The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-01-04

- Idams, Il bsine deemed prudeot that The
around taken By the British Government saould
b arss made known here and discussion be had
hae, but Secretary Seward deemed Il proper to
stats that Capt Wilkes acted without insteuc.
lions, and the subject, therefore, Is free from en-
barrsnments which might hsve ensued II. the
act had been specially directed. He trusts the
Bsisssh Governmsnt will consider the subject in
friendly temper, and II may expect the best
dispositioo On oar part
: he next letter i from Earl Russell to Lord
Lyons, dated November S0th, 1851, which details
be Trent affair.
BE says is thus appears that certain individu.
ais have been forcibly taken from British vss.
sci, the ship Of q neutral power, on lawful and
innocent voyage-an act Of violence which was
an affrost to the British Gag, and . violation Of
international Law. Her Aajesty's Government
are willing 70 believe the act was without au-
thority, and resulted from misunderstanding,
@ the Government Of the United States must
not allow such an aitont 70 the national honor
70 pass without full reparation, and the British
government 10 unwilling 70 believe that the United
States intended unnecessarily to force discus.
sion Of % grave . question between the two ov.
erpments. Her xajesty's Government trusts
that the Government Of the United States will,
Of its own accord, offer such redress, % alone
could satisfy them, vix The liberation Of the
four persons, and their delivering Lord Lyons,
that they may again be placed |er British au.
thority, and suitable apology for the aggrss-
sion committed.
Should these terms not Be offered BY M. Sew.
ard. you will propose them to him.
Ne Seward replies 70 Lord Lyons, BY whom
hs Wss furnished . copy Of Earl Russelrs letter,
stating that the despatch has been submitted 70
the President = 1-A&3 @st <AA
Mr.. Seward states that the British Govern
ment rightly conjectures what It 10 now my duty
to state, that Capt. Wilkes acted upon his own
suggestions Of duty, without any directions or
instruction., or even bare knowledge Of IL, on
the part of this Government No directions had
been given him, or any other naval officer, to
arrest the four persons, or any Of them, on the
Trent, or any other British vessel, or any neu.
trail vessel, there or elsewhere
After discussing the whole subject At great
length in all it's bearings, Mr.. Seward
says 7 trust have shown to the satisfac.
ton of the British Government, BY very
simple and natural statement Of facts and
analysis of law applicable to them, that this
Government has neither meditated nor practiced
nor approved any deliberate wrong in the tran.
saction to which they have called its atten.
ton, and on the contrary. that what has hap
pened has been simply an inadvertency con-
from any wrongful motive from rule upcer
tainly established, and probably by the several
parties concerned, either imperfectly under
stood or entirely unknown. For this error
the British Government has right 70 expect
the same repsration that we as en- Independent
state should expect from Great Britain or from
any other friendly lnation in q similar case.
have not been unaware that in examining this
question have fallen into an argument for
-L.a. u. n 49,. l. r -
own country. But I am relieved from all en-
bsrrassment on that subject. I had hardly fal.
len into that line of argument when discovered
that was really defending and maintaining,
not exclusively, British interest in an old HON.
ored and cherished American cause; not upon
British authorities, but upon principles that
constitute large portion of the distinctive pol
icy by which tho United States have developed
the resources of continent aud thus become q
considerable maratme power and won the re.
spect and confidence of many nations.
These principles were laid down for US by
James Madison in 1904 when Secretary OF State
under Jefferson, in his instructions to James
Monroe, our then Minister to England.
Mr.. Seward says, after quoting these iustruc-
tions, that il decide this case In favor of nv
own Government, must disavow its most cher.
ished principles, release and reverse and forever
abandon ito essential policy. The country
cannot afford the sacrifice. If maintain these
principles and adhere to that policy, I must
surrender the case itself It will be seen there.
fore that this Government could not deny the
justice Of the claim presented. We are asked
TO do to the British nation just what We always
insisted all nations ought to do to US. In com
ing to my conclusion, have not forgotten that
If the safety Of this Union required the deten-
ton Of the Union prisoners it would be the
right and duty of this Government to detain |
them. But the efficient check and wanipe
proportions of the existing insurrectioh Is
we'll as the comparative unimportance of the
captured persons themselves, when iispas-
sionately weighed, happily forbid me from re.
sorting TO that defence. Nor am unaware that
American citizens are not in any case to be I'm.
necessarily surrendered for any purpose into the
keeping Of foreign state. Only the captured
persons, however, or others who are Interested
in them, could justly raise question on that
ground '-'
1t would tell little for our own claims to the |
Character Of just and magnanimous people, II |
We should 60 far consent to be guided by the |
law OF retaliation, as to lift DIP buried injuries
against national ns:..stency and national con.
.cienGe .ag beyond Us all suggestions Of
WI. WI. .'n" prefer to express my satisfaction,
VI :. BY the adjustment of the present case Upon
principles confessedly American, and yet Is I
trust, mutually satisfactory to both nations con-
cerned, . question is finally and rightly settled
between them which hes herstofore exhausted not
only all forms of peaceful discussion, but also
the arbitrament of war itself, and for more than
half century alienated the two countries form
each other, and perplexed With fears and appre-
tensions all other nations. The four prisoners
In question are now held IN military custody at
Fort Warren, In the State of Massachusetts,
They will be cheerfully liberated. Your lord
ship viii please indicate time and place for re-
eeiving them. renew my assurance Of my
very high consideration. lSisned)
.Ssa VIZ. n. SEWARD |
A dispatch from N. Thouvcnal to n. Mercfer,
French Minister to our Government, 10 also con- |
venal urges that neutral dag from neutral |
port to another neutral port covers the persons |
and merchandise it carries, and adopts the prin.
ciples laid down in the dispatches Of Earl Rus- |
eel, 10 which NJ. Seward appropriately replica 1
The following 10 from Lord Syons to Mr. Sew. |
ard:
Warrington, Dec. ~.
To the Hon. W,n H. Seaard: -:
6ir-I have this morning received the note |
which you did me the honor to address TO me /
yesterday, In anewer to Earl Russels despatch /
of Nov. 80th, relative to the removal Of Messrs.
Mason, Slidell, Mcfarland and Eustice from the |
Iii PoCA9e ItSut. u VIII WWnO0t 1885
Of aus feewardtc her 4sjestys Government :
copy ofths important Communication which yoa
have made to me.
will also, without delay, do myself the honor
to confer with you personally on the arrange.
nents 70 be made for delivering the four gentle
men to me in order that they may again be |
placed under the protection Of the British Gag.
I have the honor to be, &c., sst tsss
(SignedD Lroxs
WAsuINGroS, Dec. 2S.-The decision Of the |
President IN Che Trent affair Is announced and |
explained in the despatch Of Secretary Seward
and hes the approval Of every member Of The
Cabinet.
The Intelligencer, 10. an article apparently
'emi-offcisl, says: Whatever may be tho dis.
appointment of any At the result to which the
Adninistration has como, ia settling . question
vhiA oonsstuticnally devolved upon The Exs.
cctive Of the Goverunsnk W are sure That an
WI cppaud the hrmness and sincerity Of de
Administration. s1, =. 80
The lntelligencer says In conclueion: What.
evcr, therefore, may Be said by any n thr ~
II exception to the extreme terns 81 ~ S.r,snA
made By TIE British Goverument ii the 49, ~
10 Trent Il 10 at least, just TO admit IA tSs