Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-01-09


sumed then was the same now occupy. and
the arguments By which he sustained him.
self upon it have been an inspiration IN ma
in preparing this reply.
Whenever" he says, "prorcrts fopnd
in neutral vessel is supposed 10 be liabls
on any ground to capture and condemnation.
the rule in all casesis, that the question shall
not be decided by the captor, but be carried
before legal tribunal, where regular trial
may b. had. and whore the captor himself
II LIABLE " damages for an abuse of his DOW
er. Jln 1T be reasonble, then. or just that
belhgerent commander who il thus re-
strlcted, aud thus responsible in case Of
mere property of trivial amount should be
permitted, without recurring TO any tribunal
whatever, to examine the crow of a neutral
vessel, to decide the important question Of
Their respective allegiances, and to carry that
iecislon into execution by forcing every in
dividnal he may choose into service ab-
horrent tn his feelings, cutting him of from
ms most tendcr7 Connexions. -ex posing his
mind ana hls RsEsyn 70 The mot kp.sjlissjng
J dfscfpfftie,. sdd hfa -il'eftteIftd che &fJ1tsX
danger? Reason, justice, and humanity
unite ~ protesting against SO extravagaut o
proceeding"
If decide this case in favor Of nv own
ished principles, and reverse and forever
abandon its essential policy. The country
cannot aflr1 the sacrifice. II maintain
those principle; aud adhere 10 that policy, I
must surrender the case itself. 1t will be
seen, therefore, thl, this Government could
not deny the justice Of the claim presented
to US IN this respect upon its merits. We
are asked 10 do to the British nation lust
what we have always insisted all nations
ought to do to us
| The claim of the British Government 10
not made IN discourteous manner. This
| G0vernlnent. since its first organization, has
never used more guarded language 10 a sim
lar case.
In coming to my conclusion I have not
forgotten that. if the safety Of the Unioa
| required the detention OF the captured per-
sons, Il would be the right and duty of this
Government. to detaiu them. But the eifec.
tuai check and waning proportions Of tho
existing in-urrection. as well as the compar.
alive unimpo-tance Of the captured persons
themselves when dispassionately weighed,
happily forbid me from resorting TO that de-.
fence.
i Nor am | unaware that American citizens
are not in any case to be unnecessarily sur.
rendered for any purpose into the keeping of
u Ouiy Tue DeTsO0S,
however, Or others who ara interested in
them, could justly raise a question on that
ground.
Nor have I been tempted at all BY sus-
gestions that cases might be found in history
where Great Britain refused TO yield to other
nations, AMI even to ourselves, claims like
, that which is now before US. Those cases
, occurred when Great Britain, as we'll as the
United States, was :he home Of generation.
which, with all their peculiar interests and
, passions. have passed away. She could is
no other way 30 effectually disavow any such
! injury q We think she does by assuming
, now as her own the ground upon which We
. then stood. 1t would tell little for our
own claims to the character Of a just and
3 magnanimous people if we should 80 far con.
, sent tobe guided by the law of retaliation
as-to lift up buried injuries from their graves
to oppose against what national consistency
and the national conscience compel US to 70.
. gard as claim in,rinsicslly right.
Putting behind inc all suggestion, Of this
kind, prefer to express my satisfaction
that, by the adjustment Of the present case
upon prnciples confassedly American, and
, yet, as l trust, mutually satisfactory to both
of the nations concerned, a question il final.
ly and rightly settled between them. which,
heretofore exhau,iing not only all forms Of
peaceful discussion. bu. also the arbiHament
of wsr itself, for more than half a century
alienated the two countries from each other,
and psrplezed with fears AMI apprehensions
all other nations.
The four persons in uuestisn are now held
in military custofy at Fort Warren, in the
4 State Of Massachusetts They will be
cheerfully liberated Your lord,hip viii
please indicate time and place for reoeiv-
ing them.
avail myself Of this occasion to offer to
your lordship a renewed assurance of my
very high consideration.
WILLIAM Fl. SEWARD
4 TaEHH are nver trn hnnd rcd and fftx