Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-08
MlenqBis appeal.
FHE MASON AND SLIDELL AFFAIR
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENTS
Prom the Cincinnati Commercial, 3Ist ultl
MR.. sEwARD TO MR.. ADAMs-(ExTRACT,)
PARTMEkT OF STATE
WAsHINGrON, November 30, isl

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
WAsHINGrON, November 30 lS6L1
Charles Franeis adams, Esq, ETC, &c:
SuR: Your confidential note of the 18th Of November
NOT marked asa dispatch, has been submitted TO the Pres
ident, and 1 hasten to reply TO it in time for wednesday
No minister ever spoke or acted more wisely, in a crisis
which excited deep public solicitude, than you did on the
occasion Of the 10 d Ma Ors dim r We are impressed
I-Fa-o-aFIr ~ Tr-5 palmerstosfs conversation with
You You spoke the Simple fact when you told nm Una,
the life Of Gle Instruction is sustained by the hopes OF
recognition in Great Britain and in France II would
perish in ninety DAYS, if these hopes should cease. lhaye
never for q moment believed that sueha reeognfuoneouid
take plsce without producing Immediately a war between
the United States and 81 the recognizing powers nave
not supposed it possible tina; the British government
could fan to see this, and at the same time have sincerely
believed the British government mnst, IN II lnhost hearL
De averse 10 sueh a war rs / know this government is.
lam sure that this government has carefully avoided
giving any cause Of ofense or irritation 10 Great Britain.
But it has seemed 10 me that the British government has
b en- matte tive 10 the currents thar seemed 10 be bring
ing the two countries into collision
Infer from Lord Palmerstons remark that the British
government is now awake TO the Importance Of sverting
possible conflict and disposed to confer and act with
eErnestness to that end II 50, we are disposed 70 meet
tn m in the same spirit, as a nation, chiefly OF British
Ineage, sentiments and sympathies-a civilized and hu-
name nation, a Christian people.
Since that conversation was held, Capt Wilkes, in the
steamer San Jaeinto, has boarded a British colonial
steamer and taken from her deck two insurgents, who
were proceeding TO Europe on an errand Of treason
agaiBKt their own country. This i a new incident, I'M
known and unforeseen, a. least in its circumstances, by
Lord Palmersron. Il Is 10 be met aud disP0-cd Of by the
two governmental, IL possible, in the spirit 10 which I have
advorted Lord Lyons has prudenfly RETAINED from
opening the subject TO me, ~, / presume, waiting for IN
structions from home. We have done nothing on the
subject to anticipate the discussion, and we have not fur
nished you with any explanations We adhere to that
course now because we think IL more prudent that the
Vround taken by the British government should be first
made knowut0 rs here, and that the discussion, If there
must be one, shall be had here. Tit il proper, however,
that you should know one fact in the case, without indi-
cafinc that we attach Importance to il, namely. that in
the csl,ture Of Messrs- Mason and Sliden on boa d a Brit
ID vessel, Capt Wilkes having acted without Instructions
from the government, the subject is, therefore, free from
the embarrassment which might have resulted if the act
had been specially directed by uE
trust that the British government viii consider the
subiest in q friendly temper and il may expect the best
disposition on the part Of this government
Although this Is a confidential tone, 1 shall not object
to your reading il to Ear Russell and Lord Painerslon
il YOU deem ii e~xpedient
Iam,s sir, your Obedient,