The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-01-02

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 neutral yes
sells, there or elsewhere. After
discussing the whole subject at
great length in all its bearings, MIR.
Seward says:
| trust | have shown to the sat-
isfaction of the British Govern
ment, by a very simple and natural
statement of facts and analysis of
law applicable 10 them that this
Government have neither medita-
ted, practiced, nor approved any
deliberate wrong in the transac-
tons to which they have called
its attention ; and on the contrary,
that what has happened has been
simply an inadvertency, consisting
in a departure by the naval officer,
free from any wrongful motive,
from a rule uncertainty established,
and probably by the several parties
concerned either imperfectly I'M
derstood or entirely unknown. For
this error the British Government
has a right to expect the same rep
aration that we, as all independent
State, should expect from Great
Britain& from any other friendly
natioH - similar case.
| have not been unaware that in
examining this question [ have
fallen into an argument for what
seems to be a British side of it
against my own country, bat | am
relieved from all embarrassment
on that subject, | had hardly fall
leninto that line Of argument when
| discovered that l was really de-
Tending and maintaining not ex-
clusively British interests, but an
old honored and cherished Ameri-
can cause-not upon British au-
thorities, but upon principles that
constituted a large portion of the
distinctive policy by which the
United States have developed the
resources of a continent, and thus
become a considerable maratime
power and won the respect and
confidence of many nations These
principles were laid down for us y
James Madison in 1904, when Sec
rotary of State under Jefferson, in
his instructions to James Monroe,
our then Minister to England.
Mr.. Seward says, (attcr quoting
these Instructions
If / decide this case in favor OF
my own government, | must dis
avow its most cherished principles,
and release and reverse and forever
abandon its essential policy. The
country cannot atford.the sacrifice.
If / maintain these priL cipies, and
adhere to that policy, [ must sur,
re lder the case itself. 1t will be
seen, therefore, that this Govern
ment could not deny the justice OF
the claim presented. We I asked
to do~to the British nation just
what we always insisted all ma
tons ought to do to us. In COM
ing to my conclusion, | have not
forgotten that if the safety of this
Union required the detention OF
the prisoners, it would be done.
1t would be the right and duty
of this Government to detain them,
but the effectual check and waning
proportions Of the existing insur,
rection, as well as the comparative
unimportance of the captured per-
sons themselves, when dispasslon.
ately weighed, happily forbid mt
from resorting to that defense; non
am l unaware that American citi,
zens are in any case to be unnec'
essarily surrendered forany purpose
into the keeping of a foreign State.
Only the captured persons, how.
ever. or Others who are interested
III them, could justly raise a ques.
ton on that ground. 1t would tel,
little for our own claims to the
character of a Just and magnani'
nous people, if we should so fal
consent to be guided by the law o.
retaliation as to lift up buried in
iurics against national consistency
and national conscience.
Putting beyond neal suggestion
of this Kind, | prefer to expires.
my satisfaction that by the adjust
ment of the present case upol
principles ~confessedly American
and yet, as | trust, mutually salts
factory to both nations concerned
a question is finally settled between
them, which, heretofore eXhaustins
not only all forms of peaceful
discussions, but also the arbitra
ment of war itself, for more thar
half a century alienated the two
countries from each other, ant
perpIexed with fears and a%pprehen
sions all other nations.
The four persons in question arr
now held in military custody a
Fort Warren, in the State Of Massa
chusetts. They will be cheerful,
liberated. Your Lordslip will
please indicate a time and place TO
receivinp them,