Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-01-08
The nra=on-slideil Ar,ir.
New York. Dec. %.

New OK, Dec. 20.
The Official correspondence between our
Government and Great Bfitlin relative to
thu seizure Of the traitors, Mason and Sill
DEL, is received The first is letter from
Secretary Seward to Minister Adams, da-
ted Nov. 3Oth, in which he compliments
the latter for wisely speaking and acting
at the Lord Mayors dinner, and also states
he told Lord Palmelaton simply the facts
when informing i'm The life Of the Jnmr-
saction was sustained by tho hopes Of its
recognition by England aud France, lnl If
these hopes ceas d, the Insurrectiou would
perish in % days.
He refers in the sG.ne note 10 the fact
Of the arrest Of Mason and Slidell, BY
Capt. Wilkes as new and unforeseen cir
cumstance which is to be met by the two
Governments if possible in kindly spirits.
Lord Lyon ha,i said nothing OH the subject
and no explanations were furnished min
ster Adams.
1t being deemed prudent that the ground
taken by the British Government should
first made known here aGl a discussion
be had here, but Secretary Seward deemed
proper to state that Capt. Wilkes acted
without Instructions and the subject there
fore is free from embarasments which
might have ensued if the act had been spe
cislly directed. He trusts the British Gov
eminent will consider the subject in
friendly temper and It may expect the best
disposition on our part
Her Majesty's Government are willing to
believe the act was without authority, and
resulted from a misunderstanding, as the
Government Of the United ST tes must be
fully aware the British Government would
not allow such aiffout to the National hon
or pass, without ful reparaton, and tbs
British Government, unwilling to believe
chat tile United States deliberately intend
ed unnecessarily to force a discussion Of So
grave question between the two Govern
ments.
Her Ma;esty's Government trust that
the Government Of the United States will
Of its own accord offer such redress a.
alone could satisfy them viz: tho liberation
Of the four persons, and their delivery to
Lord Lyoas,aud they may again be placed
under British authority, and suitable
apology for the aggression committed
Should these terms not DO Offered ty Mr.
Seward, you viii propose them 70 him.
Mr. Seward replies to Lord Lyons, by
whom he was furnished a copy Of Earl
Russel's ier,stating the dispatch has been
submitted to the President Mr. Seward
states that the British Government rightly
coniectured what Is now my duty 70 state
that Capt. Wilkes acted upon his own sug-
gestions Of duty without any direction or
instruction, or even foreknowedge Of it on
the part Of the government.
No directions had been given him or any
other naval officer, to ARE I the four per-
sons, orany Of them, on tile Trent or any
other British vessel, Oh any neutral vessel
there or elsewhere. After discussing the
whole subject at length, on ali its bearings,
Mr.. Seward says:
/ trust | have shown to the satisfaction
Of the British Government Pr q very SIM
PIE and natural statement Of facts aud an
.lIysis IF law applicable to them, that this
Government have neither meditsted nor
praeticed, or approved Of any deliberate
wrong ii the transaction to which they
have called its attention, and Oh the con-
trary that silst mas happened has been
simply IN inadvertently consisting ID de-
pafture by the naval officer from airy
wrongful motive from mle uncertainty
established. and probably By tie several
parties concerned in i, inperfecsly un5aa5
stood and entirely nnknowa.
For this error the British Governments
has right @ expect The same reparaton
that We, as an independent State should ex-
poet from Great Britain, or from any other
friendly notion done ina similar case.
] have not been unaware TINT ia exam