Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-01-08

vessel was pursuing lawful ana innocent
voyage, an actof violence which was afr ont
to the British flag and violation of interna-
| tional law.
| Earl Russell next says that Her Majesty 8
| Government, bearing in mind the friendly re-
latiOns which have long existed between Great
Britain and the United States, are willing to
| believe that the naval officer who committed
| this aggression was not acting in compliance
with any authority from his Government, or
! that, if he conceived himself to be so author
Zed. he-greatly misunderstood the instructions
| which he had received.
Earl Russell argues that the United States
must be fully aware that the British Govern
ment could not allow such an affront to the
national honor TO pass without full reparation,
and they are willing to believe that it cou Id
not be the deliberate intention of the Govern
| ment of the United States unnecessarily to
force into discussion between the two Govern
| ments question of so grave character, and
with regard to which the whole British nation
would be sure 10 entertain such unanimity of
! feeling.
Earl Russell, resting upon the statement
and the argument which have thus recited,
closes with saying that Her Majesty's Govern
ment trusts that when this matter shall have
| been brought under the consideration OF the
United States it will, of its own accord offer
TO the British Government such redress as
alone could satisfy the British nation namely,
the liberation of the four prisoners taken from
the Trent, and their delivery 10 your Lordship,
in order that they may again be placed under
British protection, and suitable apology for
the aggression which has been committed.
Earl Russell finally instructs you to propose
| those terms to me, if should not first offer
them on the part Of the Government.
This despatch has been submitted to the
| President.
The British Government has rightly con-
jectured, what it is now my duty to state, that
Capt. Wilkes, in conceiving and executing the
proceeding in question, acted upon his own
| suggestions of duty, without any direction
| instruction, or even foreknowledge of it on the
part of this Government. No directions had
been given to him or any other naval officer,
to arrest the four persons named, or any of
them, on the Trent, or on any other British
vessel, or on any other neutral vessel, at the
place where it occurred or elsewhere. The
British Government will justly infer from
these facts that the United States not only
had no purpose, but even no thought of fore
ing into discussion the question which has
risen, or any which could affect in any way the
sensibities of the British nation.
1t is true that round shot was fired by the
San Jacnto from her pivot gun when the Trent
was distantiy approaching. But, the facts
have been reported to this Government, the
shot was nevertheless Intentionally fired in a
direction SO obviously divergent from the
course of the Trent to be quite as harmless
signal.
So also we learn that the Trent was not ap-
preaching the San Jacinto slowly when the
shell was fired across her bows, but, on the
contrary, the Trent was, seemed to be
moving under full head of steam, as if with
purpose to pass the San Jacinto.
We are informed also that the boarding Off
cer( Lieutenant Fairfax )did not board the Trent
with large armed guard, but he left his ma
rines in his boat when he entered the Trent.
He states his instructions from CAPT. Wilkes
to search for the tour persons named, in re-
spectfui and courteous though decided manner,
and he asked the Captain of the Trent to show
his passenger list, which was refused. The
Lieutenant, as we are informed, did not en-
ploy absolute force in transferring the passen-
gers, but he used Just much was neces-
sary to satisfy the parties concerned that re-
fusa or resistance would be unavailing.
So, also, we are informed that the Captain
of the Trent was not at anv time or in any
way required to go on board the San Jacinto.
These notifications OF the present
by Commander Williams are based upon our
official reports.
l have now to remind your Lordship of
some facts which doubtessly were omitted by
Earl Russell, with the very proper and becom-
ing motive of allowing them to be brought in
to the case, on the part of fhe United States,
in the way most satisfactory to this Govern
ment. These facts that at the time the
transaction occurred al inSurrection was exist
ing in the United States which this Govern
ment engaged in Suppressing by the en-
ployment of land and naval forces that in re-
gard to this domestic strife the United States
considered Great Britain friendly Power,
while she had assumed for herself the attitude
of a neutral; and that Spain was considered
in the same light, and had assumed the same
attitude as Great Britain.
1t had been settled by correspondence that
the United States and Great Britain mutually
recognized as applicable to this local strife
these two articles OF the declarations by the
Congress of Paris in 1856, namely that the
neutral or friendly flag should cover enemy's
goods not contraband Of war, and that neutral
goods not contraband of war are not liable TO
capture under an enemy's flag. These excep-
tions of contraband from fav or where a mega
tive acceptance by the parties Of the rule
hitherto every where recognized as part of the
law ofnatOns, that whatever is contraband is liza
BILE to capture and confscation IN all cases.
James NJ. Mason and E. J. Mcfarland re
citizens of the United States, and residents of
Virginia. John Slidell and George Eustis are
citizens of the United States and residents of
Louisiana. 1t was well known at Havana
when these parties embarked in the Trent
that James NJ. Mason was proceeding to Eng
land in the affected character OF Minister
Plenipotentiary to the Court of st. James, un-
der a pretended commission from Jefferson
Davis, who had assumed to be President OF
the insurrectionary party in the United States,
and E. j. Mcfarland was going with him In
like unreal character of Secretary OF Legation
to the pretended mission. John Sidell, in
similar circumstances, was going to Paris as a
pretended Minister to the Emperor OF the
French, and George Eustis was the chosen
Secretary of Legat ion for that simulated mis-
sion. The fact that these persons had assum
ed such characters has been since avowed by