Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-01-02

him. Mr., Seward replies to Lord Lyons,
by whom he was furnishctl copy Of Earl
IsusselPs letter, stating that the dispatch
had been Submitted TO the President.
MR. Seward states that the British Gov
eminent rightly coniectured What it is now
my duty to state. that Capt. Wilkes acted
upon his own suggestions Of iqty, without
any direction or INSTRUCTIONS, aof even fore
knowledge of it on the part of this Coy
eminent. No directions 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 OF elsewhere.
After discussing the whole subject at
great length in all its bearings. Mr.. Sew
ard says: II trust have shown to the sat
isfaction Of the British Goveriiment, by a
very simple and natural statement of fats.
and analysis Of law applicable to them.
that this Government neither meditated
nor practiced aer approved any deliberate
wrong IN the transaction to which they
haze called lis attention. and on the con-
trary that what has happened has been
simply an INDIFFERENCE, free from any
wrongful motive. consisting in departure
by the naval officer from rule uncertain
ly established. and probably by the several
parties concerned either imperfectly under
stood or entirely unknown. For this error
the. British Government has right to ex-
pect the same reparstion that an indcpend-
ent State should expect from Great Britain
or from any other friendly nation in a
similar case. / have not been unaware
that in examiningthis question have fall
en- into an argument for whst seems to be
tho British side OF it against my own conn
try, but am relieved from all embarrass-
ments on that subject for / had hardly
fallea into that line Of argument, when
discovered that l was really defending and
maintaining not exclusively the British in
tercst but an honored and cherished Amer
lean cause based upon principles that con-
stitute a. large portion Of the distinctive
policy by which the United States have
developed the resources OF a continent, and
thus become considerable power anal
won the respect and confidence Of many
nations These principles were laid down
fol us by James Madison in 1904, when
Secretary Of State under Jefferson, in his
instructions to Jas. Monroe, onr then Min.
lister to England. MIR. Seward says, after
quoting these instructions, "that if l de-
eide this case in favor OF my own Govern
ment, must disavow its most cherished
principles. roleasc and reverse and forever
abandon It's essential policy. The.country
cannot afford thc sacrifice. Is MAINTAIN
that principle and adhere TO that policy. ]
must surrender the case itself. 1t will be
seen, therefore. that this Government
could not deny the Justice of the claim pre-.
scented. We are asked to do to the British
nation what we always insisted all nations
ought to do to MS.
In this conclusion, / have not forgotten
that II the safety Of this Union required the
detention of the prisoners, it would
be the duty Of this Government to dctain
them But the effective check and waning
proportion of the existing insurrection. as
we'll as the comparative unimportancc Of
the captured persons themselves. when dis
passionately weighed. happily forbid me
from resorting 10 that defence. / am a
ware that Union citizens are not in any
case to be unnecessarily surrendered FOL
any purpose, into keeping of forcigr
States. Only the captured persons. how
ever, or others who are interested in them
could justly raise question on thai
ground. 1t would tell little for our owr
claims to the character we possess o
a just and maghanimous people, II W,
should SO far consent to be guided by TIE
law OF retaliation as 10 lift MP buried in
ljuries against national consistency aud n,
ltional conscience. Putting beyond ME al
suggestions of this kind, / prefer to ex
press my satisfaction that by the adjust
iment Of the present case upon principle
lconfessed by America. yet as trust. mu
tually satisfactory to both nations concern
led, question is finally and rightfully set
tiled between them. which. heretofore. ex
hausting not only all forms OF peaceful dis
Icussion, but also the arbitrament Of wa
itself, has for more than half a centur,
alicnated the two countries from each 9th
ler. and pcrplcxed with fears and apprelien
sions all other nations. ~. q e'sef
The four persons in question arc nov
held in military custody at Fort Warren
in the State of Massachusetts. They vii
be chccrfully liberated if your Lordshi
Twill please Indicate time and place 70
receiving them. renew my assurance
Of my very high consideration. ossa
/ slr (Signed). ~ VIM. II. SEWARD.
! Dispatches from NJ. Thouvcnal to NJ
). Alercior, French Minister to our Govern
mcnt are also contained 10 correspondence
fin which ThouvenaI argues that nentra
n flag from one neutral port to another, GOV
ers persons and merchandise. 1t carrie
and adopts principles laid down IN the dis
4 patch of Earl RUSSELL to which Sewsr
appropriately replies. a'ie an iss'e'e :
] The following is from Lyons 70 Seward
DO at WAsHISGrox. Dec: %, 1851
TO Hon. VIM. III .Seward,<red sid me7i
have this morning real not
which you did me the honor to address 4
me yesterday, in answer to Earl Russell
a dispateh of Nov 29tb. relative to the r.
,rusoval of Mason. Siidell. Mcfarland an
Eusti<s, from the British mail packt
= Trent. 9sib Ena sisaloJ no ,A0s.
i will without loss. of time forward 4
: Her 1lajesty's Government copy of. ii
Il important communication which you hay
Il 4 II