Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-01-10
MASON AND sLlOELl SURRENDERED.

The news Of the settlement OF the i'm
pending difficulty with Great Britain by
the surrender of Mason and Slidell, was
received in this village Saturday evening
by telegraph, and it is, perhaps, needless
TO say that ii created considerable sur
prise. From the premonitory symptoms
that had been observable several days,
few entertained any doubts that it would
come to this at last, but so early an adop'
ton Of that conclusion Ivy our govern
ment led to an almost ieverish anxiety
on the part of all 10 see the correspond
ence in detail. That correspondence Is
now before the public, and, though the
question is decided, it is for the people 10
Judge of the correctness of the decision
Fer our part we can see no grounds for
doubling the wisdom of the course pur-
sued by the administration, nor for qnss-
,ioning the conclusions to which it has ar
rived. The demand was made in cour-
teous manner by the British government,
in letter from Earl Russell to Lord Ly-
ons, dated November 30th. After de-
failing a history of the Trent affair as
derived from the officers Of the vessel, he
says;
at thus appears that certain persons
have been forcibly taken from British
vessel, the ship of neutral power on
lawful and innocent voyage, an act OF
violence which was an aftront TO the
British flag, and violation Of interna.
,iona law. Her Majesty's government
are willing to believe that the act was
without authority and resulted from a
Misunderstanding, as the government OF
the United States must be fully aware
that the British government would not
allow such an aiiront 10 her national hon
or TO pass without full PREPARATION, and the
British government is unwilling to be-
lieve the United States deliberately in
tended, unnecessarily, TO force the Discus
sion Of so grave a question between the
two governments. Her Majesty's gov
eminent trusts that the government Of
the United States will, of its own accord,
offer such redress as alone could satisfy
them, namely, the Liberation of the four
persons, and their delivery to Lord Ly-
ons, that they may again be placed under
British protection, and suitable apology
for the aggression committed. Should
these terms not be offered by Mr.. Sew
ard, you will propose them to him.
In his reply, Mr.. Seward, after reca-
pituIating the points OF Earl Rns'cF'
letter, gives the American version of the
affair, from which he proceeds tu argue
the case as follows;
"Your lordship will now perceive that
the case before us, instead of presenting
q merely fragrant act of violence on the
part Of Captain Wilkes, as might well
be inferred from the incomplete statement
of it that went up to the British govern
ment, was undertaken as a simple, legal,
and customary belIigerant proceeding on
the part of Capt. Wilkes, to arrest and
capture neutral vessel engaged in car
rying contraband Of war for the use and
benefit of the insurgents. The question
before US is, whether the proceeding was
authorized by, and conducted according
to, the law of nations. 1t involves the
following inquiries
/. Were the persons named, and their
supposed dispatches, coutraband Of war
2. Might Capt. Wilkes lawfully stop
and search the Trent for these contra
band persons and dispatches?
3. Did he exercise that right in law
ful and proper manner?
4. Having found the contraband per-
sons on board, and in presumed posses
sion Of the contraband dispatches, had he
a right to capture the persons?
3. Did he exercise that right Of cap
ture in the manner allowed and recog-
nized by the law of n ations Z"
If all the affirmative, the British gov
eminent will have no claim for reparation.
The Secretary then proceeds to consider
them separately. and finds affirmative
answers TO the first four. The fifth ques-
ton contains the points at issue. The
the great question il, "What is the man
ner which the law Of nations prescrihes
for disposing of the contraband when you
have found ard seized it on board of 2
neutral vessel" If it is the vessel o,
freight it must be sent into n convenieb
port and be tried ard decided by an admi
rally court, but in relation TO contrabant
persons the law and authorities are silent
Here are conflicting claims which require
tribunal and trial. The captors m,
captured are equal; the neutral and bel
EQUALS