Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-01-01


interpreted by our Government, has received
new sanction, though at the cost, it may be,
OF some national sensiblity, walked into dis
proportionate activity by the temporary ex-
acerbations of civil fueds. The latter, let us
remember, are but for day-the law of ma
tions is for all time"
The Intelligencer contains FIVE columns
OF the correspondence. The despatch from
Earl Russell, her Britannia Majesty's Sec
retary of State of Foreign Affairs, after re-
citing the circumstances under which he
understood the capture of these parties to
have been made, proceeds to characterize
it as an outrage on the British flag, and
after expressing the hope and belief that it
had not been authorized by our Govern
ment, asks reparation appropriate to such
an aggression, that the four gentlemen des-
ignated should be released, and an apology
should be given for what the British Gov
ernment deems an affront to her flag.
In responding to this demand, Mr. Sew
ard, after reviewing the circumstances un-
ding to the report of our naval officers, and
thus developing the inaccuracies and omis-
sions of the British statements, proceeds
to analYze the facts and principles of pub.
lie law involved in the case, and arrives at
the conclusion thatsthe neglect of Captain
Wilkes partly voluntary on his part, to
bring the Trent in for trial as lawful
prize, may be justly held to operate as
forfeiture of the belligerant right of cap
ture accruing under the laws of nations,
and that the government of the United
States, as well as from the consideration of
the Inconsistency with its own traditional
policy respecting marantine rights of neu-
trails, would be in its own wrong if it
should refuse a compliance with the Brit
ish demand, SO far as relates to the dis
position that shall be made of the prison
ers taken into custody by Capt Wilkes,
under circumstances to be justly open to
exception on both the grounds thus indica-
ted.
So far as regards the apology asked by
the British Government, none is rendered
because simple statement of the facts as
! they are suficcs to show that no offence
could have been intended on the pant of
our government, as it had given no instruc-
tions whatever in the premises, while the
proceeding of Capt. Wilkes in SO far as it
fails to accrue to Tic Lencft of his govern
ment and to conform to the rules of pub
lie law, was dictated by considerations of
| kindnesss and forbearancc.
THE decision of the President in this af
fair, as announced and explained in the lucid
despatch of Mr.. Seward" says the National
Intelligencer, "has the approval of every
member of the Cabinet"
Mr. Seward in conclusion says:
"If | decide this case in favor of my own
Government | must disavow its most cher
ished principles, and reverse and forever
abandon its essential policy. The country
cannot afford such a sacrifice. If maintain
those principles 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 presented
to us in this respect upon iTs merits
"We are asked to do the British nation
first, what we always insisted that all nations
ought to do to US. The claim Of the British
Government is not made in discourteous
manner. This Government since its first or.
ganization has never used more guarded Ian
guage in similar case. In coming to my
conclusion l have not forgotten that if the
safety Of this Union required the detention
of the captured persons, it would be the
right and duty Of this Government to detain
them; but the effectual check and waning
proportions of the existing insurrection, a:
well as the comparative unimportance OF the
captured persons themselves, were dispassion
, ately weighed happily forbid me from resort
ing to that defence.
s'Nor am / aware that American citizens
are not in any case to be unnecessarily sur
{ rendered, for any purpose, into the keeping
of foreign States. Only the captured persons
however, and others who are interested in
them, could justly raise question on thai
. ground Nor have | been tempted ct all by
the suggestions that cases might be found ir
history where Great Britain refused to yield
, to other nations, and even to ourselves, claims
: like that which is now before Us.
+" Those cases occurred when Great Britain
as well as the United States, was the home
of generations which, with all their peculiar
;. interests and passions, have passed away
She could, in no other way, so effectually
disavow any such injury as we think she has
} done US by assuming now, as her own, thu
1 ground upon which we then stood. Itwoulc
tell little for our own claims to character o
just and magnanimous people, if we shoult
so far consent to be guided by the Law of re
taliation as to lift up buried injuries from
! their graves to oppose against what nationa
7 consistency and national conscience compe
us to regard as a claim internationally right
Putting behind me all suggestions OF thi
8 kind, prefer to express my satisfaction tina
80 L.. ,anrnn