Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-04

"Whepeyer" be says, property found in neutral
vessel u supposed 10 be liable any groInd 10 cap
lure and condemnation the rule IN all cases IS mat me
question shall not BE- decided by the captor, but be car
RED before legal tribunal regular trial may De-
Rad and where the eaotor himself Is iaoe to damages
Tor an abuse Of bis power. Can it De reasonable then
or ius that belirsrent commander, who Is thus re-
strieed and thus responsible in case OF mere properly
Of trivial amount should be permitted, without recurring
10 any tribunal whatever to examine the crew OF neu.
trail vessel IN decide the important question OF their re-
specve allegiance and carry that decision INTO exc
cuton by forcing every individual be nay choose into
service sbhorrent 70 his feelings cutting him on nom
hi; mos, tender connections exposing his MAD and DIS
person 70 the mos. humiatng discipline and hls lie It
self TO the greatest dabges Reason justice and hu'
mluity unite in protesting against SO e1TAvagant pro-
ceedipg. T.
II decide this case In favor Of my own government,
must disavow its mes. cherished principles and re-
verse and forever abandon its essential policy The
country cannot ei0rd the sscrhcs. If maintain those
principles aud adhere to that policy must surrender
lie case itself It will be seeu therefore, that this gov
ernment could not deny the justice of the claim presen-
Ted to "a in this respect upou its merits We are asked
20 DO the British nation just what we have always in
sisted all nations ought to do to us.
Toe claim Of the Biti's Government is not made in
scou-teous manner This Government aimee its first
organization has never used more guarded language III
q similar case. -
In coming 10 nv CONCLUSION, l Rave no. forgotten
that If the safety of this UniDn required the detention
of the captured persona il would be the right and cuty
OF this government to detain them. But the efIctul
check and waning propooos of the existing insurrec-
too, well as the comparative unimPortance oil the
captured persons. themselves, when dispassionately
Weighed, happily forbid me tIom resordng TO that de-
fence.
Nor an unaware that American. ct1sDs are not, in
an, case to be unnecessarily surrendered for any pur-
pose into the keeping OF foreign State 0ny the cap
led persons however or others who are interested IN
them could ins'ly raise question on that ground.
Nor have / been tempted az all by suggestions that
cases might be found in history where Great Britain re-
.d N Weld 20 other nations, and even to ourselves,
cl p Ike that which IL row before Us. Those cases
CURED when Great Britain well the United States
wAs the home of generations which With all their peculiar
interests and passions have passed away She could in no
othcr way 80 tscuay disaVow any such injury Us we
n,lk she does by assuming her cwn the ground
pDoo which We then stood Is would tell little for our
osl clsul5 TO the character OF just and mRgnanimors
people IL should far consent to be guided by the
las of retaliation to lit up buried Injuries from their
graves to oppose against what national consistency and
he national conscience compel US to regard as claim
10 '-in:icGlly right.
Pat,ug behind me all suggestions Of this kind pre-
Ter TO express nv satisfaction that By the adjustment OF
tho present case upon prize pies conieSsedy American,
AID ye as trust mutually satisfactory 70 both OF the
IA ions concerned question is finally and rightly set
ted betw en- the which heretofore eISausing not on
Is ~ forms of peaceful discussions, bu also the srbtra-
meat Of war itself for than bali century sienated
tho two countries from each other and perpexed with
fears and apprehension all other nations.
Zoe four persons in question are now held in military
c,ody at Fort War-su in the State Of Massachusetts,
rasy viii be eheerfuly liberated. Your Lordship will
olc l,e indicate a time and place FOR receiving them
avail myself OF this occasion 70 offer to your Lord
slip a renewed assurance OF INV very high consideration
william Il. SEWARD