Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-01-03
THE SENTINEL.
Tho Mason slidell Correspondence.

personalities Oh the American government ana
those Of England and France in relation to
the capture of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, has
boon published simultaneously with the sur
render of those gentlemen to the custody and
protection Of Great Britain. We present the
following abstract oft. The Baltimore Sun
Of Monday says:
The first paper is a CONFIDENT al note from
Mr.. Seward to Mr. Adams, U S. minister at
London, dated Nov. 80, 1861.
Mr.. Seward refers to confidential note
from Mr.. Adams, approves the remarks of the
latter at the Lord Mayors dinner, in which
he had intimated 10 Lord Palmerston that the
Southern instruction was sustained entirely
BY hopes Of recognition from England and
France. Mr.. Seward asserts in the note that
such recognition would lead to q war between
the United States and all the powers recognz-
ing Southern independence He speaks Of the
seizure of Mason and Sldell as an act which
the United States government had not autho-
rized and hopes that the government of Eng
land will meet the subject in such way as to
free it from embarrassment. Mr.. Adams isat
liberty to read the note TO Earl Russell and
Lord Palmerston
The next letter Is from Earl Russell to Lord
Lyons, bearing date London, Nov 30, 1861
or rather it happened 10 be exactly simulta-
neous, SO that while Mr.. Seward was present
ing the matter for consideration by Lord Rus
sell through Mr.. Adams Lord Russell was
actually penning the ultimatum of the British
government for presentation by Lord Russell
The letter of Earl Russell opens with a
, statement Of the taking of Messrs. Mason, Sill
dell, Mcfarland and Eustis forcibly from on
board the Trent by the San Jacinto. II is de-
clared to be an affront 10 the British flag and
the national honor demanding full reparation;
and her Majesty's government trust that the
government Of the United States 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 gem
tlcman and their delivery to Lord LYONS, 10
order that they may again be placed under
British protection, and q suitable apology for
the aggression which has been committed
Should these terms not be offered by Mr.
Seward Lord Lyons is to propose :hem to him.
Mr. Seward replies to this note at length in
a letter dated December &c, 1861, and address
ed to Lord Lyons.
Mr. Seward repeats the statement Of the
case as made by Earl Russell, aud says the
dispatch has been submitted TO the President
he then proceeds to the statement of the fact
that Capt. Wilkes acted without direction, or
instruction, or even foreknowledge on the part
of this government. No directions had been
given to him or any other naval officer to ar
rest the parties, consequently the United States
had no purpose to force a discussion of the
question upon the British government.
Mr.. Seward demurs to some of the state
ments Of fact as made by Lord Russell, and
excuses the firing of a round shot and shell as
being in direction obviously divergent from
the course of the Trent.
Mr.. Seward refers to an existing insurrec-
ton, and says the United States regarded
Great Britain as friendly Rower, though
standing as a neutral. He alludes to the as
sumed character Of Messrs Mason and Slidell
as ministers to France and England from the
insurrectionary States, under q pretended
commission from Jefferson Davis, as well
known at Havana. He argues that it was
patches, &c. That these dispatches have since
reached emissaries of the instruction in Eng
land, and that the officers of the Treut had
knowledge of the character OF these passen-
gers, and therefore urges that Captain Wilkes
was performing simple legal act in captur-
ing contraband of war. Mr.. Seward presents
the Issue in the following categorical manner:
LIST. Were the persons named and their sup
posed dispatches contrahand of WARP
I'd. Might Capt. Wilkes lawfully stop and
search the Trent for these contraband persons
and dispatches2
Sd. Did he exercise that right in a a lawful
proRer manner?
4th. Having found the contraband persons
on board, and in presumed possession Of the
contraband dispatches, had he right 10 cap
ture the pcrsons2
9th. Did he exercise that right of capture
in The manner allowed aud recognized by the
law of nations?
fall these inquiries shall be resolved in the
affirmative, the British government will have
no claim for PREPARATION
The first question Mr.. Seward argues upon
asserted principles of international law, and
arrives at the conclusion that the four persons
taken from the Trent, with their dispatches
we're contra5and Of war.
To the second question Mr. Seward regards
the Trent rs a merchant vessel and common
carrier and that the fact that she was passing
from one neutral port TO another does not
modify the right Of the bellgerent captor.
TO the third question Mr.. Seward thinks all
doubt must be removed then by modification OF
tho British statement Of the affair which be
has submitted.
The fourth question Mr.. Seward meets by
recognized law that Captain Wilkes had not
only the right to capture the persons, but to
seize the vessel.
The fifth question is discussed at length
and Mr. Seward recognizes the right Of ncu-
trails 10 a legal adjudication Of the question at
issue under capture, as TO parties being con-
traband of war He assumes accordingly
that il was the duty of Capt. Wilkes TO have
taken the Trent into port for o legal decision
in admiralty. The reasons assigned by Capt.
Wilkes for not doing this were two-fold. One
was the limited number of hrs own crew,
which did not admit Of putting prize crow
on board the Trent. The other was the nm
Willingness to cause Inconvenience TO other
parties on board. This raises the question
whether the capture OF the Trent was aban-
doned from voluntary or involuntary motives,
aud Mr.. Seward comes TO the conclusion that
Capt. Wilkes acted from combined sentiments,
and thcrerpon asks how these sentiments
should affect the action Of the British govern
ment, aud this is examined at length. Finally,
Mr.. Seward quotes the views Of Mr. Madison
ia reference 10 the action Of England In 1904.
and agrees herewith, "that the rule in all
cases, is that question shall not be decided by
the captor, but be carried before legal tri-
bunal." lie exults ina settlement OF prin.
eiple which shall bind the nations hereafter
and avert the arbitrament Of war, and informs
Lord Lyons that the captured parties now held
In military custody at Fort Warren, will be
cheerfully liberated, and asks his lordship 10
please to indicate time and place for reeeiv-
ing them