Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-01-02
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lFF~ t.t&4 <<41F - 4hA,t Dt'N- 80
The ofical correspondence between our
GoyerunIsnt and Great Britain relative to
the seizure Of the traitors, 'Siidell and Ma
son, is received. The first is a letter ttom
Secretary Seward 10 minister Adasas, dn7
ted Nov. 80, in -wbieil'he compliments the
latter for wisely speaking and acting ht the
Lord Mayors dinner and also states hetold
Lord Palmerston simply The fact when In
forming him the life of the ,insurrection was
sustained by The hope of its recognition by
England and France, and if those hopes
ceased The insurrection would perish in
ninety days. 5-s.s..a-af ~ s,.s q
He refers in the same note to the fact
Of the arrest of Mason and Slidcliby Capt.
Wilkes, as new and unforeseen circum-
stance, which is to be met by the two
governments, if possible, in kindly spirits.
Lord Lyons has said nothing on the sub
ject, and no explanations were furnished
Minister Adams, it being deemed prudent
that the ground taken by the British Gov.
should be first be made known here, and
discussion be had here, but Secretary
Seward deemed it proper to state that
Capt. Wilkes acted without instructions,
and the subject therefore is free from EN-.
barrassments which might have ensued If
the act had been speedily directed.
He trusts the British Government will
consider the subject in friendly temper.
and it may expect the best disposition on
Our part. The next letter is from Earl
Russell 10 Lord Lyons, dated Nov. 80,
which details the Trent affair. - .Ilr
Hesays it thus appears that certain in
dividuals have been forciblS taken from a
British vessel: :thelship Of q apeutral pewer,
on lawful and innocent voyage, an act
of violence which was an affront 10 the
British flag and violation to internation-
al law. 'it-ar y .'F el4 & ii1'7i lf.'-
Her Majesty's Government are willing to
believe the act was without authority, and
resulted from a misunderstanding, as the
Government of the. u. S. must be fully
aware the British Gov. would not allow
such affront to the national honor, with
out full reparation. and the British Gov
eminent is unwilling to believe that the U.
S. deliberately intended unnecessarily to
force a discussion of SO grave question
between the two Governments. ~
Her Majesty's Government trusts that
the Government of the U. S., will of its
own accord offer such redress as alone
could satisfy them, viz, the Liberation of
the four persons, and their delivery to Lord
Lyons that they may again be placed un-
der Britishaaihority, and n suitable apollo
gy for the aggression committed. Should
these etefms not be offieredto Mr.SSewad
yoS$ilf proposerhem to hin. g 6%A
Mr. Seward replies TO Lord Lyons, by
wAomhe.was furnished, a copy of Earl Rus
sells letter, stating the, dispatch has been
sabmiited.to the President. Mr. Seward
states that The British. Government rightly
conjecturedwbntis now my duty TO state
that Capt. Wilkes acted upon his own
suggestions Of duty, without any direction
or instruction. or even acknowledge of it
on the part of this Government. No di
reciions 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 neutral vessel there
or elsewhere.
After discussing The whole subject al
great length on all its bearings, Mr.. Sew
ard saws:
al trust have shown 10 the satisfaction
of the British Government, by n very SIM
ple and natural statement of facts, and
analysis Of law applicable TO them, tha;
this Government have neither medltated,
nor approved any deliberate wrong in the
transaction TO which they have called its
attention; on the contrary, that what has
happened has been simply al inad,erten-
cy. ,,.r.,......a-,..
II would he the right and duty of this
Government to detain them, but the effect
ual check 10 the waning proportions Of
the existing insurreclion rs well as COM
paratiye unimporance of the captured per-
sons themselves when dispassionate!y
weighed, happily forbid me from resorting
TO that defence, Lcr am | unaware that
American citizens are not in any case 10
be unnecessarily surrendered for any puri
pose into the keeping of a foreign state
Only, the captured persons, however, or
others who ares Interested in them could
justlv,raise a question on that ground. Ii
would teii little for our own Chains to the
character of a just and magnanimous pco-
ptejf We shouidFso far consent To- be issui;;
deG by law of retaliation as to lift up bur
led injuries against national consistency
and national conscience. Putting bsyond
me all suggestions Of this kind, l prefer TO
express my Satisfaction that by the adjust
ment Of the present case upon principles
corfessedy American, and yet as | trust,
mutually satisfactory to both nations con-
cerned question is finally and rightly set
tied between them, which heretofore ex-
hausting mot only all forms Of peaceful
discussions, but also the arbilratement of
war itself, for more than balt a century
Aliehaaed lie two countries from each 9th,
er, aud perplexed with fears and "ppre-
heusioas all other nations. The four per
sons in question are new held in military
custody at Fort Warren in the State Of
Massachusetts. hey will be eheerfully
liberated. Your Lordship will please in
dicate time and place for receiving them.
l renew my assurance of my very high
considerations. ri (Signed.) ~'ll
'.' ''''''''a - '''1 WIN. H. SEWARD.
A dispatch from NJ. Thouvenal to Mr..
Mefcier. French Minister to our Govern
ment contained in the correspondence in
,rb;ch NJ Thonvenal aroues that n neutral