Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-01-16
The Trent Affair.

Many patriotic and considerato citizens at
first received the intimation conveyed in
this letter with surprise and indignation.
They denounced the mere idea of releasing
these two incarnate traitors as an act of ma
tional humiliation, and declared that, rath-
or than acquiesce in such q policy. they
would willingly welcome all the additional
horrors of a foreign invasion. A little re-
flection. however. a temperate and candid
review Of the exigencies of our national
condition. and frank comparison between
our own complications and the immense
military and naval resources Of England.
soon reversed this impulsive judgment.
and among thousands left the reluctant.
though sincere. impression that whatever
the Administration. in its wisdom, might
conclude to do, should be sustained for the
benefit Of the good cause by all good Union
men. Now, however. that the act has
been consummated. and that the PROPOSE
tions Of Great Britain (which. in truth.
are not by any means so offensive as they
were expected to be) have been acceded to
by the President and his Cabinet, it is well
to turn from the argument in my letter of
the 18th inst to the sts.esmanlike reasons
for this proceeding Of the Administration
contained in the great despatch Of Mr.. Se-
ward. Secretary of State. to Lord Lyons.
the British minister, under the date oi
Washington. December Goth. You will
observe that not only Earl Russell. heI
Britanic Majesty's Secretary of State fol
Foreign Affairs, asks repara,ion for the
act of Captain Wilkes and the restitution
ofthe traitors. but that this course is advi.
sed by NJ. Thouvenel, the French Minister
of Foreign Affairs. in letter aboundine
with expressions of warm friendship fol
the United States. That minister. in q
single sentence. repeats an idea which liad
previously produced the most wholesome
effect upon the American mind. when b.
says: For ourselves. we should see in that
fact. Ia refusal on our part to make repara
ton and restitution. a deplorable compli
cation. in every respect. of the difficulties
with which the Cabinet of Washington ha.
already to struggle. and precedent Of |
nature seriously to disquiet all the Power
which continue outside Of the existing con
test.
Mr.. Seward places the American side o.
the question on the loftiest principles =
| While assuring Great Britain Of the soil
cisude Of the Americsn Executive to main
tain the most amicable relations with Great
Britain; while showing that the act oI
Captain Wilkes was entirely his own; ant
while proving that. even in the face Of or
almost unanimous feeling in support o
that act. in the loyal States. followed b,
resolutions of appreciation. passed by boil
Houses Of Congress. the President and hi,
constitutional advisers with single ex
ception) preserved dignifed and paticn
silence. he neither insults the national sp.
rif. nor degrades the national character
nor rebukes Captain Wilkes. The Ian
guage of his despatch is in singular har
mony with the gravity of his subject
Combining himself strictly to one line o
srgument, and disdaining to avail himsel
of the tempting opportunity to remint
England Of her own high handed proceed
ings in cases Of historical remembrance
he alternately appeals to the American re
cord to show how faithfully and steadil,
we have contended for the settlement Of tn
right OF visitation. and addres -es himselft I,
the ussgnanimity Of the British Govern
ment TO make the present discussion tn
occasion of such an adjustment of tha
question as will leave no canse for futur
complications. With Characteristic skill
before giving his sanction to the request o
Earl Russell. he introduces as competen
and conclusive authority for that sanction
the memorable dispatch Of President Mad
isoa 70 james Monroe. nearly sixty years
ago.
That the conclusion reached by Mr.. Sc
ward will be satisfactory to Great Britain
cannot be doubted. twill certainly graf
ify France, however it may disappoin
those in the Old World who have beer
hungering for aquarrel between Englant
and the United States. The duty Of th
American people and al their publ, ser
wants. national and State. executive ant
Legislative. is plain and inexcrable.
would not feed the fame Of hatred to Eng
land which now burns in every patriot,
heart. but i s tbs prosines Of every indie
pendent and loyal Journalist to urge upor
the public servants the necessity. for sucl
propPt, persistent, sad extended. nilitar,
asd naval preparations ss viii make y,
strong enough to protect our own institu
tions from domestic Is xell e Foreign en-
spies. England nay not hasb9z any Do
signs upon THE eentiRents but It can give
her no offence. and will exhibit sagaciou,
q - 4 -. - I.