earl RUSSELL renarks that il thus
appears that certain individuals have been forcby taken
from on board British vessel the ship Of a neutral
power while that vessel WAS pursuing lawful and nno
cent voyage aetof violence which sfcont 70
the British flag aud violation to International law,
EWl Russell next says that Her Msessys government
bearing in mind the friendly relations which has louG
suosised between Great Britain AnJ the Unted s't'e
are willing 70 believe that the naval oncer VINO coni
ted this aggression was not acting IN comphaLee WIN
any authority from bis government Or that ne con-
ceived himself TO De 80 authorized be greatly msunoer
stood the Instructions he had received
Ear Russell argues that the United States must Do
folly aware that the British Government could not ado.
such aront 10 the naooh honor 10 pass without full
rsparaIion, and they are wiling 70 believe that could
not be the del brate Intention O the aited States on
necessarily 70 force into discussion between the two gov
ernments, question OF 20 grave character aud al
to e"tsrIain go unanimiy of feeling
Earl RUSSELL resting upon the STA ement and the Areu
ment which have rected closes with saying That he
jestys government trust that when this matter Sc
shall have been brought under the oi lne
government OF the United States, Nl OF Us own Ae
Soro o"S alone 50 ss,y bs R BS nsUn viz The liberation
of the four prisoners taken from tho Trent and their s
livery your Lordship in order thst they NAV again he
placed under British protfclion, ard suitable apolns
for the aggression which has beea committed. h
Russell naly instncts you 20 propose those terms TO
me- If should not fra; of,r them On the part of the
Government.
This dispatch hss been submitted to the President.
The British Government has rightly copiectured tia.
ia my duty 70 state that Captain Wilkes in COZ.
ceivug aud executing the proceedings in question, acted
upon his own suggestion 0t duty without any olreouoh
or pstrucon or even forekuowledge of t on the part
Of this Government. No direction rad been given to
him or ny otner naval officer to arre. the four persons
named or any of them on the Tren, or on any other
British vessel or on any other neutral vessel at the place
where 1t occurred elsewhere. The British Govern
ment will Justly infer from these IA It's that the United
States not ouy have had purpose but no thought
Of forcing iato discussion the question which has arsen
or any other which could affect in any way, the sensbi
tics of the British nation 30
It's true thst a round sho. fired by the San Ja-
cnto from the pivot gun when the Trent was dsanty
approaching. But as the facts have been reported 10
fred in direction 80 obviously olVergen' from tue
course Of the Trent as 10 be quite as harmless as
blank shot while il should be regarded as signal
So also learn thst the Trent was not approaching
the ssnJArnio slowly when the shell fred
her bow but o. the contrary the Trentwas seemed
to be. uJying ilei ip head Of steam, as II with
purJ7 = pass t1e sC' h';nto.
W informed a',o, thit the boar ing omcer lieut.
FiirftJ, ID nei board the Trent with large armeo
surui tThe ie te mennesio MS ooat ~nen ne enter
ed tie s,rt. ne showed his iosrueuohs rom oapenu
Wikv- search ior the Tour pr,sonets nshieu IN re-
specilul and courteous taoush uicdeu mannet au me
asked tne caPtAihol tne iaeu' !" Su0" Jus "s;.
list, Wmch was reiuseu' ihe hru'euan', I" VIC ne
10 mel oid hol emPo! ~
passengers, ou' ne useu usf 80 ucn vas neSeesa!
10 tasiy the parties cohce'neu tuA'
would ne unSalhug'
90 aiso we tuAe tue " s'e Wv
was not al any llme OF IN an! way t'quneu " so y"
ooardtne san 1Aclnso' r.,
These modtcihons OF tne case, as preseo'eu ny oo"
mander Williams, are based upon our ohaiai report,
have nov to remind your Lordshp o, some Rsy
which, deuohc'sy; wer, omitted oy Eur, ~. ~
tae very proper al" oee eonl~e niou'e u WI
70 os orous"' ~ il'o 70. os =. - ~; " n .n,
Sa'es N tne way nio'1 sau'soy .s " "o. WI, o.o'.
rhese aets are, .ua' H''ue une 'ne Ia s,,sI g..
req an insurrec"oh "Af eh'suus " n' s.,
whica lnls uoVein,hen'l"aS eps'Beu ~ supf,.fe :!
the employment VI Alu anu uarat U,.e' t'a, ~, -
gard to tnIs domestic s,re 'ne
ed Great Britain irenuy power, Nnie sns h'
Tor herself the attitude oi neuIa anu suat opa we
considered IN the same gnI anu nau assueu 'ne sam"
attitude as Great Bri'
IL has oeen setsa oy correspohuence .na, In'
States ar dreat britain mutually IeeognHea as sPPoa
be to this local STRIFE these Two articles OF 'ne
ton mace oy the congress 0, rsr,S IN lo'o, W. uiss
the neutral OF 'rienu'y nlg sn9au cove enes
NOT cou'laoap" VI "a auI '' -, an ana
ulnaSp u T IT, or contraband from favor
~, ts s,sr, ,co NJ ,he nart;es bv the rul.
hitherto every where recognized as psrt Of the law Of
naons that whatever il eontraband is liable to capture
aud o. niscatiou in all cases
-, N u.so, and = 7 Mscs.,ls,s are citizens of
rn'..I &C. snS raaS.,,s .f yrvni, John sl
ALI ond Eusties are citizens Of tSe Uned State.
VA rssdsr,s ~ I,nis;ana vls well known in Fl,
~ ,hsss na,t;es embarked In the Trent tbs,
.Ismes M Mason was proceeding 70 Ruvland in the az.
Ssc,nS ctaracter Of Minstes Penipoteutiary To the
Gcnrs of st J,mes under pretended commission from
rsop Davis who assumed to be President of the TO-