The New York herald., 1862-02-03
New York, Monday, February 3, 1854.
THE SITUATION.


Some anxiety was manifested in Washin gton
yesterday, particularly among the politicians with
regard to the supposed hostile attitude of England
and tho probability Of . war arising upon some
other pretext than the Trent difficulty, but it is said
that the State Department is in receipt of dcs.
patches which Mr.. Seward regards as conclusive of
complete restoration of friendly feelings between
the two governments a. well as those of other
European States.
No army movements whatever have take place
recently. The weather and the condition of the
roads prohibit any active operations.
We publish to-day letter from Mr.. Seward to
the Governor Of the State of Maine, explaining
the reasons why he directed the United States
Marshal and other federal officers throughout that
State to permit the landing at Portland of British
troops, and their safe conduct through the State
to Canada. Mr.. Seward says. that the State De-
partment having been informed by telegraph on
the 4th of January that the mail :, Bohemian,
bound for Portland, was telegraphed of Cape
Race, and that she had on board number of Bri.
tish troops bound for Canada, the despatch in
quired whether the troops should be dealt
with by tho federal authorities like or
dinary passengers, and the Secretary init.
mated that they should be permitted to
pass on to their destination. He was in.
6uenced in the matter by the consideration that
much suffering and risk, through the snow and ice
of northerlykoyage. might be spared to troops
by allowing them to travel over the Grand Trunk
Railroad. conceiving that when humanity or even
convenience renders it desirable that the troops of
friendly nation should have passage through
the territory of another nation, it is customary
act Of comfy to grant permission, and he cites,
as an evidence Of this principle, the privilege
which the United States enjoy Of Transporting
troops across the Panama Railroad through New
Granada, and it is thus deemed only right by our
government to accord the same privilege to Great
Britain, France and all other friendly nations.
Assuming that there was no danger to be appre
hended from the passage of the English troops and
assuming farther, that-despits- popular aspe.
rites" manifested in Canada and in the British Isles
against this country-Great Britain is still to be
regarded as friendly Power, he saw no reason
for withholding permission for the passage of her
soldiers and munitions. The Grand Trunk Rail-
road, which runs through United States territory,
be considers as q monument of the friendly dis.
position Of England, and the reciprocity treaty
with Canada he regards in the same light. If,
however, the State of Maine should have any oh
lection to the instructions of the State Depart
ment, Mr.. Seward says that he is perfectly willing
to modify them, as the federal government recog
nzes the respect to the rights and interests
Of every State. As the troops never landed at
Portland no issue has been raised by the Governor
Of Maine on the subject; but II win be admitted
that the course adopted by Mr.. Seward in the mat.
ter was magnnnimous and sagacious.
From the measures adopted by the govern
ment with regard to the treatment Of the
rebel prisoners taken on privateers, who are
TO be regarded as ordinary prisoners of war
1t b exceedingly probably that Che lead
ing officers of the Union army in captiyit,
ia the South, including Colonels Corcoran, Lee
Coggswell Wilcox, Rodgers and Woodruff, viii
soon be exchanged and returned to their homes
NJ. Ely and Lieutenant Connolly, Of the New
York sixty-nirth, who has Just been released
From Columbia, s. c., had an interview with th,
z .adent and Mr.. Seward yesterday on the sub.
! The bark Trinity left Boston yesterday fol
ta-rsss Monroe, with 3s6 rank and file ant
Ca officers, from Fort Warren, to be ex
Cha tsed for an equal number of our soldiers in the
han ; Of the rebels,
sYc learn from st. Louis that some companies
of tte poarth Missouri Volunteers having displayed
sa'siacos feelings and dsobedience Of orders have
h. a teyeroly dealt with by General Hallock The
pss colu4ssispes. efassTs and triyssss have besr