Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-06
The Trent Affair--specimens OF Lofty
and Ground Tumblinr.

MINUS she makes VIII De "cneertuiiy Acceueu 10
by Mr. Seward.
The Trent Affair--specimenso OF Lofty
and Ground umbling.
We present, for the instruction of the reader as
to the fallibIity Of the professedy inalble press
a few specimens Of a wonderful change of opinion
upon issues of public policy and internationally law.
which could be extended so as to include the Re-
publican press of the country generally. il proof
Of that kind was necessary to show .,ith what ia
city the apologists and supporters OF the Ad-
ministration can jump from one extreme to
another 70 adapt themselves to the exigencies and
circumstances Of the day, without reference to
the principles involved therein:
THE SURRENDER OF MASON AND sLIDELL ABSOLUTE
LY OUT or THE QUESTION.
From the New York Herald, Dec. III
The surrender of those notorious traitors, Ma
son and Shdell into the hands of England, is Gb-
solfely od Of the question. II is difficult to be-
lieve that England will disgrace herself by de-
mand so utterly impossible of fulfiIlment this,
and, as an ultimatum, so extremely offensive.
Limited as are our ideas Of the dignity and hon
esty of the British Government, is seems TO be
absurd to suppose that upon a shallow pretext she
can be prepared TO plunge into wasting, profit
less and dangerous war, the ally of the most
scandalous rebellion in the history Of mankind.
THE RESTORATION OF THE REBEL EMIssARiEs-MR.
SEWARD DISCHARGES HIS DUTY WITH sAGAcITY,
DIGNITY AND DEcoRUM.
From the Herald, Dec. 29)
The ultimatim of England upon the Trent af
fair, involving the restoration of our rebel ennis
sGries-Mason, Slidel, MacFarland and Eusts--
to the protection of the British flag, has been ac
10, 49, 81
were gathering, flashing and muttering in our
eastern horizon have vanished as suddenly as the
mimic thunders and lightnings of the stage. The
official correspondence, facts and arguments on
both sides before our readers The record of
our Government is clear, consistent and satisfac-
tory. Mr.. Seward has discharged his duty in
this matter with eminent ability, sagacity. dgni-
ty and decorum-
Mr.. LINCOLN WILL NEVER MAKE PREPARATION OR
APOLOGY.
From the Philadelphia Press, Dec ls.l
On this subject one sentiment is as good as a
hundred If we know the feeling OF the Presi-
dent, the Cabinet and the people, the required
apology and Preparation" will be made-neUeri
What Captain Wilkes did was justified by the
law of nations, by the law Of England, as laid
down by Lord Stowel and other of her eminent
jurists; and. more than all, by the practice of
England. Under such circumstances we hesitate
not to say that. sooner than humble the nation by
yielding to the insolent demand OF imperious and
faithless England we shall yield to the last neces.
ity, and battle with her the question.
Mr.. LINCOLN ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF PREPARATION
AND APOLOGY.
tFrom the Press, December SOL
1t is well known that when Mr.. Lincoln was
informed of the arrest of the traitors on board
the Trent, he anticipated the trouble which has
Of fl,s 1s.,r ,EoIL
willingness, rather than increase surrounding per.
lis and impending difficulties. to send them for
ward on their voyage Even amidst the acclama
tons that applauded the act he declared that he
regarded their capture as utterly Insignificant in
comparison with the great interests that might be
damaged by their imprisonment He has now
taken the responsibility, and he WILDE sustained
for doing -sff
CAN NEvER BE SURRENDERED.
From the n. Y. Times, Dec H.
One can easily see how the matter may be so
handled TO make infinite mischief. But it can
hardly be expected that our actions are to be in
fuenced by any such Fictitious consequences.
On the other hand there will undoubtedly be good
deal of genuine smarting under what may be
looked upon insult and an injury. Let us
allow something for this. 1t is just to leave
margin for feeling natural to proud and i'm
perious nation Local sentiments and associa-
tons are always more potent than>general con
victions. But, making due allowance for this,
we take final stand on the acknowledged recti-
tude of our position. If popular passion is to be
allowed to contravene a right in the law of ma
tons, we accept any issue that may result. Of
course the status can net be restored-the Con-
| federate emissaries can never be surrendered.
THE ACKNOWLEDGED REcrIruDE OF OUR POSITION
| MYTH.
From the Times, Dec. 80
Mr. Stewards mastery dispatch demonstrates
very Clearly that, while we might have justified
the act of Captain Wilkes by British precedents,
it would have been at the expense of the great
principles of maratime law to which the United
States have always adhered, and to which they
would long since have secured the assent of the
whole world, but for the opposition of Great
Britain. Those principles are worth to us a
thonsand-fold more than the persons of Mason
and Sdell aan -
Mr.. SEwARD's long argument in the case
amounts to nothing. No result is accomplished
by it. England demanded the surrender of the
flour gentlemen" upon the ground that their
arrest had been made under circumstances which
violated maritime law and insulted her flag. Our
Government surrenders them under this demand,
or after an intimation that such demand would
be made formally The British Minister receives
the gentlemen" regardless of the motives or
considerations which influenced our Government
to surrender them. and without being committed
to any construction which our representative
placed upon the laws Of nations or the past
issues between the two Governments. England
has gained the point she made, the surrender of
the prisoners taken by violence from under the
protection of her flag by an American armed ves-
sci, and we have surrendered them without any
concession on the part of the English authorities
to the construction we placed upon the issues in
volved in our past controversies upon national
rights or to the reasons which we presented as
having induced their surrender. The result is
that we have gained nothing. and we lose the
rebels not only, over whose capture there was
such great rejoicing. but at the same time our
national selfrespect.
Taxation i'm the Future.
The Chicago Times SAYS Hitherto the most
onerous taxes have been for State, county and
local purposes. The taxes for Federal uses have
been imperceptible. because they were indirect