Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-01-11
Mr. THouvENEL TO MR., MERCIER.


Il
On Amercan cruiser, has produced IN France
r not The pame emotion ~ IN Eaglund, at least
extreme astonshment aud sensation. Public
sentimont was al once cRgrosaod with the law.
fulness aud the consequence OF such an act, aud
The Impression which has resulted from this has
not been tot en- Instant dppb,ial.
The fact has appeared 50 much ont Of accord
nHc8 WITH the ordinary rules 81 international
low thEt I, has chosen 10 throw the respons.
hillsy iorit exclusively on the commander OF
the San Jaciuto II Is nct yet given to us 70
know whether this supposition Is well foun,led,
aud the Government Of the Emperor has there
fore, also had TO examine The question raised
by the taking awoy Of the two passengers from
the Trent The desire 10 contribute 70 prevent
a conflict perhaps inmiaeut, between taso
Powers for which Il Is animated By sentiments
eqnally frieodly. and the duty TO uphold Tor the
pnrpOss Of placing tho rights ofits own hag
under skelterhom. snv attack, certain principles
essential to the security OF nenirals have. after
mature reflection, convinced il that IL could
not. urdcr the eircumst ances, remain entirely
silent
n to our deep regret the Cabinet at Wash.
inrton we're disposed 10 approve The conduct OF
the eommsaasr Of the San Jscincto, hweuld be
either by considsfiBg Mossrs Mnson usd Sldell
as enemies. or as seeing 10 them nothing but
rebels. IN one as in the other case there woald
DC n IOTEeUuiutSt, uuuOyahht " l'tfN-
ciples upon which we have always found tie
u s. 10 agreement with o..
BY what title 10 effect would The American
cruiser in The frst case. have arrested AesSrs
Mason aBd Slidelll The u s. have admitted
with as, 10 The treaties concluded between the
countries, that the freedom OF the Gag extends
itself over the persous found on board should
they be enemies Of one OF the two parties. un.
less the question is Of military people actually
IN the service Of the enemy. Messrs Mason and
Slidell were therefore, by virtue Of this prnci-
pie, which we have never found any difHeulty
10 causing 20 be Inserted 10 our treaties OF
friendship aud commerce, perfectly at liberty
uuder the neutral Hag OF Eneand. Doubtless
it will not be pretended that tbey could be
considered as contraband of war. That which
constitutes coutraband Of war is not yet, il is
true exactly settled. the limitations are not
absolutely the same for all the Powers bat in
what relutes TO persons, the special stipulaions
which are found 10 the treaties concerning mill.
tory people define plainly the character OF those
who only can be seized npon by belligeraOts
bat tbereis no need TO demonstrnte that Messrs.
Mason and Slidel could not be assimilatcd to
persons 10 that category There remains there
fore, TO invoke, 10 explanation Of their capture
only the pretext that they were the bearers OF
official dispatches from the enemy but this is
the moment to recall circumstance which
governs oil this affair, AMI which renders
the conduct Of the American cruiser unjust
fable.
The Trept vas not destined to point belong
ing 10 Que Of The belligerants she was carrying
TO a neutral country her cargo and her passen-
gers, and moreover it was ii neutral port
that they were tGkeu. IF were admissible
that under such conditions the neutral hag does
not completely cover tue persons and merchan-
disc IL carries its immunity would be nothing
more than an idle word at any moueut the
commerce aud the navigation OF third Powers
would have to suffer from their innocent and
even their indirect relations with the one or the
other Of the belligerants. These last world no
longer 6nd themselves as having only the right
10 exact from the neutral entire impartallty
and to iaterdict all intermeddng on his part in
acts OF hostility. They would Impose on his
freedom Of cormerce and navigation Festric.
tious which modern international Law has refus-
ed to admit as legitimate and we should, in a
word fall back upon vexatious practices, against
which, 10 otqer epocbs, no Power has more
earpC silly protested than the u. s.
If the Cabinet Of Washington would only
look oa the two persons arrested as rebels,
whom II is always lawful TO seize, the question
TO place it 90 the ground, could not be solved
However, 10 a sense 10 favor Of the commander
ofthe San Jacinto. There would be, in such
case. misapprehenSion OF the principle which
makes vessel q portion OF the territory Of the
nation whose flag it bears. aud violation Of that
immunity which prohibits foreign sovereign,
by consequence, from the exercise Of his jnTis-
dcton. 1t certainly is not necessary to recall
to mind with what energy, under every circun-
stance the Government OF the U. 5. has main
,ained this immunity, aud the right Of asylum
which is the consequence oft.
Not wishing to enter upon q more deep dis
cussion of the questions raised by the capture
of Messrs Mason aud Slidell, / have said enough
l think, to settle the point that the Cabines o
Washington could not, without striking blow
at the principles which all neutral nations arr
Interested 10 holding 10 respect, nor withou
taking the attitude OF contradiction Of its owl
course up to this time, give its appreciation t
the proceedings OF the commander Of the Sal
Jacinto Iu this state OF things, it evidcUt.
should not. according to our views, hesitat
about the determination TO be taken.
Lord Lyoas is already instructed to presen
the demand for satisfaction which the Englis
Cabinet is under the necessity Of reducing 4
form, and which consists in the immediate re
lease OF the persons taken from on board tn
Trent, Rad 10 sending explanations which ma
take from this act Us offensive character towar,
the British hsg. The Federal Government vii
be inspired by just and exalted leeling in de
fcrring to these requests. One would search il
Yaln 70 what end, 10 Wnat interest," IL Woul'
hazard 10 provoke by different attitude, I
rupture wilh Great Britaia.
For ourselves, We should see IN that fact ;
deplorable complication, 10 every respect, Of tn
difficulties with which the Cabiuet OF Washing
too has already to struggle, and precedent Q
nature seriously TO dsquiet all the Power
which continue outside of The existing e0ntes
We believe that we give evidence OF loyal friehC
ship for the Cabihet OF w WashiDgtOn by nc
permitting It to remain in ignorance in th
condition Of things OF our manner OF regardin
1t. / request you, therefore, sir. 10 seize u
first occasion Of opening yourself frankly 10 Al
Seward, and, il be asks il, send him copy
tbis Dispatch.
Receive. sir, the assurance OF my high co
sideFatiou, THouyEEEL.
MoBseur HESM MERcEIR,
Minister Of the Emperor at Washington.
MR.. SEWARD TO MR., MERCIER