The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-04

FAT W0014 impose on ~ - - ~
msYco aud navtgatioA restt1c no19 WhGa
modern international law has refuses 70 ~
init a. lepsrnste. And we SlsOald, IN wcr0,
fail hack upon vexmtons praclcsa, akaAuss
which. In osner epochs, no power ms MVie
GA rnestly protested thasi tbs United ctatea.
II the Cabinet Mt Warrington would oriy
look ON the two persons arresRd ~ reoeIes
whom 1t Is always iawful TO seize, the 4ess
ton, to place II on other ground, couIa nos
he solved however, In ssnse In nvor OF tos
commander Ct the san Jacinto. There would
be IN such case masappTehennone OF tne III
ciples which makes 3 vessel portion 81 the
territory Of the nation whose nag y oeaIs'
and violation Of that immuniy Wnlcn p.0'
from the exercise Of his Jurisdiction. e Ger.
tainiy is not necessary to recall 20 mino VIII
what energy, under every ctrcometance, sne
Govern IA nt Of the United states has main.
famed THE imra unity, and the right Of asy-
lum which 10 the consequence oIit
Not wishing TO enter upon more deep oas-
Gu ssion Of the question raised by the csptuie
of Messrs. Mason and Siideli, nave eaao
enough, think, TO settle the point That the
Cabinet at Washington could not, Wtnout
strikine blow at the principles which all
neutral nations are alike Interested IN ncIo-
ing IN respect, nor without taxing inc etu-
tude Of contradiction G; its own course up 10
this time, give its appreciation 70 Ine pro-
ceedings OF the Commander Oh the Saa IA
cinto. In this state Of things, IL evidently
should not, according to our views, nesasate
Lord Lyons is already instructed 70 pre-
sent the demand for sati sfaction, which the
English Cabinet is under the necessity OF re-
ducing TO form, and which consists In the
immediate release of the persons taken On
hoard the Trent, and in senoing explanations
which will take from this act Its offensive
character towards the British nag.
The Federal Government will be inspired
these requests. One would search in vain to
wh at END, for what interest, 1t would hazard
or provoke by 9 different attitude rupture
with Great Britain.
For ourselves, we siiouiu sec IN tAs-t loc' :.
deplora BILE com plication IN every respect OF
the ANTIQUITIES with which the Cabinet at
Washington has already TO struggle, ana a
precsden, of u nature seriously 10 olsqulet
all the powers which conunue OUTSIDE OK inc inc
existing contest. We believe that we give
credeIce of loyal friendship for the Cabinet
of w ash ing ton by not permit citing II 70 remain
in Ignorance Of this condition OF Things, Oh
cur manner Of regarding It,. l reqaest you.
therefore. sir, to seize the hrst occasion 81
onening Yourself frankly to MIR. Seward, and,
| II he asks it, send him copy OF this dispatch
receive, SIR, the assurance OF my hisn con
sideration. ~. 80 ~,
Monsieur Heari Mercser, Minister VI 'AAo Ian
peror At Washington.
Mr. S.scard TO Mr. Mereser.
DxrAxrNExr or SrArE,}
WASHINGTON, D.c. Y, 1861.
Ste. have suomi tied To the President The
,,nv Won ware so good rs 10 give me on the
is,,aich addressed to you OF the 81 Decem-
her instant, concerning the recent pTocaea:
mas OF Capt. Wilkes, in arresting certain
persons on board OF the DflIsA SoAt1act anu
Mail Steaner Trent.
Before receiving the paper, however, the
PresiaenI had decided upon the disposition
10 be made Of the subject, which has caused
so much anxiety i'll Europe. That DISPOSE
ton OF the subject, as think, renders unne
c.ssary any discussion Of it in reply to the
comments of NJ. ThOuyenel. lam permitted,
however, 70 say that M. Thouvenel has not
been in error in supposing, first, that the Gov
eminent OF the UElted States has not acted in
apy spirit of disregard OF the rights or OF the
sensiOilities OF the British nation, and that
he is equally just In assuming that the Unit
ed STATES would consistently vindlcnte, by
their practice on the occasion, the charac ter
they have SO long maintained, US an advocate
OF the most liberal principles concerning the
rights OF neutral States in maritime war.
When the French Government shall CO me
to see at large the views of this Government
and those of the Government of Great Bri-
tain on the subject now In question, and to
compare them with the views expressed by
NJ. 4 h 3uvenel on the part OF France, 1t Will
pro badly perceiyo that while 1t must be ad.
miIled that thos6 three powers are equally
impressed with the same desire for the es-
adjustment Of principles favorable to neu-
trail rights, there is at the same time not
such an entire argument concerning the ap
plication of those prl nclples rs Is desirable
| TO secure that important object
The Government OF the United States will
| be happy If the occasion which has elected
| this correspondence can be improved so as t.
| secure q more definite agreement upon the
whole subject by all maritime powers.
You viii assure nj. TnOuvenel that this
| Government appreciates as we'll the frank.
ness of his explanations as the spirit OF
| friendship and good will towards the United
| States in which they are expressed.
| 1t is a sincere pleasure for the United States
| to exchange assurances of u friendship which
| had its origin III associations the most sacred
| in the history Of both countries.
avail myself OF this opportunity 10 renew
| tn YOU, sir, the assurances OF my high con
sid.ra ton. VIZ. H. SEWARD.
MIR Henri Mercier. &C., &c.