Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-01-03

o,,tof the Trc.I rrs' .nen
under the rrdt'' ~ MS
hit rhs San, JaclntV ON!
\ tko hundred yards her
Alps company al q'Ar'( ~"
land tompious out Res'>l re'
flare OH OF the question, arr n
4 llemen before nam,d were iofJ.
out Of tho ship. A further dem
made that the commander OF tie
should proceed on board the San in
but he said he would not go unless ioy<
comprlle,l likewise, and this demand "
not Insisted upon, II thus appears tN4
I certain in lividuals have been f,rcibly taken
/ rom on board British vessel, the slip OF
4 neutral power, while such vessel was pur-
/ suing a lawful and innocent voyage, an acs
of violence which was an asironI 10 the
! British flag and violation of international
law. Her Maiesty's Government having
in mind The friendly relations which have
long sub-isted between Great Britain and
the United States, are willing 10 believe
that the United States officer who commits
ted this aggression was not acting IN com
pliance with any authority from his Gov
eminent. or that if he conceived himself to
be so authorized he greatly misunderstood
the instructions which he had received, Tor
the Government of the United States must
be fully aware that the British Govern
ment would not allow such an atfrout TO ma
tional honor 10 pass without full PREPARATION,
and Her Majesiy's Government are unwil'
ling to believe that il could he the drlIbe-
- al, m nf h..
| Uaied States unnecessarily TO force INTO
| discussion between the two Governments a
question Of 80 grave character, and with
rssar,] 10 which the whole British nation
would be sure to entertain such unanimity
Of fee ing. Her Majesty's Government
| therefore trusts that when the matter shall
have been brought under the consideration
! of the Government of the United States,
4 that Government will of its own accord Of
| fer to the British Government such redress
as alone could satisfy the British nation,
namely, the Liberation of the four gentle
men, and their delivery to your Lood>hip in
order that they may again be placed under
British protection, and suitable apology
| for the aggression Should these terms not
be offered by Mr.. Seward you will propose
them to him. You are at liberty TO read
This dispatch to the Secretary of State. and
| if he shall desire it YOU viii give him
copy OF it. am, &c,
RUSSELL.
SECRETARY SEWARD TO LORD LYONS.
After discussing the whole subject at
great length in all its bearings, Mr.. Seward
says: / trust have shown to the satisiac-
ton of the British Government by very
simple and natural statement of facts aud
analysis of law applicable to them, that this
Governmept has neither meditated, nor
pracfised, nor approved any deliberate
wrong in the transaction to which they have
called its attention, and on the contrary,
that what has happened has been simply
an iradvettency, consisting in departure
by the naval officer, free from any wrongful
motive, from rule uncertainty established,
and probably by the several parties con-
cerned either imperfectly understood or
entirely unknown. For this error the Brit
ish Government has right 10 expect the
same PREPARATION that we as. an independent
State should expect from Great Britain or
from any other friendly nation in similar
case. l have not been unaware that in ex-
amining his question have fallen into an
s'sassarss s--- ..isAs- seems 10 be the British
side OF II against my own country. Dur 1
am relieved from all embarrassment on that
subject. ! had hardly fallen into that line
of argument when discovered that was
really defending aud maintaining ,ol an
exclusively British interest, but an old hon
ored and cherished American cause. net
upon British authorities. but upon princi-
pies that constitute a large portion of the
distinctive policy by which the United
States have developed the resources of a
continent. and thus becoming considera-
BILE maritime power have won the respect
and confidence of MANY nations.
These principles wrre laid down for us
by James Madison in, 1904. when Secre,a.
ry of State under Jefferson, in instructions
to Jas. Monroe, our then minister TO Eng
land.
Mr.. Seward says afir qnotin "S 'hese
st'uciions that if deciee tn case IN fas
of my government | mu,t disa now us m'
cherish ed principles, and to al he.e 10 IN
nol;cv ! INNS, s,rrendar tke 49, e itself.
win be seen therefore, that this osesnme
could not deny the justice Of the c'a,m pr
scented. We are asked to do to 4. nc brhh
nation just what we have always 'ns'stt
all nations ought to do to us. In G omi1g
my conclusion ! have not forg lite mat
the safety of this Union required III, detel
ton Of The captured passengers il W QUA
the right and duty of this governm rnt
4 detain them. Bnt The .ffer,nal che. k an
waning proportions of the existing ins urre'
ton as well as the comparative unir npo
lance of the captured persons fhem=el We
when dispassionately weighed, happily fsp'
bid me from resorting TO that defense, M
am unaware that American citizens az
not in any case TO be unnecessarily surien
dered for any purpose into the keeping Q
a foreign Stale. Only the captured person:
however, or others who are interested i
them, could justly raise question on tina
ground. 1t would tell little for our owl
: claims TO the character Of just and MAJ
unanimous people il we should so far cor
sent TO be guided by law Of retaliation as !
e lift up buried injuries against national co,
l. s;sten-y and national conscience. Putin
l. behind me all suggestions of this kind
y prefer to express my satisfaction that
l. the adjustment of the present question u
Ii on principles confessed bv the Anne RIGA
err and vet as trust mutually satisfactory